Medieval Festival in Mem Hall Draws Middle Ages Enthusiasts

The spirit of the Middle Ages come to life in Memorial Hall Saturday as about 1000 students and New England residents savored the ancient pleasures of skillful minstrels and good mead in the Harvard-Radcliffe Society for Creative Anachronism's Medieval University and Fair.

The University, conducted in Sanders Theatre, consisted of 15-minute lectures intended to convey the flavor of medieval academic life. Typical lectures explained the process of canonization (the making of a saint) or exposed the "heresies" of Galileo.

The Fair also showed the social and festive aspects of medieval life. Costumed merchants and artisans displayed their wares while singers and dancers mingled with the crowd. Activities included a medieval auction and a simulation of a duel.

Party!

The Brewer's Guild offered mead and ale brewed in nearly authentic medieval fashion. A brewer at the fair said the medieval liquor varies in strength between a barley wine and a near beer.

Other crafts represented included armory, calligraphy, cookery, weaponry, and sooth saying.

Medieval dress was not required for attendance at the Fair, although many did come dressed in medieval style.

Robert M. Kuhn, a graduate student in mathematics, and Darey Devney, a local Anachronism Society enthusiast, organized the noon to 5 p.m. event.

Nationwide

Kuhn, who also financed the event, will be partially reimbursed by the Boston branch of the nationwide creative anachronism organization. None of the lecturers, artisans, or performers were paid for their services.

Some club members said they devote much of their time to medieval activities. One Tufts student, who uses the name Dimitri Mikhiliovtich in his medieval activities, spent 60 hours making a small sheet of chain mail, a kind of armor protection.

Making the armor is--"not bad--its a nice way to pass away your evenings," according to Mikhiliovtich.