Ontario Renaissance Festival

[phil h]

went a couple of times a few years ago, not bad.
http://www.rennfest.com/orf/

[Blu (Ontario)]

Didn't see any kilts but I see they've got men in green tights! :P

[phil h]

Didn't see any kilts but I see they've got men in green tights! :P

here I found one on a link for a vendor
http://www.purpleunicorn.com/
they sell tights too

[Graham]

Didn't see any kilts but I see they've got men in green tights! :P

Oh goodie, can I come?
It does look like fun, wish we had one here!

[Vince]

Blu -
Check the 2000 photos - Nymblewit of Whipflash.

All-in-all it looks like fun. I will probably be headed off to our local ren faire this weekend.

http://www.camlann.org/

[phil h]

Didn't see any kilts but I see they've got men in green tights! :P

Oh goodie, can I come?
It does look like fun, wish we had one here!

sure you can come,I got a spare room.
be sure to wear your green tights.

[Hamish]

Didn't see any kilts but I see they've got men in green tights! :P

Oh goodie, can I come?
It does look like fun, wish we had one here!

We don't have them here in the UK either, Graham. More's the pity!

[Blu (Ontario)]

Didn't see any kilts but I see they've got men in green tights! :P

Oh goodie, can I come?
It does look like fun, wish we had one here!

We don't have them here in the UK either, Graham. More's the pity!

Is this a colonial phenomenon, perhaps.?? We also have re-enactment groups over here for the U.S. civil war, 1812 war, 2nd world war, etc. as well as festivities for highland and renaissance themes. I'm not quite sure why, but they are popular.

[Hamish]

Didn't see any kilts but I see they've got men in green tights! :P

Oh goodie, can I come?
It does look like fun, wish we had one here!

We don't have them here in the UK either, Graham. More's the pity!

Is this a colonial phenomenon, perhaps.?? We also have re-enactment groups over here for the U.S. civil war, 1812 war, 2nd world war, etc. as well as festivities for highland and renaissance themes. I'm not quite sure why, but they are popular.

There are a few, just a few, organised re-enactment societies here actually, and they will relive (as far as is possible) some of our Civil War battles, but I have never heard of one in the south of England. Also, as far as I know, they are mainly for the amusement of the participants - I'm not sure that the public is invited to watch, but I could be wrong. We most certainly do not have the sort of historical events that you do - maybe because we are surrounded by so much wonderful history in our daily lives.

I did once give up a half-day to watch a display of Roman drill (marching) at Fishbourne Roman Palace, but was bitterly disappointed to find that the 'show' consisted of only six self-conscious men who were decked out in home-made Roman-style costumes with cardboard armour!! Whether the drill was authentic, Heaven only knows, but the 'uniforms' certainly were not!

[zeytoun]

"Is this a colonial phenomenon, perhaps?"

I would agree, Blu. My guess, which might be way off, is that amalgamated european americans are trying to find their own past and identity. When people ask me where I'm from, they often don't accept my answering "United States", even though my family has been here for many, many generations (Some came on the Mayflower too). I think out of guilt because of poor race relations here, we've told ourselves that we can't be "proud" of our ancestors or history, but recently I think many of us are realizing that we, just like any other person, CAN have a healthy pride about our past without wishing anyone else any ill will. Maybe in the "old countries" they already feel more connected to their history, and so don't feel so strong of a pull to find their identity this way.