The Great Dickens Faire

[neloon]

This Dickens Fair thing is just something else that we, in the UK, find impossible to understand especially what on earth it could have to do with kilts
Alan

[Terry Searl]

This Dickens Fair thing is just something else that we, in the UK, find impossible to understand especially what on earth it could have to do with kilts
Alan

Just another great excuse to get all kilted up .....not that an excuse is needed though

[The Wizard of BC]

Jamie posted a Christmas greeting message
There was a themed event. He attended.
There was entertainment. He participated
He wore a kilt.

See, it's not that hard to understand at all.

[Panache]

This Dickens Fair thing is just something else that we, in the UK, find impossible to understand especially what on earth it could have to do with kilts
Alan

Alan,

The interest in and continuing success of Dickens Fairs across the United States is a testament to the lasting power and appeal of Charles Dickens' story "A Christmas Carol". The Great Dickens Faire I attend each year have actors portraying the characters from the story. If one arrives in the morning it is possible to follow them throughout the day as the characters act out the most important parts of the story. It is a fun way to bring the magic of the tale to life in an imaginative and interactive way. I wouldn't dare suggest that the Dickens Fair or its patrons is an exact replica of old London, but it is trying to capture a feeling of being in the world of Charles Dickens. I believe that there are Historical Re-enactors in the UK and Europe who have different sorts of events that are enjoyed by lots of people in a similar fashion.

As for highland dress in Victorian London. It is my understanding that Queen Victoria had an interest in Scotland and Scottish Country Dancing which led to the promotion all things Scottish in England.

I am a member of the RSCDS and a performer with Red Thistle Dancers. We perform at this event for the most part period dances* (both Highland and Scottish Country dances) using period music (in fact we always dance "The Royal Salute" that was written and performed for Queen Victoria herself!)

It is a very pleasant time, one I look forward to the entire year, and our dance group works quite hard to provide an entertaining show to the patrons who come to the Faire that day.

The very best part is seeing the young children and the joyful sense of wonder they have as they walk through the "streets" of Dickens' London marveling at the sights and sounds. The Dickens Faire is full of smiles, goodwill, and the Christmas Spirit.

That makes it plenty worthwhile

Cheers

Jamie







* Even if non Victorian dances are performed we are quite careful that they do not include steps or patterns that were not danced in the 1800's

[Jock Scot]

Alan,

The interest in and continuing success of Dickens Fairs across the United States is a testament to the lasting power and appeal of Charles Dickens' story "A Christmas Carol". The Great Dickens Faire I attend each year have actors portraying the characters from the story. If one arrives in the morning it is possible to follow them throughout the day as the characters act out the most important parts of the story. It is a fun way to bring the magic of the tale to life in an imaginative and interactive way. I wouldn't dare suggest that the Dickens Fair or its patrons is an exact replica of old London, but it is trying to capture a feeling of being in the world of Charles Dickens. I believe that there are Historical Re-enactors in the UK and Europe who have different sorts of events that are enjoyed by lots of people in a similar fashion.

As for highland dress in Victorian London. It is my understanding that Queen Victoria had an interest in Scotland and Scottish Country Dancing which led to the promotion all things Scottish in England.

I am a member of the RSCDS and a performer with Red Thistle Dancers. We perform at this event for the most part period dances* (both Highland and Scottish Country dances) using period music (in fact we always dance "The Royal Salute" that was written and performed for Queen Victoria herself!)

It is a very pleasant time, one I look forward to the entire year, and our dance group works quite hard to provide an entertaining show to the patrons who come to the Faire that day.

The very best part is seeing the young children and the joyful sense of wonder they have as they walk through the "streets" of Dickens' London marveling at the sights and sounds. The Dickens Faire is full of smiles, goodwill, and the Christmas Spirit.

That makes it plenty worthwhile

Cheers

Jamie







* Even if non Victorian dances are performed we are quite careful that they do not include steps or patterns that were not danced in the 1800's

Let me try and explain.

I am all for people having a good time Jamie, as I am sure Alan is too, but the kilt ,London, Charles Dickens, Queen Victoria, etc., connections are really rather weak. Charles Dickens and the kilt? Does the connection exist at all? I think probably not. Yes ok if you want to make a fanciful hollywood-esque pantomime out of it then fine if you must. But please don't think you are teaching the youngsters anything about the the sights and sounds of London or anything accurate about the kilt.

It is this constant perpetuation of bending facts by this sort of theatrical pretence that both Alan, I and perhaps others in the uk question. It is actually not doing "education" any favours in the long run and it is very tiresome having to explain this time and time again. If you want to make a mockery of the USA then please carry on, it is your country. If you want to make a mockery of the UK-----and I am sure that you don't mean to-------then Alan and I will have every right to question what you are doing.

Now before everyone outwith the UK "reaches for their gun" just think how often, on this website alone, are people corrected about the kilt, kilt attire, Clan, tartan , historical, Scottish, English, British, Irish misconceptions. Once?Twice? Three? Four times a week?Sometimes more? Do you chaps really think you are educating people? Or are you just indulging yourselves?

[neloon]

It seems, Jock, that they just need some kind of make-believe to keep going. It might be better not to conjecture why. So any excuse for a bit of fancy dress and, unfortunately, the kilt gets tangled up in this.
Alan

[Jock Scot]

It seems so Alan. I am awaiting, with interest, the lame and defensive justification posts that are about to rain down on us!

[neloon]

I am awaiting, with interest, the lame and defensive justification posts that are about to rain down on us!

Sadly, Jock, you were spot on.
Alan

[Panache]

Sadly, Jock, you were spot on.
Alan

Alan and Jock,

I don't know exactly what you hoped to accomplish with your comments in this little thread of mine.

It was a simple post with a few photos of an annual event that has taken place in the Bay Area for almost 50 years.

It ended with a Holiday Greeting to all my fellow members of the forum.

The Red Thistle Dancer's Dickens Faire Performance is my very favorite show we do all year. It is something I look forward to.

A lot!

The Great Dickens Faire is a part of my (and a number of other people's) holiday tradition here in the Bay Area.

Despite numerous kind attempts to explain what the Dickens Faire is and how I and others who wear Victorian period highland attire fit in there you have continue to be rather insulting and claim "you don't get".

Here's the truth

It isn't that you "don't get it", it is that you refuse to get it. You reject the whole thing.

Here's what I don't understand

Why you both have gone out of your way to be unpleasant... about something that makes me (and a lot of other people happy)?

Does being condescending and insulting to Americans make you happy?

Do you think you are offering some sort of constructive criticism?

More puzzling still to me is that I went to this event as part of non profit group of dancers and musicians whose mission statement is about helping to promote awareness and appreciation of Scottish Culture in the Bay Area and beyond. You are both Scots, isn't that a good thing? Or is SCD and Scottish music only for you?

For a brief little post that was sharing a fun holiday event in my corner of the world you both have been pretty persistent in being unpleasant about it

I offer both of you this passage from Dickens' A Christmas Carol, perhaps it might help restore you Holiday Spirit

It spoken to Scrooge by his nephew Fred at the start of the book

"But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round — apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that — as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys."

And if you can't write anything pleasant, perhaps you could do me the courtesy of simply writing nothing further in regards to me and the Dickens Faire here.

Sincerely

Jamie

[Jock Scot]

Sadly, Jock, you were spot on.
Alan

I am glad life is not so predictable!