The significance of Ritual + role of Pageants and festivals of misrule

Question 1

What was the role of the church during this period ?

Answer 1

There was obligatory attendance of church during this period

Used to do saint days to honour saints , the meaning was to :

Venerate the saint and reinforce hierarchy and values

Thought on not correctly respecting a saint was thought to be bad karma

Question 2

Give an example of how not correctly honouring a saint led bad consequences ?

Answer 2

Village of Usanos in Spain forgot to respect a saint on a day - a thunderbolt struck and damaged the church tower

Question 3

What was the role of Pageants and festivals ?

Answer 3

Festivals acted as a relieve from boring work and a time of excess . E.G St valentines and Halloween encouraged exuberance

Association of Pagentry allowed guilds to play a big role and finance pageants , processions or plays

Celebration allowed authorities to regulate society allowing people to complain without being violent

Question 4

What were authorities concerns with festivals ?

Answer 4

Concerned that there would be no restoration of order as :

People were unable to voice concerns

Festivals led to riots E.G London 1517 , carnivals between 1520-1530 used to protest the Catholic church

Symbolic unrest led to real violence against groups like Jews

Question 5

What was the celebration of misrule ?

Answer 5

In Xmas period - a person was appointed to rule over the feast of fools - they could ask or do what they wanted

Drinking , dancing and rowdy songs

People mocked the clergy by :

Wearing their vestments incorrectly
Drinking in church
Mocking the bible

State and church wanted to ban it but were unsuccessful