This Pentecost weekend was long awaited. The 15th Medieval Spectacular in Münzenberg was coming up. And there’s a lot to report there.
The day before the start we drove to Münzenberg and set up our two tents in the sunshine and prepared everything for the long weekend. Including the willows for a weaving course that was registered weeks ago for three members of the camp group Castrum pax et gaudium. We took a total of three hours to set it up.
First market day, Saturday May 14, 2016
And then it began. Get up early on Saturday morning and do the morning ritual. Then throw on your clothes and head to Münzenberg, taking all the things you forgot the day before (Ralf did it :-)) and unloading them at the stand.
We actually wanted to spend the night there from Saturday to Sunday, but the weather forecast and especially the announced nighttime temperatures quickly outed us as wimps. The idea of sleeping on the bus at around 3° at night made us decide that it would be better to chicken out from the start.
On Saturday I was exclusively occupied with the participants in the braiding course. Boniface (ice saint on May 14th) gave us a lot of trouble. Wind, some rain, but always interrupted by sunshine, made you shiver. It quickly became apparent that our clothing was only designed for warm temperatures. Ralf’s attempt to heat himself up using a lantern and a burning candle under his cloak failed miserably.
So we closed the market stall around 10 p.m. and drove the 25km home with the heated seats on, where a warm apartment and a cozy bed awaited us.
Second market day, Sunday May 15, 2016
At 7 a.m. in the morning you’re sitting upright in bed when the alarm clock screams its relentless peeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. The night was far too short and, drunk with sleep, you drag yourself out of bed, wobble into the kitchen and put on some coffee.
The decision to bring hot tea instead of cold drinks on Sunday was made the day before. 2.5 liters were brewed and poured into the thermos flask, which was demonstrably defined as medieval A. A does not stand for authentic, but for alternative.
We then tricked “Cold Sophie” as the ice saint of the day. Today it was time to put on anything that could somehow defy the cold. Because 13 hours of market is long, very long.
When we arrived in Münzenberg, the tents were quickly set up so that we still had enough time to stroll through the market in peace and quiet. And here and there there was a little chat.
The first visitors arrived even before the market started. And from the Saturday weaving class, one more bowl should be finished today. The willow trees were well packed and left outside overnight. Now it was time to think warmly, because the willows had been cooled down quite a bit by Sophie. You got the feeling that you could become one of the Ice Saints yourself.
The change in wind, rain and sun and the perceived temperature of around 9° meant that the planned participation activities with wicker reeds were canceled. Nobody can be expected to pay money for ice hands. So you let your smile freeze in the cold wind and politely greeted the many visitors at the stand. Every gap in the cloud cover that let the sun’s rays through was used to soak up a little bit of warmth.
The later the day or closer to the end of the day, the more the cold crept into your bones. So the decision was made to spend this night in bed at home.
Third market day, May 16, 2016
Alarm clock, get up, coffee, tea, off to Münzenberg. The same procedure as the day before.
But one thing was different today. The weather forecast promised no rain or showers today. Hope arises that we can get the tents dry into the trailer.
I have also decided not to offer braiding courses on Whit Monday. It is and remains cold. The Ice Saints are still missing a sixth member from their ranks.
The second tent was now quickly redecorated and more of my basketry was placed there. Good thing the trailer is behind a tent. And when well concealed with tarpaulins, it is hardly noticeable.
We were able to warm up our hands when Jonny Robels sat down opposite the tent and ensured that our stand was literally besieged. However, everyone was looking in the wrong direction. But clattering hands stimulates blood circulation and every song was rewarded with it. The sun on our necks supported this warm-up phase at times. We also enjoyed the musical performances, warm and eerie lyrics of well-known melodies.
When the tithe is collected, it is an unmistakable sign of the approaching and final end of the medieval spectacle in Münzenberg. And the longest 60 minutes of the three-day event begins. A quick cash grab every now and then and you can be reasonably satisfied. Not riches that you have accumulated, but not so much that you have to add more out of your own pocket.
After brief discussions were made with the stand neighbors about access to the cramped spaces, it was time to call it a day and dismantle it.The official end was 7 p.m. and we had everything dismantled and put away at 7:46 p.m. DRY! I would like to emphasize here.Lots of “goodbye, ciao, see you soon, see you” later and we actually went home.
Three days of the long-awaited medieval spectacle in Münzenberg have come to an end. Happy, exhausted and with the prospect of sleeping in without an alarm clock, we head home.Speaking of alarm clocks: you shouldn’t do the math without three cats. We probably forgot to tell them that we wanted to sleep in – yawn
Conclusion.
Even in the 15th edition, the organizers of the Free Knighthood of Münzenberg have managed to put together a perfect festival and also expand it. When around 1,000 active members from the camp, knights and traders have to be looked after, that means a lot of work, good nerves and also strong assertiveness.
During the day you always see someone from the knighthood walking past the tent and you always have a contact person available if needed.
So I would like to thank you for the club’s great work and the strengthening of regional basket making (you will know what is meant). As always, it was a first-class experience to be there and I have already reserved for Pentecost 2017.
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