Carnival

Ho! 'Tis Fat Tuesday already. This is our last chance to eat meat until Easter and eat we must. There must not be one scrap of meat or eggs left over at the end of this day or they will spoil. Of course, all that food must be washed down with ample amounts of ale and everyone will be feeling like having fun before the solemn times.

William and his brothers are sure to win the ploughing contest again this year and Gilbert is so strong that the ball games and races will be no challenge for him. Understand, they will not be competing just against our own villagers, but against those of the other villages closest to us! Why people will be elbow to elbow and that's the way I like it.

Everyone goes a little wild on this day, with rich and poor all joining in. Of course, when we are in costume, who can say who is doing what? The rich dress as poor, the men as women, some even as beasts of the field--why you can't imagine the noise and goings on. All the rules are broken for one day only so we may as well make the most of it!

The priests don't like all our cavorting about, but what can they do? They know it's just one day out of the year, and I am certain that behind the masks are some of their number.

Ploughing

Ploughing was done at various times throughout the year.

The land was divided into narrow strips separated by balks. Each peasant might have several strips to plough--both his own and the lord's.