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Does Saxon food matter?

171 replies

learnandsay · 31/12/2012 10:21

When I can I take my daughter to historical re-enactments. We haven't been to many yet and those that we have been to she hasn't liked much, except parts of Norwich castle.) The Viking one that we went to recently had open fires and the smoke got in her eyes. Then men with chain-mail and heavy shields fought and she asked if we could go home! But she did seem to absorb lots of details about their clothes, their food, their cooking methods and so on. So, even though she claimed not to have liked it I think that trip was worth it. Thinking about King Alfred makes me think of Saxon food. But in practice it seems so similar to Viking food that it doesn't seem worth making a special effort to visit such a re-enactment. Would this be fair? My daughter is very young. I think perhaps we'll visit Winchester when she's older. But for now we'll read about Sutton Hoo, (maybe visit) but beyond that will leave the Saxons alone.

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mrz · 31/12/2012 13:58

Aberdeen Angus as breed developed in the 19th C but their bloodline is from cattle introduced by Norse raiders mixed with local black cattle ... it depends on the 4 year old

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sittinginthesun · 31/12/2012 14:00

My eldest loves history, but most of his passion was driven by a decent children's history book, and various Playmobil sets. I have been in real trouble before for trying to Hoover around a re- enactment of the Mark Antony and Cleopatra sea battle thing. He also wrote to the head of Playmobil with his suggestions for an Ancient Greek range (and Wooden Horse etc). He didn't receive a reply.

When we took him to the British Museum, he couldn't get over how accurate the Egyptian stuff was, compared to the Playmobil range.Smile

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LRDtheFeministDude · 31/12/2012 14:02

I expect that's right - I was pretty sure they were modern!

The reason I mentioned the cattle breed wasn't so much because a four year old can't be interested (my little brother could bore for Britain about farmers and farming at age 4). But more, the point is that the OP is getting ever so worried about the finer details of 'authenticity', and hoping this will spark her DD's interest, although that interest hasn't been in evidence yet. I'm just saying, I think you can go way too far trying to be 'authentic' and nit-pick at the details, and maybe if the child isn't interested, she's just not going to be?

I don't know.

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mrz · 31/12/2012 14:16

We are a farming family and my eldest's interests include rare breeds linked to history

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LRDtheFeministDude · 31/12/2012 14:18

That's nice. Smile

My little brother would have been the same.

It's just, I'm not sure the OP's DD is the same, is she?

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mrz · 31/12/2012 14:24

as I said at the beginning ... if she's not interested leave it for now rather than put her off.

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LRDtheFeministDude · 31/12/2012 14:25

Sure, we agree.

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learnandsay · 31/12/2012 14:27

No, my daughter isn't particularly interested in the origins of animal breeds, I don't think. But she already has strong opinions about the historical time line from animals (that I know nothing about) right up to humans of the present day. I've often been told off for getting it wrong.

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sittinginthesun · 31/12/2012 14:28

Me too.Smile

OP, it's more a question of watching to see what grabs her, and then encouraging and stretching it. What does she really love doing at the moment?

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MmeLindorNOTYET40 · 31/12/2012 14:29

Mrz
Ha. I'm sure there are lots of DC who are more interested in the engines than DS was/is.

He is currently working his way through a science set he got for Xmas and finding that fascinating.

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mrz · 31/12/2012 14:40

I think he just likes to take things apart Grin

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piggywigwig · 31/12/2012 15:08

We're total history-buffs in our house - I'm an archaeologist and whilst we don't do it now, we re-enacted and did historical interpretation to a very high level (clothing to museum-standard, where possible and all that) We took part in prestigious events - both multi and single-period events. Importantly, we did it with our children from a very early age - DD2 was a babe-in-arms and attracted the "ooh, isn't she sweet" comments all the time. We've seen how things are set up and what's out there to engage the fee-paying public across all age groups. We've done talks and interactive events in schools and museums.

Anyway, to cut-to-the-chase...if your child doesn't like it, then why are you doing it? My youngest didn't like the loud noises of battle and she was brought up on it - DD2 doesn't care in the least. So we stopped doing military events. I have to say that very few "living history" sites I've come across, have catered for children under 5, in terms of engaging their interest. Only the very "switched-on" and enlightened/progressive groups recognise the importance of involving children of all ages in a meaningful and interactive way - their own and the public's children Wink

Why does she need to know the difference between Viking and Saxon food? Children can get a lot from re-enactment - especially good quality, well-researched interpretation but I think that at such a young age, you're pushing it a little in terms of hoping she'll get something from it.
Museum days can be more structured in terms of activities as they can be more "hands-on", more interactive. They have more control over their environment - it's their "bread and butter". Re-enactors have to be incredibly careful with food and sharp, pointy things around the public - they're more restricted in many ways.
Softly-softly, catchee monkey is what I say. Try again later, or perhaps think about going along to the various events held as part of "National Archaeology Day". She's perhaps a little too young for the level you appear to wish to pursue when visiting re-enacments.
BTW - Saxon and Viking periods never did it for me

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mrz · 31/12/2012 15:23

Another place my children enjoyed visiting www.digyork.com/content.asp?ID=13

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bamboostalks · 31/12/2012 16:01

Wow, this has been an eye opener. I always thought I liked history. Now I realise that I am in a very minor league in term of enthusiasm. Feel very pedestrian in just being a member of the National Trust.

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BadgerB · 31/12/2012 16:11

Why all the condemnation of the OP? I took my 4 yo nephew to Bosworth re-enactment and he loved it. Apart from seeking reassurance several times that "they're not REALLY dead, are they?" The falcons went down very well too.

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newpencilcase · 31/12/2012 16:12

I'm baffled by this thread. It doesn't seem that learn&say is even asking a question, just stating our intentions.

We love a bit of history and are members of EH & NT and enjoy doing this at the weekend. We hope the DC (7&4) enjoy it too. However, we have been careful about being too pushy.

For them it's mainly about running around the gardens. We have a great castle which they love running around. They might learn a fact or two but no more.

DC1 is more into it now, but because of Horrible Histories more than me.

Children need to learn their place in the world first, and history can help with that but not in such a contrived way.

She didn't enjoy it, she says she didn't enjoy it. That doesn't mean you need to spend the rest of her life at soft play - maybe just a couple of picnics in castle grounds when the weather's better. Blenheim Palace has a marvellous adventure playground.

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mrz · 31/12/2012 16:14

We are members of the National Trust and English Heritage and are friends of

www.killhope.org.uk/Pages/Volunteering.aspx

www.ironbridge.org.uk/support-us/become-a-friend/

although work means we don't volunteer as much as when the children were younger

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OhDearNigel · 31/12/2012 16:17

just Shock

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piggywigwig · 31/12/2012 17:42

As an aside and yet still on the subject....DD1 has just come in from work and plonked herself on my laptop. She's read the discussion and said that the best part of re-enacting for her, was the food Grin But then I always knew that lol! As re-enactors we were allowed to eat what was cooked and pre-prepared - yummy!
She also loved running around immersing herself in her role....if she chose a role, that is. She learned far more from re-enacting than she did in the classroom and I'm glad to say that she's aware of the mis-informed "stereotypes" and myths that some history books and teachers sadly still perpetuate.Sad That's not intended to be "teacher-bashing"
She misses it and we'd all do it again in a heartbeat if real life allowed us the time Sad

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learnandsay · 31/12/2012 17:53

Do tell, piggywig, do tell! Who did you dress up as and what did you eat? I wasn't really talking about getting to eat the food as so far at least we've only been members of the crowd. The nearest I've ever been to the eating part of things was when I was a child in Wales we used to live next door to John Seymour (the self sufficiency chap, anyone remember him?) As a young teenager I used to live in a wigwam on his farm during the holidays and eat free range eggs and ham from a side of pork which hung in the fireplace. It was a kind of free for all, you could just come and go and eat as you pleased. But it wasn't really a historical re-enactment, (a bit primitive, maybe.)

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mrz · 31/12/2012 18:05

As members of the crowd you can eat depending on the event organisers learnandsay

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learnandsay · 31/12/2012 18:18

We've only been to small things so far. The Vikings event was on a local heath. Years ago before the children came we cooked a Roman meal at home. It was lovely, very different from modern food (ok, so we had no garum,) but still it was different. We've planned to do a similar thing with another family but haven't gotten around to it yet. Much like the books people have posted, you don't have to go to some event to eat food from history.

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piggywigwig · 31/12/2012 18:19

As members of the crowd you can eat depending on the event organisers learnandsay

We weren't allowed to offer the public any food at all and we were always being asked if we could let them try. One of the reasons, was that the budget wasn't set for providing food for the public. We were also told that strict food hygiene laws (food preparation and storage) made it difficult to comply with the local council's rules/guidance. Insurance providers got very "edgy", especially with living histories in the middle of a field, liberally decorated with sheep poo and devoid of fridges lol Grin.
I have no doubt that re-enactment groups do provide food for the public to taste...but I never saw it, even at English Heritage's multi-period spectacular at Kirby Hall. Those with access to modern kitchen facilities and adequate storage may have more leeway

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learnandsay · 31/12/2012 18:27

Years ago before we had the children we stopped the car at some kind of village festival. They had some sort of dress up mock battle going on, but it was not a full-scale re-enactment as such. There was archery for the public and a hog roast. I can't remember what facilities the hog was being roasted in, but if you joined the queue and paid you got hot pork in a bun. I'm guessing there are degrees of public facilities for food and other things and degrees of authenticity and difficulty concerning food handling and storage. But I don't think I'd consider joining a re-enactment just to get a historical meal. I really do think that would be counter productive. If my daughter wants to join in such things when she's older then of course we will.

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mrz · 31/12/2012 18:29

I've eaten at Kirby Hall as a member of the public but it was a few years ago and certainly at other events we've attended. We've been to Roman cookery /tasting arranged by my county council at the closest Roman site and Bede's World and Danelaw will provide food/feasts

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