May 15 is Opening Day !  Come and join in the fun

Wolgemut to Perform at Greater St. Louis Renaissance Faire

By Edward R. Fliss

Wolgemut is a Medieval/Renaissance band that performs quality music in an entertaining way, with the goal of putting people in a good mood—hence “Wolgemut,” German for being in a good mood.

The performers sing and play on early instruments: loud shawms and German (not Highland) bagpipes as well as softer vielles (medieval fiddles) and recorders. This is not, however, academic concert music. They call it “Historically inspired entertainment,” and combine dance and comedy with their music.
Their performances can be loud and raucous, but are always entertaining.

Originally from Berlin, Germany, this minstrel troupe now includes performers from the United States as well as from European countries other than Germany. They have released 5 CDs of their performances. Samples from these CDs may be heard at www.wolgemut.net.

Three members of the band will perform, one weekend only— May 15 & 16

You too will be in a good mood—Wohlgemut

“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about”

~Angela Schwindt.~

It is a saying the guild members of Kid’s Kingdom know very well as they go through the faire days surrounded by children from all walks of life who surprise them every day by their amazing views of even the little things. And while the members of this guild aren’t always surrounded by happy, smiling children, it is something to be said that year after year they return to the hardest working guild.

Kid’s Kingdom has always been a small guild; just last year they had only eight members.  Eight members to run the petting zoo and the twelve free games that Kid’s also has to offer patrons. Such games include the Feed the Dragon bean-bag toss, a ring toss, checkers, chess, blocks, a sandbox to play in and many others. Having raised enough money last year from their Guild garage sale, Kid’s built a shed for their own personal storage that doubles as their dress-up stage. With the garage sale money, Kid’s was also able to afford to put in a permanent cement chessboard for their life-sized pieces. Now that Kid’s has their own storage center with plenty of space to store their fun stuff, it allows for them to include a variety of new games this year.

Kid’s Kingdom has doubled in size from last year, making this year’s volunteer numbers highest in Kid’s that has been seen by Guild Mistress Becky Becker. This is her second year as Guild Mistress and she still is as ambitious as ever for Kid’s future.

Besides new games, an interesting switch has occurred to Kid’s Kingdom. As a guild, Kid’s decided to move their characters into a gypsy-like band. This move, members told us, was made to make it easier not only for the newbies and returning veterans to create their costumes, but also because it makes sense.  “Kid’s Kingdom is like a wheel within the wheel that is faire,” returning member Ally Winkleman says, “Because of the work load and the small amount of members in the guild, you become really close to those you work with. We really don’t get a lot of down time to go out and visit the rest of the faire, so it only made sense that we became a sort of gypsy band when we already are pretty much that.”  The gypsy costume is quite simple to make.  Where before Kid’s Kingdom seemed to be a bag of mixed berries with a bit of flavor for everyone with peasants, fae, and pirates, there will only be the gypsy-peasants this year.

by Kaitlin Becker

How to Have Even More Fun at the Faire

Today is no ordinary day in the life of Petit Lyon, a little town on the outskirts of the great city of Lyon in central France. It’s a festival day! King François and his court have come to visit. And, attracted by the celebrations to honor the King, so have you.

Everything in Petit Lyon is already set up for your entertainment and delight. But there are ways you can have even more fun at the Faire.

1) Be prepared for a day outdoors.
Petit Lyon isn’t a flat field. It’s a forested park with gentle hills and winding roads. You’ll be walking. And even though most of Petit Lyon is shaded, there are sunny areas. Wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen, bug repellant, and a hat. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day especially if the weather is warm.

2) Dress the part.
Many people who love Renaissance faires come in full-blown costume, but you don’t have to go that far to get in the spirit. For women, a “boho” blouse and floaty skirt not only will look great but will let breezes cool you off. For men, try a loose-fitting, long-sleeved cotton shirt worn over your pants instead of tucked in. Roll up the sleeves to the elbow, open the collar, and belt the shirt around your waist. Instant peasant! Thrift shops like Goodwill and the Salvation Army are great resources for creativity on the cheap. So are children’s Halloween costumes. We’ve had many little princesses, fairies, and pirates come visit us. Also, there are clothing merchants at Petit Lyon who sell boots, hats, and everything in between. Some of the clothes are period-authentic. Some are just for fun.

3) Explore the nooks and crannies.
Petit Lyon has a “main street” that starts at the entrance gate, and a couple of “first avenues” that lead from the main street to the joust field. These streets are crammed with enticing merchants and performers. If you stay only on these streets, however, you’ll miss more than half the fun. There are demonstrations and hands-on activities plus more shows and shops in the Court and Village areas, Faerie Forest, German Encampment, Kids’ Kingdom, and Scots Realm. Follow the map you’ll receive at the entrance gate and explore the whole town.

4) Play with us!
It’s not what “they did then”—it’s what “we do now.” When you walk over the entrance bridge, you enter the 16th century. Everyone in the all-volunteer cast of the Faire has taken on the “persona” of someone living in the Renaissance, from the lowliest beggar to the king himself. For months we’ve studied Renaissance history and lifestyles to know the sorts of things about our 16th-century selves that we know about our 21st-century selves. Talk with us! When we ask if you’re having a good time in Petit Lyon, we hope you’ll enjoy answering. Ask us questions in return. You’ll get that gone-back-in-time feeling, and you might learn something unexpected, too!

5) Watch the speed limit.
City of Wentzville road crews are working diligently to complete the construction on West Meyer Road before the Faire’s opening day. But in case the weather between now and then slows down their schedule, take those 20 mph speed limit signs seriously. You don’t want to start or end your day with an accident or speeding ticket.

See you soon in 1518!

By Barbara MacRobie, a.k.a. Ilse Gersten; German Guild costuming staff

In History

A World in Upheaval - Religion in Europe in the 16th Century


In Europe in 1500 there was one Christian Church. We know it as the Roman Catholic Church. They knew it only as the Catholic Church or the Church Catholic. The word Catholic means universal, and it was universal because everyone was part of the Catholic Church. There were no options. The church and civil government were interlocked with each other with the church largely supported by taxes. While this seems intolerable to our modern American outlook the people of 1500 considered it normal.

The real problem with the church was that it was corrupt. Many of the leaders cared little for God or religion. Most Bishops and higher officials ran the church for their own benefit with little concern for the spiritual welfare of the people. Local clergy were often poorly educated and knew the teachings of the church only enough to conduct services and hear confessions. The church had declared the Latin translation (called the Vulgate) the official Bible. Pope Leo the Tenth started the practice of selling indulgences. By paying money a person was promised they could be forgiven for a particular sin or a series of sins depending on the price.

In the Renaissance instead of learning truth in art, music philosophy and even theology as it had been handed down, people began to try doing new things on their own. Scholars were learning ancient languages and studying ancient philosophers not just to repeat what they had been taught but learning from them to think things through for themselves. Church scholars, theologians, learned the Greek and Hebrew languages of the original Bible and read the ancient texts for themselves. They questioned the teachings of the church and the Vulgate on the basis of what they found reading the scriptures for themselves.

Some teachers had raised questions about the teachings of the church before but the selling of indulgences sparked some vigorous and heated dissent. In France around 1507 Jacques Lefevre de Etaples was studying and writing about the Bible especially the book of Romans and the Psalms. He wrote against indulgences saying not only that forgiveness cannot be sold but that a person could be forgiven and made right with God simply by believing in Jesus’ salvation without having to do any penance or pay for it.

A few years later in the German state of Saxony Martin Luther posted some ideas on a church door for debate raising some of the same questions. Luther knew at least something of Lefevre’s writing. And Luther was also studying and teaching on Romans and Psalms and he got more notice and was even expelled from the church for it. In Geneva, Switzerland Zwingli was teaching somewhat along the same lines.

One of the main differences in the development of these different teachers was political. In France Lefevre was befriended by some of the royal family and was tolerated. The official stance remained in support of the Catholic Church as the only church tolerated in France, however. King Francios and later Henri II occasionally issued that protestants were exiled for a time but there was no wholesale persecution until somewhat later in the century.
In Germany Luther had some strong support from Prince Frederick the Wise and some other Princes who protected Luther and allowed him to teach and publish and direct the church in their provinces. The people did not decide for themselves which church they would follow, the prince decided for them.
Back in France in 1536 when King Francis issued one of his decrees banning the protestants several leaders in Paris were forced to leave the country. Jean Cauvin went with them to Geneva where he took over for Zwingli and adopted the Swiss version of his name, John Calvin.

Over in England religion had taken a bit of a different turn. Henry the Eighth had married Catherine of Argon from Spain very much for political reasons. After several years Henry was frustrated because the only child Catherine bore was a daughter Mary. Like most kings at that time Henry wanted very badly to have a son and when the Pope would not annul his marriage he declaree the church in England independent of the Catholic Church with the Archbishop of Canterbury as its head. Henry could persuade him to grant Henry the annulment so he could marry Anne Bolin and eventually other wives. Only under his son Edward the Sixth did the Church of England begin to take up some of the protestant teachings.

One other major change that came out of the reformation was the translation of the Bible into the language of the people. The translations were not from the Latin Vulgate but from the original Greek and Hebrew. Lefevre did it in France; Luther did it in Germany; Calvin did it in Switzerland and somewhat later King James commissioned it in England.

Note that nowhere in this is there anything like what we know of freedom of religion. The faith of the people was determined by the civil rulers not a choice of the individual. Freedom of religion was still a couple centuries in the future.

by Dick Mintzlaff