A Laureling We Go, Polynesian Style
or How Villa Luna and friends Partied through the Seige
or How Villa Luna and friends Partied through the Seige
If my last journal entry was all about my first experience being a consort and enjoying the fighting, this one is all about the Laurel
process and a very fabulous woman achieving a lifetime award.
There are four areas in the SCA that are called "Peerages". These are: Service, Chivalry, Arts and Royalty. Basically, fighting is
one avenue to achieving a Chivalry peerage, which is a knighthood. Service to the society can lead to an entry into the Pelican
peerage. Excellence in an art (or many arts) can lead to the elevation to a Laurel and entry into that peerage. And lastly, if you win
a crown tournament or coronet, you automatically become royalty and entry into the royal peerage.
When Baldwyne fights for me, we hope to someday win and then we would be part of the Royal peer group. But even if we
never win, his actions over the course of time would hopefully warrant a knighthood.
This last weekend's Arts and Sciences Tournament was a tourney devoted entirely to the arts which made the experience of
Rowan's elevation to laurel seem that much more magical (to me anyway! But it my first laurel ceremony so maybe they are all
that way?)
I got to camp with Sara and Bryne and Fredi around 4:00 pm. We caravanned up with Aline who was camping with her sister,
Ginaetta. Their group was in charge of the food for the vigil part of the laurel process.
Erin was in charge of the actual laurel feast. Rowan got to choose which era she wanted for her feast and she chose <drum roll>
19050's Polynesia! Ahhh something I am an expert in! So of course I lugged as much Tiki stuff as I could camping with me.
I was in charge of paniolo style ribs (paniolo is Hawaiian for cowboy, which are very similar to Korean style BBQ ribs), the
shrimp poke and mai tai flavored jello shooters. Erin and Rowan's household were doing the bulk of the feast, and Méabh and
Ginaetta were in charge of the vigil.
process and a very fabulous woman achieving a lifetime award.
There are four areas in the SCA that are called "Peerages". These are: Service, Chivalry, Arts and Royalty. Basically, fighting is
one avenue to achieving a Chivalry peerage, which is a knighthood. Service to the society can lead to an entry into the Pelican
peerage. Excellence in an art (or many arts) can lead to the elevation to a Laurel and entry into that peerage. And lastly, if you win
a crown tournament or coronet, you automatically become royalty and entry into the royal peerage.
When Baldwyne fights for me, we hope to someday win and then we would be part of the Royal peer group. But even if we
never win, his actions over the course of time would hopefully warrant a knighthood.
This last weekend's Arts and Sciences Tournament was a tourney devoted entirely to the arts which made the experience of
Rowan's elevation to laurel seem that much more magical (to me anyway! But it my first laurel ceremony so maybe they are all
that way?)
I got to camp with Sara and Bryne and Fredi around 4:00 pm. We caravanned up with Aline who was camping with her sister,
Ginaetta. Their group was in charge of the food for the vigil part of the laurel process.
Erin was in charge of the actual laurel feast. Rowan got to choose which era she wanted for her feast and she chose <drum roll>
19050's Polynesia! Ahhh something I am an expert in! So of course I lugged as much Tiki stuff as I could camping with me.
I was in charge of paniolo style ribs (paniolo is Hawaiian for cowboy, which are very similar to Korean style BBQ ribs), the
shrimp poke and mai tai flavored jello shooters. Erin and Rowan's household were doing the bulk of the feast, and Méabh and
Ginaetta were in charge of the vigil.
| Laurel Preparations Everyone in Teufelberg (and beyond) spent the past few weeks prepping for Rowan's elevation and party, especially her household, Villa Luna. Ascelin has been working on her gowns and many of Rowan's good friends have worked on her cloak and assisted with the gowns. During Wednesday Stitch and Bitch, we spotted Erin making Rowan and Jarvis' new banners. She's also been testing recipes for the Luau and organizing all aspects of the food. Rowan has been in the SCA for about 10 years and she has been apprenticed to Ascelin since June Crown 2000. She is renown for the quality and tastiness of her period cooking, but I think if she had not been laurelled for her cooking, she could have easily been laurelled for her costuming as she is a very talented seamstress also. I cannot tell you how many times I've heard, "You are not going to the feast are you? They are always terrible! Oh... Rowan's cooking? You better get your tickets quick before they sell out! She is awesome!" She has prepared and served many feasts for the society, including the feast for Collegium and Bryne's stepping up as Princess. She attended cooking school mundanely and her period cooking reflects her natural gift. The large number of people who stepped forward and wanted to be a part of Rowan's laurel process is a testament to how much she is loved and respected by so many people. |
Friday was overcast and cool (as a newbie not used to wearing 5 layers of wool
and linen, I was highly appreciative!). We really needed to set up near Villa
Luna as we were assisting with the feast and Bryne was attending the feast and
would have a sleepy infant at around 8:00 pm.
Our little spot was hilly and full of rocks. We set up and Gainetta and Euriol
started to set up a vigil kitchen. I met Euriol at Collegium. She was doing
something special for the page-school and I had my little guy in the page school
and was checking up on him and met her there. She was totally fabulous.
Promised to teach me more about period cooking!
and linen, I was highly appreciative!). We really needed to set up near Villa
Luna as we were assisting with the feast and Bryne was attending the feast and
would have a sleepy infant at around 8:00 pm.
Our little spot was hilly and full of rocks. We set up and Gainetta and Euriol
started to set up a vigil kitchen. I met Euriol at Collegium. She was doing
something special for the page-school and I had my little guy in the page school
and was checking up on him and met her there. She was totally fabulous.
Promised to teach me more about period cooking!
All of the sunshades went up and the pavillions of Villa Luna went up. Meabh
was running around with armloads of roses while Rowan's husband, Jarvis,
pounded in the stakes on the giant sunshade.
was running around with armloads of roses while Rowan's husband, Jarvis,
pounded in the stakes on the giant sunshade.
Euriol and Gianetta prep the vigil
food
food
Meabh is moving to later in the year and we are not very happy about it but of
course we wish her all the best!
course we wish her all the best!
Ascelin is Rowan's laurel. This means that Rowan swore fealty to Ascelin for the
duration of her apprenticeship. When Rowan is laurelled, she swears fealty to the
Crown.
Ascelin made Rowan this really cool gown for her vigil. It is white and hand
embroidered with many patches. Some represent Rowan's device, her husband's
device and the devices of the women and men of her peerage (does that sound
like Greek?).
The ancestry of Rowan's peerage goes way back and all of that is celebrated in
the ceremony. Each person is a link in the chain from the first laurel thru the years
to Rowan.
The vigil starts around dusk. Rowan was in a special pavilion set up for that
purpose bedecked resplendent in her white robes. The vigil was something
practiced by men the night before they were knighted in medieval times. It was a
purification process.
duration of her apprenticeship. When Rowan is laurelled, she swears fealty to the
Crown.
Ascelin made Rowan this really cool gown for her vigil. It is white and hand
embroidered with many patches. Some represent Rowan's device, her husband's
device and the devices of the women and men of her peerage (does that sound
like Greek?).
The ancestry of Rowan's peerage goes way back and all of that is celebrated in
the ceremony. Each person is a link in the chain from the first laurel thru the years
to Rowan.
The vigil starts around dusk. Rowan was in a special pavilion set up for that
purpose bedecked resplendent in her white robes. The vigil was something
practiced by men the night before they were knighted in medieval times. It was a
purification process.
| Meabh with wine and roses |
It was a very hazy and cool night on the Northern California coast. Candles lit the inside of the pavilion. A Vigil is an austere
occasion where other Laurels file in one at a time to talk to Rowan and give her words of advice and wisdom. This is not a time for
Rowan's friends to show up with tequila shooters and bawdy songs... but you can't say we didn't try!
Gianetta and crew made enough scrumptious food to feed 100 men! I had a girlfriend in attendance who had never been to an
event before. Sauen was kind enough to let her borrow some Viking clothing. Thank you Sauen!
occasion where other Laurels file in one at a time to talk to Rowan and give her words of advice and wisdom. This is not a time for
Rowan's friends to show up with tequila shooters and bawdy songs... but you can't say we didn't try!
Gianetta and crew made enough scrumptious food to feed 100 men! I had a girlfriend in attendance who had never been to an
event before. Sauen was kind enough to let her borrow some Viking clothing. Thank you Sauen!
Eirinach had come in late Friday night and put us all back on
track for getting the camp kitchen set up.
In the morning we all took classes. I attended Sauen's class on
Inkle weaving, which was very fun. I have been wanting to take
the class for a while. I also pop into Ascelin's "Dressing Your
Child" class and catch up with V, who drove in Saturday morning.
Court started at 12:30 and the main event was Rowan's
Ceremony. It was a beautiful ceremony. Several Laurels spoke
about Rowan's skill and service to the Realm. Her husband was
at her side, beaming with pride.
Below are a few pictures of the different parts of the ceremony
track for getting the camp kitchen set up.
In the morning we all took classes. I attended Sauen's class on
Inkle weaving, which was very fun. I have been wanting to take
the class for a while. I also pop into Ascelin's "Dressing Your
Child" class and catch up with V, who drove in Saturday morning.
Court started at 12:30 and the main event was Rowan's
Ceremony. It was a beautiful ceremony. Several Laurels spoke
about Rowan's skill and service to the Realm. Her husband was
at her side, beaming with pride.
Below are a few pictures of the different parts of the ceremony
Rowan and her family and laurel
lineage walk to court with banners
flying
lineage walk to court with banners
flying
Mistress Ascelin and Mistress Siobhan
walk Rowan to Queen Kaaren to receive
her Laurel
walk Rowan to Queen Kaaren to receive
her Laurel
| Mistress Erin and Jarvis bow to the Crown |
| Rowan's oldest son, Tim, walks into court |
Mistress Tangwystyl speaks on Rowan's
behalf. Mistress Juana is to
Tangwystyl's left
behalf. Mistress Juana is to
Tangwystyl's left
| Rowan's Laurel coat, hand made for her by her many friends and loved ones! Even her husband emboidered a patch! |
Mistress Ascelin speaks eloquently on
Rowan's behalf
Rowan's behalf
| Rowan receives her Laurel medallion |
Rowan swears fealty to the Crown
Queen Kaaren swears fealty to
Rowan
Rowan
Mistress
Rowan,
Jarvis
and their
youngest
child,
Jeremy
Rowan,
Jarvis
and their
youngest
child,
Jeremy
Next page, Laurel
Feast and
bawdiness!
Feast and
bawdiness!
