Medieval Entertainment varied according to rank but usually included jousts, tournaments, Mystery Plays, fairs, sports, hunting, animal entertainment using dogs, bears and monkeys (as it was legal in those days).
Entertainment in the Middle Ages - Holidays and Festivals The boredom of Medieval daily life during the Middle ages was relieved by the various types of entertainment, festivals and holidays, the Medieval people of the Middle Ages shared a communal life in the work of the fields, in the sports of the village green, in the services of the parish church. They enjoyed many holidays; it has been expected that, besides Sundays, about eight weeks in every year were free from work; festivities at Christmas, Easter, and May Day, at the end of ploughing and the completion of harvest, relieved the dullness of the daily round of labour.
Who were the people who provided the entertainment during the Middle Ages?
The Medieval performers of the Middle Ages included Jesters (A fool or buffoon at medieval courts), Mummers (Masked or costumed merrymaker or dancers at festivals), Poets and Musicians, acrobats and jugglers and conjurers. Music was a very popular with medieval people and the heart of the villages and towns were dancing, singing and enjoying themselves not having to worry about anything like work or how poor they were.
Did you know?
Archery was compulsory by law, for everyone, from simple working peasants to high rich Lords. It was so because if they needed reinforcements in battle they would still have an advantage as they all had to learn Archery from a young age.
Games and Entertainment in the Middle Ages: Different types of Games and entertainment fell into a number of different categories including Card Games, Board Games, Dice Games, Sporting Games and Children's games. The following board games were played and enjoyed as entertainment during the Middle Ages:
Chess
Tables - Backgammon
Nine Men's Morris
Alquerques - Checkers
Fox & Geese - a game of strategy
The Philosophers Game - a game of strategy and numbers
Shovelboard - the ancestor of shuffleboard
Knucklebones - Early game of dice
Hazard - Craps
Medieval outdoor games:
Archery - Archery contests were especially popular