peerage-vigls-msg - 9/23/07
Comments on SCA Peerage Vigils.
NOTE: See also the files: SCA-awards-msg, A-Peer-Within-art, SCA-royalty-msg, Fndng-T-Dream-art, Pride-art, The-Blow-art, Award-Rec-Let-art.
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Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 22:45:35 -0800
From: Anne-Marie Rousseau <acrouss at gte.net>
Subject: Re: SC - OT - A question of Peers
re: vigils...
my pelican vigil I invited newcomers to sit and talk about lofty philosophy
things. Then we went on a Vigil'ante rampage and harrassed people.
my laurel vigil I went around and talked to Laurels to pick their brains
about wheterh or not I would want to accept this heavy but great honor.
vigils are all things to all people...they can be a party or a wonderful
"you're so cool..." "oh no, YOU"RE so cool!" session :)
- --AM
>> And speaking of Peers - since there are a number of Peers on this List I
>> have a question about Vigils.
>>
>> How many Peers (in the sound of my keyboard clicking) had Vigils (and why)
>> and of those that did not have Vigils (or were surprised) do you now feel
>> you may have missed something because you did not have a Vigil.
>> Rayne
>> (who's not a Peer and has no idea of the answer)
>i opted not to have a vigil. Had a party after my elevation. A vigil just
>didn't seem to fit in with my early Irish persona. Did i miss having one?
>not at all. I had a wonderful party where many of the peers came and still
>gave me very sage advice.
>
>Meadhbh
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 03:23:38 EST
From: MPengwyn at aol.com
Subject: Re: SC - OT - A question of Peers
RichSCA at aol.com writes:
> How many Peers (in the sound of my keyboard clicking) had Vigils (and why)
> and of those that did not have Vigils (or were surprised) do you now feel
> you may have missed something because you did not have a Vigil.
I didn't have a vigil when I was elevated to the Pelican because back then,
only knights had vigils. (At least in the kingdom I lived it...you mileage
may vary.) My elevation was also a surprise to me. A number of gentles were
called into court without mention of their titles and I was one of them. Once
all had assembled, Their Majesties announced their intention.
I didn't feel as though I had missed anything for two reasons. First: it
wasn't common practice, and second: so many of the people I knew and learned
from were already peers that my life in the SCA was one ongoing vigil. They
constantly taught me things and gave advice that I took to heart and still
use today. That was 13 years ago come the 4th of April.
Meghan
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 08:48:49 -0800
From: Catherine Keegan <keegan at mcn.org>
Subject: Re: SC - OT - A question of Peers
>RichSCA at aol.com writes:
>> How many Peers (in the sound of my keyboard clicking) had Vigils (and why)
>> and of those that did not have Vigils (or were surprised) do you now feel
>> you may have missed something because you did not have a Vigil.
>
>I didn't have a vigil when I was elevated to the Pelican because back then,
>only knights had vigils. (At least in the kingdom I lived it...you mileage
>may vary.)
Ditto here. Back in AS XX and XXII when I got my Pelican and Laurel, only
the Chivalry held vigils which were generally loud, drunken parties.
Here, being the West Kingdom, vigils now seem to come in a variety of
flavors: you have your vanilla flavor where only that peerage is invited;
the Neapolitan flavor where all three orders are invited (I guess it could
be a Neapolitan plus one since the royal peers are also invited) and then
there's the tutti fruit flavor where it's open to all.
The ones I've been at were generally lots of pontificating about the nature
of peerage. I could insert several snarky comments at this point, but
let's just leave it that those who talk the talk the most, may not walk the
walk.
Ceridwen MacAoudhegain/Keegan old, burnt out Pelican, Laurel and Viscountess
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 18:07:29 -0500
From: margali <margali at 99main.com>
Subject: Re: SC - OT - A question of Peers
Not being a peer, I do have an opinion about mine[if ever, etc!]
I would like to have a vigil, but I guess sort of reversed-It would have
to be at a camping event, and I would have a small gettogether in the
evening after court, and as I do both sewing and cooking, it would be
sort of an A&S display sort of thing of handwork and foods so that the
others could see my work before the elevation and a small reception
after the elevation. I guess the early part of the vigil could be
between site opening and court, and then the reception after the feast.
I thought about having the display during the day because on EK list a
number of times peering was discussed and many peers made the comment
that they didnt vote because they had no idea about the person in
question. This way, they would at least get the chance to scope out the
new peer before court.
margali
Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2007 11:02:20 -0600
From: Ysabeau <lady.ysabeau at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] peerage vigil spreads?
To: jenne at fiedlerfamily.net, "Cooks within the SCA"
<sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org>
On 3/1/07, Jadwiga Zajaczkowa / Jenne Heise <jenne at fiedlerfamily.net>
wrote:
> In your area of the world, how common is it to have a
> buffet/munchies/foodzels for a peerage vigil?
> If you have 'em, what sort of food and how much do people usually
> provide?
> -- jadwiga
It is traditional as far as I've seen here in Ansteorra. The last several
vigils I've attended have had everything from simple munchies and drinks to
a full spread that would rival the feast.
The type and style depends on the peerage and if it is a laurel, what they
are getting laurelled for. We had one laurel who was also a brewer. It was
sort of a surprise so the food was simple but good (IIRC) and they offered
servings of several different items that he had made/brewed.
There was a pelican who had a cooking laurel in her household (I think she
is a cooking laurel - Gunthar? what did Gwyneth get her laurel for?). That
was the one were the buffet matched the feast for quantity and quality.
It was the same for the knighting ceremony (the husband was knighted and the
wife was pelicaned (is that a verb?) within a month of each other). The same
laurel created a wonderful spread for the vigil.
Those are the last three I can think of...
Ysabeau
Ansteorra - Barony of Bryn Gwlad
Date: Thu, 01 Mar 2007 11:12:57 -0600
From: "Michael Gunter" <countgunthar at hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] peerage vigil spreads?
To: sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org
> In your area of the world, how common is it to have a
> buffet/munchies/foodzels for a peerage vigil?
They used to be really common around here. I've done
several. I think they aren't as common as they used to
be in Ansteorra.
> If you have 'em, what sort of food and how much do people usually
> provide?
When I do vigil buffets I usually take the person who is being
elevated into account. I'll try to make dishes appropriate to their
personna and will often throw period out the window for a
couple of dishes and make their personal favorites.
Basically I'll do little finger foods such as tarts, filled items, cakes,
spreads, etc...
For an Elizabethan I remember doing pate', sugared fruits, mushroom
tarts, fruit gellies, roasted meats with sauces served open-faced,
comfits, caviar with cream cheese, etc...
Buffets vary from finger foods such as above to more hearty dishes
to be eaten from plates.
And then there was Sir Guy's vigil at Pennsic where I found out about
it that afternoon and the Bellatrix clan shoved a couple hundred dollars
in my hand and told me to prepare something. That was interesting
but I did manage to make a rather nice, if not period, buffet. My favorite
part of that was being told by one of my runners he'd been mauled by
a bunch of dukes who stole his full platter of caviar canapes and pushed
him back towards the prep tent telling him to get more. Since when do
big dumb stickjocks like caviar!?
> -- jadwiga
Gunthar
Date: Thu, 01 Mar 2007 09:23:19 -0800
From: Susan Fox <selene at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] peerage vigil spreads?
To: jenne at fiedlerfamily.net, Cooks within the SCA
<sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org>
Jadwiga Zajaczkowa / Jenne Heise wrote:
> Hey everybunny, I got a question...
> In your area of the world, how common is it to have a
> buffet/munchies/foodzels for a peerage vigil?
> If you have 'em, what sort of food and how much do people usually
> provide?
> -- jadwiga
They have gotten to be the Dernier Cri events in the Caidan social set.
Stuff that the vigilante <g> likes, even though/if he doesn't actually
taste much of them, not unlike a wedding buffet in that regard. See if
you can get some of the friends and family to bring dishes, preferably
ones that won't stain the garb when dropped by a nervous person. Finger
foods a plus, particularly if it's at an outdoor costumed event like a
war. Cookies, crackers, bite sized breads with stuff on them, etc.
Drinks in smallish cups, all the better for portion control. Hard
liquor is probably a bad idea.
"Welcome to the Conspiracy!" is my usual vigil advice. The grand
conspiracy to make the SCA happen for everyone else.
Selene
Date: Thu, 01 Mar 2007 11:25:49 -0600
From: Anne-Marie Rousseau <dailleurs at liripipe.com>
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] peerage vigil spreads?
To: Cooks within the SCA <sca-cooks at ansteorra.org>, Jadwiga Zajaczkowa
/ Jenne Heise <jenne at fiedlerfamily.net>
its pretty standard here in AnTir to at least have tasty beverages,
and often snacks as well. it is also
traditional for the laurels and pels to bring snacks to their first
meeting :)
what type of food will very much depend on the person, and the
attitude of their friends ;). I've been asked
to "cater" several and have had a blast matching the menu to their
persona.
I tend to do finger foods, stuff that doesnt require any plates or
utensiles, and stuf that can sit out on a
table forever without getting icky (tho it rarely sits around that
long ;))
how much will depend on how big the event is, and whether the vigil
is friday night or saturday night. as a
general rule I'll go for "bites". for example, a friends vigil that
was friday night of a crown camping event,
I did "200 bites". a cookie is a bite. a small tartlet is a bite. a
couple tablespoons of nuts is a bite. there
are many bites in a large 8" pie :).
--AM
Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2007 11:35:10 -0600 (CST)
From: "Pixel, Goddess and Queen" <pixel at hundred-acre-wood.com>
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] peerage vigil spreads?
To: Cooks within the SCA <sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org>
On Thu, 1 Mar 2007, Jadwiga Zajaczkowa / Jenne Heise wrote:
> Hey everybunny, I got a question...
> In your area of the world, how common is it to have a
> buffet/munchies/foodzels for a peerage vigil?
> If you have 'em, what sort of food and how much do people usually
> provide?
> -- jadwiga
There's usually snackage, although it depends on who is coordinating the
spread what there actually is. I've seen everything from a plate of
cookies and a bowl of almonds to what I would call a full buffet.
I was asked to provide munchies for a vigil last summer for a lady who has
a 9th c. Irish persona. So I was already working with limited materials,
plus it's hot in July, plus she is hypoglycemic so no sugar. I provided
dried plums and raisins, hazelnuts, walnuts, gingerbread (honey is ok),
darioles made with Splenda, and shortbread made with sugar for guests.
Someone else was responsible for bringing fresh fruit, which is why teeny
bananas showed up on the vigil table. There was also bread, butter, honey,
and her husband provided fresh cheese.
Unfortunately they stuck the vigil tent way out of the way so not many
people came by nor did they eat much. I think I still have a little
shortbread left in the freezer. ;-)
Margaret FitzWilliam
Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2007 12:45:14 -0500
From: "Elaine Koogler" <kiridono at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] peerage vigil spreads?
To: jenne at fiedlerfamily.net, "Cooks within the SCA"
<sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org>
In Atlantia, it almost always happens...even at Pennsic. In fact, I'm in
the midst of planning two for our event this coming weekend. Actually, one
is a reception for a gentle who already is a Laurel, Knight and Viscount.
Usually, when the person is getting a peerage, especially one that's not a
Laurel, the food is finger food, a combination of some period, some modern.
In the case of a Laurel, especially a cooking Laurel, there's an effort to
supply period finger foods. Often we'll try to cook one or more dishes that
the candidate is known for...like with Master Tirloch, we did his Hungarian
Chicken (thanks, Gwencat!!).
The reception this weekend is for Sir Tojenareum Grenville of Devon (Sir
TJ), who will be given his Pelican. The majority of his service in Atlantia
is in cooking...he was my mentor when I started...but his Laurel is for
leatherworking! So...we're doing some of the stuff we normally do for a
cooking Laurel...and, as he pretty much introduced Savory Toasted Cheese to
Atlantia, we're serving that, using the wonderful period chafing dish that
Master Hroar made. Also, instead of presenting him with a cloak, which he'd
probably never wear, I'm painting him an apron with his arms, laurel wreath
and pelican achievement on it.
Kiri
Date: Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:58:24 -0700
From: "Kathleen A Roberts" <karobert at unm.edu>
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] peerage vigil spreads?
To: Cooks within the SCA <sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org>
Jadwiga asked:
> If you have 'em, what sort of food and how much do people
> usually provide?
tends to be fairly common in the outlands, lovingly
referred to as 'vigil chow'. can be anything from fancy
period finger food buffet to small cakes, fruits and
cheese, depending on the personality and the timing.
cailte
Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2007 17:00:03 EST
From: Etain1263 at aol.com
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] peerage vigil spreads?
To: sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org
An interesting question. Im not sure about all of Aethelmearc, but in
ACG...we do food. We had one of our own get his Pelican last month, and another get her Laurel last week. He was in the cook's guild and her
husband is also in the cook's guild, so the guild provided both "spreads". We
included what the "honoree" wished, and then all just offered what we chose
to bring. The coordinator of the vigil had final say, but we almost always do
period foods, so there was no problems. The Cordon Bleu Cook's guild of
Thescorre provided pelican/laurel cookies for each event (much thanks for all
that hard work!).
We had meatballs, several kinds of tarts: daryoles, brie, lemon, plum
pudding, and strawberye, cakes, "cheese goo", trayne roste (special request of
the baby bird), and a cheese spread. Since both of these vigil's were
afternoon, prior to feast, nothing too substantial was offered.
As for "how much".....too much! Both times we had a lot left
over to party on later that evening!
Etain
Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2007 11:29:09 -0800
From: Lilinah <lilinah at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] peerage vigil spreads?
To: sca-cooks at ansteorra.org
Jadwiga Zajaczkowa wrote:
> In your area of the world, how common is it to have a
> buffet/munchies/foodzels for a peerage vigil?
> If you have 'em, what sort of food and how much do people usually
> provide?
To tell the truth, i have not attended any Laurel vigils. I figure i
have nothing to say other than "Congratulations", which i can say
with a hug after their peerage ceremony.
On the other hand, I have provided recipes for peerage vigils in some
others in other kingdoms, and i finally cooked last year for a double
vigil.
What to serve? I lean to finger food from that suits their persona.
When I cooked for a double vigil, i made more food than got eaten.
Here's the menu i made:
BREADS I purchased at a local Persian store
-- Afghan nan
-- Other breads
MEATS
-- Meat balls (13th c. Andalusian cookbook)
-- Sinab - Mustard Sauce (13th c. Andalusian cookbook)
-- Barida - chicken salad with cucumbers, almonds, and pomegranate
seeds (9th century Baghdad, by Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi (i'd never made
this and was eager to try it out)
-- Torta of Herbs for the Month of May (cheese, greens, and herb pie)
(Platina)
SWEETS
-- Lauzinaj (almond paste wrapped in phyllo) (14th c. Book of the
Description of Familiar Foods)
-- Rutab Mu-assal (Dates stuffed with Almonds and cooked in Honey)
(14th c. Book of the Description of Familiar Foods)
-- Bizcochos (Hard Cookies) with Orange Flower Water (16th c. Spanish
cookbook)
BEVERAGES
-- Pomegranate syrup (13th c. Andalusian cookbook)
-- Clarea d'Agua (Spiced Honey Water) (16th C. Spanish cookbook)
--
Urtatim (that's err-tah-TEEM)
the persona formerly known as Anahita
From: Kimberly Langhans <sarapenrose at yahoo.com>
Date: July 5, 2007 11:02:55 AM CDT
To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>
Subject: [Ansteorra] vigils
Hey, we had all that talk about vigils last week, and
then this morning I just happened across some photos
of my favorite vigil ever - Drake's. The pavilion was
draped all in white and candlelit, and Drake was
dressed all in white. It was lovely. Stepping into
that tent was like stepping into another world.
Pictures don't quite capture the visual and emotional
impact of the whole thing, but here's a nice one
anyway. Isn't he cute? :)
http://www.generich.com/elfsea/Lyonnesse99/ly99-13.jpg
Sara
<the end>