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. ************************************************************************ NOTICE - This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday. This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter. The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I make no claims as to the accuracy of the information given by the individual authors. Please respect the time and efforts of those who have written these messages. The copyright status of these messages is unclear at this time. If information is published from these messages, please give credit to the originator(s). Thank you, Mark S. Harris AKA: THLord Stefan li Rous Stefan at florilegium.org ************************************************************************ Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 22:45:35 -0800 From: Anne-Marie Rousseau 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 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 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 Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] peerage vigil spreads? To: jenne at fiedlerfamily.net, "Cooks within the SCA" On 3/1/07, Jadwiga Zajaczkowa / Jenne Heise 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" 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 Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] peerage vigil spreads? To: jenne at fiedlerfamily.net, Cooks within the SCA 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 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 Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] peerage vigil spreads? To: Cooks within the SCA , Jadwiga Zajaczkowa / Jenne Heise 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" Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] peerage vigil spreads? To: Cooks within the SCA 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" Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] peerage vigil spreads? To: jenne at fiedlerfamily.net, "Cooks within the SCA" 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" Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] peerage vigil spreads? To: Cooks within the SCA 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 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 Date: July 5, 2007 11:02:55 AM CDT To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." 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 Edited by Mark S. Harris perage-vigls-msg-msg Page 9 of 9