Talk:Funfair

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[edit] Interwiki link

Would an interwiki link to de:Kirchweih be appropriate, or are the two entities too different? --Angr/_{tɔk tə mi} 21:28, 20 July 2005 (UTC)

Possibly, I read a little German, but not enough to be sure and the articles on the English wiki aren't quite straight yet.

Essentially there is a medieval concept on the medieval fair which was primarily a large temporary market, but also had entertainments. Frequently the fair was associated with religious celebrations, most particular the carnival, and often would include livestock and horse trading. As time goes by, elements of the fair diverge becoming;

1. ) a ceremonial/religious precession
2. ) the sideshows elaborate to become the travelling circus, also encompassing the menageries, although due to social pressure, few modern circuses include animal acts.
3. ) the travelling funfair - containing the rides and sidestalls
4. ) some funfairs become static permanent attractions (particularly at seasides) and eventually enlarge to become amusement parks
5. ) fêtes - small scale local fairs, usually put on by local towns people for local towns people, but mimicing many of the attractions of larger fairs.
6. ) the agricultural show, county show and in America state fair - incorporates the display of livestock and often has an associated funfair, but rarely involves trading
7. ) world's fairs and trade shows continue the trade elements of the traditional fair, and displaying unique national products

The critical element of the funfair as described here, is that the stalls, rides and attractions should all be transportable and the showmen constantly travel around the country from show to show. In contast, static fairs are either fairgrounds or larger amusement parks. In many ways the travelling funfair carries the strongest heritage of the medieval fair in Europe. I hope that helps. -- Solipsist 23:02, 20 July 2005 (UTC)

Actually, looking at it again, I suspect the de:Kirchweih is closer to the village fête which in England is often centred on common land next to the church, and frequently includes elements of raising money for charities organised by the church. In France and Italy the fête would always include communal dancing, but England is usually too resevered for that. -- Solipsist 23:08, 20 July 2005 (UTC)

The German word that actually occurred to me as the closest correspondent to funfair was Kirmes, but de:Kirmes is just a redirect to de:Kirchweih. --Angr/_{tɔk tə mi} 00:21, 21 July 2005 (UTC)

What about Morris dancers, Solipsist??? Arent they dancers associated with fetes in England? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 81.105.125.196 (talk • contribs) 23:34, 15 May 2006.

Yes to some extent that's true, but I think that morris dancing is a separate and distinct tradition in the UK. I'm not sure that there are any dances associated with major funfairs in the UK today, although it is possible they might have been in the past. Most modern morris dancing was resurrected and reinvented in the early 19C, mainly in an attempt to preserve the old traditions, but some of its associations may have been lost. I was at Ickwell May Day celebrations earlier this year (one of the oldest traditional May Day celebrations in the UK), and as well as dancing around a maypole they also had dances organsied by a morris troupe and a village fête which mostly consisted of stalls selling produce for charity. In many other village fêtes today you are likely to find the combination of Morris dancing and some smaller rides, such as a merry-go-round, swing boats or a coconut shy. But I'm not sure that many of those rides are run by the travelling showmen who set up the main funfairs.

Does anyone know whether morris dancers were a feature of medieval fairs? One of the complications of this subject is that the main elements of the medieval fair - market, funfair, circus, parade, minstrels and players - have fragmented and developed in their separate ways. -- Solipsist 10:16, 6 July 2006 (UTC)