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Medieval Gift Ideas
by Melissa Snell
Dateline: 12/14/97
Updated: 11/08/99
If you're looking for that special gift for a medieval history buff -- or if you like medieval history and you want to share it with your friends -- perhaps this page can help. Below are a few gift ideas that can bring a little medieval charm to today's holiday season. Gift projects and books are reasonable in cost, and if you start soon you can have them finished or delivered by December 24th. Or, take a lesson from medieval times and give your gifts on Twelfth Night -- January 6th.
The Artistic Touch
Do you enjoy crafts-work? Are you good with a needle? Then perhaps you'd like to make a gift for that special someone.
Candles
Candle-making was an ability that most medieval men and women were likely to know. If you know how to make candles or would like to try your hand at this rewarding craft, you may wish to stick to beeswax (instead of paraffin, which wasn't used until the 19th century, or tallow, which is difficult to work with) and make hand-dipped candles in order to keep the project "medieval." Beeswax has a lovely fresh odor and does not require the addition of any scents, but it can be expensive.
Whether you are new to candle-making or a practiced hand, please be sure to take all safety precautions.
Clothing
You may wish to create a medieval costume -- even if you don't belong to a reenactment group, it will look splendid at a masquerade or Renaissance fair. For a really authentic look, embroider the work using period embroidery techniques and period designs, or enhance it with hand-woven braids. If an entire costume isn't up your alley, you can use these techniques on something as simple as a cape or a scarf.
For sites that provide tips and patterns for making authentic medieval clothing, visit our net links for Reenactment Aids.
Calligraphy
If you're practiced in the art of calligraphy, try inscribing a medieval or Renaissance poem (or a verse from an epic) on parchment-style paper (real parchment can be very expensive). Shakespeare is always a hit, particularly his sonnets.
Food, Glorious Food
Thinking of a special holiday dinner? Try some medieval recipes. And forget that fruitcake -- go with a few medieval desserts instead. The Gingerbread Cake is a period Christmas food, and the Shortbreads are not only period but easy to present in a canister or, for a more authentic package, in a basket covered with cloth.
If the recipient of your gift likes to cook as well, include the recipe -- hand calligraphed on parchment paper, rolled into a scroll and tied with a ribbon. A medieval cookbook is also something to keep in mind; check out The Original Mediterranean Cuisine: Medieval Recipes for Today by Barbara Santich, available through Borders.com (please see below for more on this book).
The Medieval Touch
Whatever gift you choose to give, you can add a little medieval charm with a hand-calligraphed gift-tag (try parchment-look paper) or by wrapping the gift in fabric instead of paper (which was not really a disposable product in the middle ages). Decorate with fabric ribbons, dried flowers, berries, or pine cones. A personalized, hand-calligraphed bookmark with a holiday message is a great accompaniment to a book.
And if you love flowers, keep in mind the roses that date back to medieval times.
Many of the customs we observe today began in the middle ages. For more medieval Christmas ideas (including more recipes), please see Medieval Christmas Traditions.
Books
While all of the books below will delight a history buff, some have been chosen by your guide to help get your friends (or your kids) interested in medieval history. I cannot personally vouch for every book -- the recommendations have come to me from many different sources. Each book is less than $25 unless expressly noted otherwise. Many are less than $15.
As a result of a commercial relationship between About.com, its Guides and Borders.com online booksellers, these titles can be purchased directly from Borders.com by following the links below. (Note: Borders.com is solely responsible for fulfillment of book orders placed through these links.) Each page at Borders.com has helpful information about the book; so even if you're not ready to buy, take a peek if you'd like to find out more.
The Armada
by Garrett Mattingly
Outstanding account of the events leading up to the historic battle and the people involved. So deftly told it reads like a novel. Paperback.Arms and Armor of the Medieval Knight
by David Edge and John Miles Paddock
Packed with photographs and illustrations, this oversized volume follows the evolution of the knight and his weaponry from his origins in the eighth century to his days of pomp and glory in the sixteenth. Hardcover. Check out your Guide's review of this book.The Autumn of the Middle Ages
by Johan Huizinga, Rodney J. Payton (Translator), ulr Mammitzsch, Johan Hutzinga
Pondering the meaning of life for those who lived in the Middle Ages, this book focuses on France and the Netherlands during the 14th and 15th centuries. Highly recommended for a history buff or philosopher. Paperback; also available in hardcover for less than $30.The Book of the Medieval Knight
by Stephen Turnbull
Turnbull explores the history of the knight in fourteenth- and fifteenth-century England, focusing on the battles and the personalities who fought them. Includes hundreds of photographs and illustrations. PaperbackThe Burgermeister's Daughter: Scandal in a Sixteenth-Century Town
by Steven Ozment
The true story of Anna Buschler, who, after being thrown out of her house by her father for her affairs, sued him for financial abandonment. Enlightening and well written; may even get your tabloid-reading friends hooked on the medieval era. Paperback.The Byzantine Lady: Ten Portraits 1250-1500
by Donald M. Nicol
Annotated and illustrated biographies of ten fascinating women of Byzantium. Paperback. Also available in a more expensive hardcover edition.The Civilization of the Middle Ages
by Norman F. Cantor
A Completely Revised and Expanded Edition of Medieval History, the Life and Death of a Civilization. Excellent overview and introduction to medieval civilization for the eager novice. Paperback.Cultural Atlas of the Viking World
by Colleen E. Batey (Editor), James Graham-Campbell
Beautifully illustrated atlas detailing the rich culture of the Vikings from the Iron Age to the Norman Conquest. Hardcover. Price as of 11/08/99: $35.00.A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century
by Barbara W. Tuchman
This is the kind of book that amateur historians like myself greet with wild enthusiasm. The Pulitzer Prize winning historian paints a vivid picture of every aspect of life in 14th-century Europe, capturing as she does so the broad scope of historical significance in events both grand and mundane. An absolute must-read. PaperbackDungeon Fire and Sword: The Knights Templar in the Crusades
by John J. Robinson
An unflinching look at the military monastic order and the sweeping events of the Crusades in which they figured so largely. A military history buff's pick. Hardcover.Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Four Kings
by Amy Ruth Kelly
Well-written, scholarly, yet intriguing exploration of the life of one of the most extraordinary women in history. PaperbackFortune is a River
by Roger D. Masters
Subtitled "Leonardo da Vinci and Niccolò Machiavelli's Magnificent Dream to Change the Course of Florentine History," this fascinating account of an obscure collaboration includes voluminous information on Renaissance Florence. Hardcover; now available in paperback. Read your Guide's review for more info.Gregorian Chant: Songs of the Spirit
by Huston Smith (Editor), David Wakely (Editor), Thomas Moore (Introduction/Photographer), Ismael Fernandez De La Cuesta
This handsome and informative book on the history and nature of chant includes color photos and illustrations, transcriptions, celebrity commentary, and a CD of sample music. Paperback.Growing Up in Medieval London: The Experience of Childhood in History
by Barbara A. Hanawalt
Just because times were harsh and infant and childhood mortality rates were high doesn't mean that medieval parents did not cherish their children. A myth-breaking view backed up with excellent records. Paperback; also available in hardcover for less than $40.The Hidden Tradition in Europe
by Yuri Stoyanov
An intriguing look at secret religious sects throughout medieval history. Enthusiastically recommended for history buffs and conspiracy theorists. Paperback.How the Irish Saved Civilization
by Thomas Cahill
The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe. This book has been recommended to me by three different people -- I can't wait to get my hands on it. Paperback; also available in hardcover and audio cassette.Ireland in the Middle Ages
by Sean Duffy
A fresh look at the Emerald Isle, concentrating on the English invasion in the twelfth century and examining life in Ireland both before and after the invasion. Hardcover.The Last Apocalypse
by James Reston, Jr.
Highly enjoyable introductory survey to Europe at the turn of the last millennium, filled with colorful characters and gripping true stories. Includes seven hand-drawn maps, sixteen pages of photos, and a useful bibliography. Hardcover; also available in paperback. For more information, check out your Guide's review.A Medieval Christmas
by William Tyndale (Editor)
Splendid illustrations from medieval books of hours accompanied by biblical verses make a stunning book for any art lover. Hardcover.Medieval Lives: Eight Charismatic Men and Women of the Middle Ages
by Norman F. Cantor
A unique and stimulating way to look at history: through imaginary interviews with real people who lived in the middle ages. Paperback.The Original Mediterranean Cuisine: Medieval Recipes for Today
by Barbara Santich
A cookbook that accurately adapts bold, flavorful and unusual medieval recipes to modern measurements and supplies. Also includes a culinary history. Paperback.Sun Dancing: A Vision of Medieval Ireland
by Geoffrey Moorhouse
Combining dazzling fiction with less-than-dazzling historical treatment, Moorhouse tells the story of the Irish monastery on Skellig island. Hardcover.Uppity Women of Medieval Times
by Vicki Leon
From the first chapter (When Uppityhood was in Flower) to the last (Got a Brain, Not Afraid to Use It), Vicki Leon entertains you with the stories of some remarkable medieval women who were not content to stand in the shadow of their husbands and fathers. See your Guide's review of this work. Paperback.
The Gieses on Life in the Middle Ages
Joseph and Frances Gies -- together and separately -- have written many books on life in the Middle Ages, exploring everything from castles and villages to science and technology. They easily debunk myths with enlightening descriptions and thorough investigations of the facts. Their books are accompanied by helpful illustrations and photographs. Any one would make an ideal gift, not only for a history buff but for someone who thinks the medieval era was dark, drab, ignorant and boring -- and who could use a change of mind.
All of the following are in paperback:
- Cathedral, Forge, and Water Wheel: Technology and Invention in the Middle Ages
- The Knight in History
- Life in a Medieval Castle
- Life in a Medieval City
- Life in a Medieval Village
- Women in the Middle Ages
The three Daily Life books have been combined in a new, large, hardback edition with gorgeous illustrations. I highly recommend Daily Life in Medieval Times as a gift; you can find out more in my review.
Fiction
One of the best ways to experience medieval history is through a historical novel. Giving one to a friend is a great way to get him interested in the subject.
The Daughter of Time
by Josephine Tey
Get those mystery fans interested in a historical mystery with this engaging exploration into the facts about Richard III. One of your guide's personal favorites. Paperback.Down the Common: A Year in the Life of a Medieval Woman
by Ann Baer
The compelling story of an extraordinary peasant woman. Full of historical detail. Hardcover.The Name of the Rose
by Umberto Eco
This astonishing work is an exploration into the nature of good and evil, truth and lies, heart and mind. It is also a detective story in a medieval monastery. Superb. Hardcover; also available in paperback.Pillars of the Earth
by Ken Follett
An epic novel that tells the story of the people involved in the construction of a cathedral. More than a thousand pages, and when I first finished it, I wanted to open it right back up to the beginning. Paperback; also available in audio cassette.
The Novels of Sharon Kay Penman
Utilizing her extraordinary ability to bring the reader into the past, Penman has set several novels in the middle ages. All are popular, gripping works. The following are in paperback:
- Cruel
as the Grave
-- New sequel to The Queen's Man (see below).
- Falls
the Shadow
-- Sweeping epic romance of Henry III's strong-willed
sister Nell and Simon de Montfort.
- Here
Be Dragons
-- Based on the true story of Joanna, daughter to King
John of England, who marries Llewellyn, the extraordinary Welsh
leader.
- The
Queen's Man: A Medieval Mystery
-- In a departure from her romances, Penman tries her
hand at mysteries with this tale of the disappearance of King
Richard I and the one man who may be able to find him.
- The
Reckoning
-- Grand and tragic saga detailing the end of an
independent Wales and the fortunes of The Hammer of the Scots --
England's King Edward I.
- The
Sunne in Splendour
-- This heartbreaking romance may do more to change your
mind about Richard III than any amount of historical evidence.
- When Christ and his Saints Slept -- The first in a new trilogy about the extraordinary Eleanor of Aquitaine.
For Kids
Get your kids interested in medieval history with some fun and fun-to-look-at books.
Armor
by Charlotte Yue, David Yue
Who can resist the image of a knight in shining armor? Your child won't with this illustrated explanation of the construction and use of armor. For ages 9-12. Hardcover.Castle
by David MacAulay
Finely illustrated journey into the medieval castle that will capture your imagination and that of your child. For ages 9-12. Hardcover; also available in paperback.Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction
by David MacAulay
Another wonderful look at medieval architecture, nicely illustrated. For ages 9-12. Hardcover; also available in paperback.First Facts about the Middle Ages
by Fiona MacDonald and John James; illustrated by Gerald Wood
An illustrated introduction to the medieval era for your preteen. For ages 9-12. Hardcover.Huzzah Means Hooray: Activities from the Days of Damsels, Jesters, and Blackbirds in a Pie
by Laurie Carlson
Fun activity book teaches your youngster about life in the middle ages. For ages 4-8. Paperback.Knight (Eyewitness Book)
by Christopher Gravett, Geoff Dann (Photographer), Chris Gravett
Detailed color photographs enhance this examination of all things Knightly. For ages 9-12. Hardcover.
Fiction for Children
Stories can really get a child interested in what things were like in the past. Here are a few titles to check out:
The Castle in the Attic
by Elizabeth Winthrop
A charming fantasy about a boy who receives a very special gift. For Young Adults. Hardcover; also available in paperback and audio cassette.The Battle for the Castle
by Elizabeth Winthrop
The exciting sequel to The Castle in the Attic. For ages 9-12. Hardcover; also available in paperback and in audio cassette.The Christmas Knight
by Jane Louise Curry, Dyanne Disalvo-Ryan
Beautiful Christmas story based on a fifteenth-century tale. For ages 4-8. Hardcover.The Secret of the Viking Dagger
by Scarlett Ryan Foster
A wonderful time-travel fantasy that teaches children history and grammar. For ages 9-12. Hardcover.The Star and the Sword
by Pamela Melnikoff, Hans Schwarz (Illustrator)
A touching and exciting tale of children orphaned by the massacre of Jews in 12th-century England and the adventures they have in search of their relatives. For ages 9-12. Hardcover.
Medieval Gift Ideas is copyright © 1997-1999 Melissa Snell and About.com. Permission is granted to reproduce this article for personal or classroom use only, provided that the URL below is included. For reprint permission, please contact Melissa Snell.
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