Page 59 - British Museum: SYTYGIB Medieval Castle

At the end of every match there would be plenty of black eyes, bloody noses and broken bones, and serious injuries weren’t uncommon. Sometimes people even died playing it. Presumably you’d get a red card for killing an opposing player, because it’s rEaLlY unsporting.
And the score at the
end of that match is 27 broken limbs, to 19.
FANCY THAT!
A report from 1280 of a ball game in Northumberland, England, states that a player was killed after running against an opposing players’ dagger!Thatwoulddefinitelybea free-kick, or even a penalty, surely. Red card? Yes . . . because it was covered in blood!
Another form of entertainment, particularly for rich kids, was shooting with bows and arrows, either at targets or while hunting. King Edward I's son Henry had two arrows bought for his use in 1274 at the age of five, which would probably be frowned on these days. Very sharp sticks and five-year-olds don’t really mix.
Poorer children in the castle wouldn’t have been able to afford expensive games and toys, but they could make rag dolls, called poppets, and there were plenty of free games that were as popular then as they are now, like hide-and-seek, tug of war and tag.
People loved going to fairs and markets, where there was plenty to see and do. You might have watched jugglers throwing blazing firesticks up in the air alongside acrobats and musicians. There might also have been dancing bears and tumbling monkeys on show. Definity NoT the kind of thing you’re going to (or want to) see at your local theme park these days.
And when it was winter and the castle grounds and the land outside was covered in snow, everyone – rich or poor – could enjoy building snowmen and having snowball fights.
One word of advice, though. Knocking the king or queen’s crown off with a snowball is probably not a good idea if you’re allergic to dungeons.
So there you have it. Bottom burps, bladders and brutal ballgames. Sounds like modern boredom is a LoT safer than medieval mayhem!
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Fun and games