The
Feast of Fools, known also as the
festum fatuorum,
festum stultorum,
festum hypodiaconorum, or
fĂȘte des fous, are the varying names given to popular
medieval festivals regularly celebrated by the
clergy and
laity from the fifth century until the sixteenth century in several countries of
Europe, principally
France, but also
Spain,
Germany,
Poland,
England, and
Scotland. A similar celebration was the
Feast of Asses.
Context
The central idea seems always to have been a brief social revolution, in which power, dignity and impunity is briefly conferred on those in a subordinate position. In the majority view, this makes the medieval festival a successor to the Roman
Saturnalia.
In the medieval version the young people, who played the chief parts, chose from among their own number a mock pope, archbishop, bishop, or abbot to reign as
Lord of Misrule. Participants would then "consecrate" him with many ridiculous ceremonies in the chief church of the place, giving names such as
Archbishop of Dolts,
Abbot of Unreason,
Boy Bishop, or
Pope of Fools. The protagonist could be a boy bishop or subdeacon, while at the
Abbey of St Gall in the tenth century, a student each December 13 enacted the part of the abbot. In any case the parody tipped dangerously towards the profane. The ceremonies often mocked the performance of the highest offices of the church, while other persons, dressed in different kinds of masks and disguises, engaged in songs and dances and practised all...
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