Elizabeth 5 - Merry England Flashcards
What was “merry England”?
A myth that wasn’t based in reality
Imagined a “golden age” in which
-people wore fine clothes
- everyone had plenty of food
-people got on well with each other
-cultural achievements - such as William Shakespeare’s plays - were enjoyed by all
What sports did ordinary English people enjoy?
Football, played on the streets between huge teams from different villages, was the most popular sport
Bear-baiting - in which spectators bet on a pack of dogs attacking a tied up bear- was widespread
What festivities did ordinary English people enjoy?
-On saints’ days, villages held parish ales- festivals of drinking, eating and dancing - that lasted several days
-Christmas festivities included much eating drinking, and carol-signing and lasted 12 days
-On May Day people danced around the maypole and watched plays
-Harvest Home was celebrated once all the crops had been harvested at the end of August
What was the most common past time for the labouring poor and middling sort.
The ale house (pub) drinking beer with friends with gambling and prostitution
