Marc Gunn's Journal Articles: Do Renaissance Folk Fit in at Celtic Festivals?

Back in March, we were attending the North Texas Irish Festival. We had a booth and were enjoying the companionship of friends and fans while we sold CDs decked out in Scottish attire. We played some music, and it attracted the attention of lass.

She stopped to listen and then talk. She seemed exhuberant about the festival and slightly tipsy. Soon a couple of Ren lasses approached in Renaissance Festival attire. After they left, the lady made some snide comments.

"What are they doing here? This isn't a Renaissance Festival." She began to explain that in the North East, you'd never see Ren Faire garb at an Irish Festival. She said the two are totally unrelated, and this is the 21st century. It's inappropriate.

Well, I don't typically think on my toes and this time was no different, so I nodded and smiled.

I've talked to a number of Austin Celtic folks who seem to have a similar aversion. One lass has commented more than once that she enjoys the Renaissance music, but it's totally unrelated to Celtic music. They don't mix, so why try to mix them.

Why try to mix Renaissance Festivals and Celtic Festivals?

Well this conversation got me thinking. Why is that you find Ren Folk visiting Celtic festivals in garb? Do Renaissance Festivals and Celtic Festivals go hand in hand? Or should they be totally separated?

Well, much to my pleasure and the purists consternation, I believe they do go hand in hand.

Ye see, anyone that attends a Renaissance Festival knows that it's not about living in the Renaissance. Very, very few at faires have any desire to completely give up the luxuries of showers, clean food, and the lack of rats. Ren Faires about "Reenactment". Yes, most are themed on Renaissance reenactments. The majority are based in England during the English Renaissance heyday of King Henry XIII.

At first glance, one would say, this is the ENGLISH Renaissance. And you're right. It is the English Renaissance, but Celtic people were a very travelled race. One could argue that the Celts were easily a part of that history.
But I don't think it's necessary to really even make an argument that Celts were just as much a part of the Renaissance as the English. It's not really necessary because, again, it's about reenactment.

Reenactments vary with the current media flurries. A few years ago, there was a huge flux of Braveheart Scotsmen wannabes. Now with the popularity of the "Lord of the Rings," you have a lot more Elves and Wizards and Hobbits, oh my!

So it doesn't matter that the Elves never existed in the Renaissance. What matters is that they are reenacting a fantasy of something that doesn't (or may not) exist (depending on your opinions of the fantastic;).

But the fact is that long before the braveheart phenomena hit, the primary musical interest at Renaissance Festivals was based in four primary areas, traditional Renaissance music, Middle Eastern music, English folk music, and Celtic music.

That's right, "Celtic music!"

Ren Folk love Celtic music. Why? Because it's about times long ago. It's about their fantasies. It's about reenacting times when bards roamed the land and shared music with people around the world. So what does that have to do with people dressed in Ren Faire garb at Irish Festivals?

Well, stop and look at the garb. Where does this garb originate? A lot of the outfits are based on traditional clothing from various locations around the world. Yes, even the Celts. Many Rennies dress as Celts. Yes, some are donning kilts, but others are wearing garb traditional Irish clothing. Now, I won't begin to try to guess which is Celtic and which is not. Garb is not my specialty. But the point is, perhaps these folks are wearing traditional Celtic attire at Irish Festivals?

So why wear reenactment clothing at a location that's not a reenactment? Well, why do people drink green beer on St. Patrick's Day and wear stupid, green Leprechaun hats? It's fun!

If someone wants to act out a dream at an Irish Festival, it's none of your business! You are welcome to live your life as you wish, but let the dreamers dream.

So my suggestion...

If you want to go out to an Irish Festival and wear Ren Garb or Elven ears, do it. If you want to sing dirty pub songs and call them Irish folk songs, do it. If you think it might piss someone off that your dressed a wee bit differently and put on a fake Irish accent, DO IT! Don't let yourself be limited by such close-minded people. Yeah, there are some people who cling to their traditions, but don't let them stop you from doing what you love, to quote Nike, "Just Do It!"

Bard Marc Gunn plays Celtic folk music with the Brobdingnagian Bards. He writes poetry and lyrics, and captures pictures of nature, people, beauty and the mysterious. A hopeless romantic and folk singer/songwriter and breathes new life into traditional Irish and Scottish music, and shares his Celtic folk music, poetry and pictures freely to any who ask. Subscribe to his newsletters for free gifts, including: MP3s, CDs, eBooks, and more.