| Life in the Middle Ages could be very challenging and | | | | morning functions. The grooms would be caring for |
| difficult. But there were many stretches of time | | | | the horses, the cooks would be preparing the days |
| when warfare was at a minimum, crops were | | | | meals, and the tradesmen such as blacksmiths, |
| plentiful, and castles were the homes of Lords, | | | | carpenters, and masons would all be performing their |
| Ladies and large staffs of administrators and | | | | normal daily work. |
| servants. Here is look at a typical day in the life of a | | | | Between the hours of ten am and noon dinner would |
| Medieval Castle during these times of prosperity. | | | | be served. Dinnertime for the residents of a castle |
| A castle was a large organization with a lot of people | | | | was very important and if they had honored guests |
| and a lot of things that needed to be done. This was | | | | it could be a very long and festive event. It always |
| accomplished with a well figured out system and | | | | begun with a saying of grace then the serving of a |
| hierarchy of power and responsibility. At the top of | | | | variety of foods from pork to beef and different |
| this hierarchy was the Lord of the Castle and his | | | | types of vegetables including beans and peas. There |
| Lady. Under them the responsibilities were broken | | | | would also be fruits like apples and pears. And if the |
| down into two general groups, the military group and | | | | castle was prosperous there could also be rare and |
| the administrative/domestic group. The military group | | | | exotic foods such as sugar, rice, almonds, raisins, or |
| was in charge of all the day to day training of militia | | | | even pomegranates. During the dinner party, |
| and the daily responsibility of security. The | | | | particularly if there were important guests, they |
| administrative/domestic half of the castle was in | | | | would often be entertained by jokes, stories, and |
| charge of the business of the castle and the running | | | | music by minstrels and harp players. |
| of the castle in as far as food, clothing, pay, cooking, | | | | After dinner many would return to their daily work |
| hunting, serving, cleaning, and all the other things that | | | | but the royalty, guests, and residents of rank would |
| go into running a community of people. | | | | often pursue interesting recreation such as horse |
| The typical day in a castle began with sunrise when | | | | riding, archery, hunting, falconry, or the playing of |
| everyone would get up from bed and begin their | | | | chess and backgammon. This would continue until |
| daily routine. The militia would rise and replace the | | | | supper. |
| night watch at the castle doors, towers, and walls. | | | | Supper would be served in the late afternoon and it |
| And the staff would begin preparation for the | | | | usually consisted of a light meal with one or two |
| day’s meals and chores. Religion was very | | | | courses then a sampling of cheese. After this meal |
| important to castle life and the first order of business | | | | the residents of the castle would relax and enjoy |
| for the day would be a mass in the chapel. Then | | | | conversations or the pursuit of their personal hobbies. |
| there would be breakfast; which was usually very | | | | In the late evening there was often one last light |
| light and often just bread and wine. After breakfast | | | | supper after which everyone would retire to bed |
| the castle inhabitants would begin their daily assigned | | | | early in order to be ready for rising with the sun on |
| functions. The Lord would take meetings regarding | | | | the next day. |
| diplomacy, trade, warfare, or legal and financial | | | | Life in a Medieval Castle was rich with a lot of |
| matters. And the Lady would often meet with her | | | | different experiences from the doing of daily work, |
| guests or pursue her personal projects such as | | | | the learning of skills and crafts, the administration of |
| needlepoint. Knights and squires would have lessons in | | | | duties to the enjoyment of meals and recreation. |
| fencing and other martial arts. Children would be given | | | | When times were good, the community productive |
| lessons in various subjects including religion. Many | | | | and prosperous, it was an interesting, varied and |
| other people would be performing their normal | | | | good life. |