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a woman's
life

births

weddings

divorces

death & dying

manners

cooking

housework

shopping

gardening

livestock &
poultry care

education

employment
opportunities

recreation
& hobbies

holidays &
feast days

board games

music

embroidery
& needlework

pet keeping

reading

dancing

horseriding

hawking

hunting

sex &
sexual health

PLEASE NOTE!
ADULT THEMES!

 

Medieval Recreation, Passtimes, Hobbies & Leisure
HOLIDAYS & FEAST DAYS - BOARD GAMES - MUSIC - EMBROIDERY - PET KEEPING - READING
DANCING - HORSE RIDING - HAWKING - HUNTING


Medieval women did find time for recreational activities. There were 60 to 70 religious holidays during the year which provided a break from regular work.

The detail at right is from a painting from 1410, The Garden of Eden. It shows noble women relaxing in a beautiful garden setting with a variety of flowers. They are engaged in music, berry-picking and reading- all genteel pursuits suitable for women of good breeding.

Simple pleasures like flower-picking were available to both peasant women and nobles alike. Board games were available to most women, although elaborate boards and playing pieces were the domain of the wealthy alone. Hawking was a sport which was available to noble women only.

Please click the links below for information on the following:

HOLIDAYS & FEAST DAYS
When and how to celebrate holidays and feast days

BOARD GAMES
Chess, merrils, tric-trac and other board games

MUSIC
Making music

EMBROIDERY
Fine embroidery and needlework

PET KEEPING
What kind of pet did the medieval woman have?

READING
Books for instruction and pleasure

DANCING
Who dances and when?

HORSE RIDING
Riding for pleasure

HAWKING
Hawking and falconing for the medieval woman

HUNTING
Hunting with bows and arrows

 

Copyright © Rosalie Gilbert
All text & photographs within this site are the property of Rosalie Gilbert unless stated.
Art & artifact images remain the property of the owner.
Images and text may not be copied and used without permission.