Barony of Bryn Gwlad

The Celebration of Light & Courtly Love

February 3, 2007

Baron Thomas of Tenby invites all to come to Candlemas in the great barony of Bryn Gwlad. The theme this year is “The Celebration of Light and Courtly Love.”

The year is 1170 in Poitou, a province of France where Eleanor of Aquitaine has established a temporary court. Eleanor has sent word of her plans to hold a great celebration of courtly love and the advent of light, an event which will last all day and into the night.

The day will be filled with classes, an A&S competition for both adults and children, a rapier tournament, and, just added by Baron Thomas, a bardic competition. The A&S, the rapier tournament, and bardic competitions will each decide the next baronial champions for Bryn Gwlad in each of these fields of endeavors.

In accordance with our theme of Courtly Love, an all-day competition will be held and decided by our most honored guest, Eleanor. She will determine the winners in the three different categories—best male, best female and best couple—who most impresses her and her ladies with their skill of displaying and/or performing courtly love acts during the day. Eleanor and her ladies will also decide from the rapier tournament which combatant impresses them the most with their skill of displaying and/or performing courtly love acts on and off the rapier field. Eleanor and her ladies will also be advising Baron Thomas and the judges who they think should be the new A&S and Bardic champion for Bryn Gwlad.

The evening will feature Bryn Gwlad's traditional lighting dance to illuminate the hall, followed by a fabulous feast prepared by Mistress Gwyneth Blackrose and her staff. During the evening feast, Eleanor and her ladies will choose the winner(s) of the Evening Table Setting contest. After Evening Court, dancing and merriment will follow.