Headspace

In Aarnimetsä, we had an event and what an event it was. Talvi-ilta (Winter Eve) was celebrated now for a fourth time and the event was extremely nice for me. This was not only because of the people -nice people being the key ingredient for great event when I’m concerned - but also that everything went well. Talvi-ilta has grown from a small local one to a midrange event and has its own established traditions. Tourney was fought between Humalasalo and everyone else, we lost but I was still proud of the boys especially when Max spoke so very nicely to them. Archery competition was there, but this year the period skiing had to be left out.

One of the highlights was that we had now for a third time a storytelling contest in this event. Four years ago we sat in a ring and yapped about how we should have more program in the events, how they improve the atmosphere and all that. Three years ago I arranged the first of these Winter-eve storytelling things, that seems to be coming an institution of its own.
This year when Finkku wasn’t there people (at least a few of them) were somewhat disappointed as there would not be the next installment of his continuing adventure story in the low countries, last one having been left at a cliffhanger, our hero chatting up with drunken, feather-free cockerel and the beast’s thirteen best buddies awaiting to become cock alá vin sans his heroic efforts. Last year besides that, there was one entry that made it to be called a story, Adrian’s excuse at not telling a story then and promises of this year (Medium of dance would require prepared other people to allow him to make it). (Note: Last year, 14 entries, stories, songs and poems)

This year the competition had a bit fewer entries, but boy what entries they were. There were among others the joke-stories, one of which was adapted to a form of a “viking story”, from five line blonde joke by Cousin-Fergie (and of course delivered to the point, we MacÉbhearáirds do like our voices and practice a lot ) , there was a ghost story, there was Aisopos story fitted to Aarnimetsä, there was an actual viking story by a lady in her first event, Mikael Rantzow had translated a period poem from Provence, adapted it to Aarnimetsä and delivered it in most fitting and inspiring style, but this was not all. There was a play. Now in Aarnimetsä, there used to be plays performed in events and now we seem to have that again. They made it as a humoristic story, fable style, self-written and performance was amazingly good. To make it period all the actors were male, though the authors of the piece were ladies, much fun was had by all. Last bit of the contest was Adrian’s, as he explained that last year someone had caught him in a bit too good mood and with an all too well oiled tongue, but let none say that he wouldn’t keep his word and then Adrian, Birgitta, Erland and Johannes danced a story from Ferrara, a dance called Merchanzia that translated roughly as going to market. I have always scoffed at the idea of dancing theatrics and thought that balets really do need the libretto, but these four showed us how it should be done. The story was easily read from their dancing and it was fun I tell you.

The entrants of the storytelling competition provided everything I had hoped for when we started having these. Good easy go stories thought up at the spot, well thought out and researched period material, great atmosphere element for the evening. It also provided more. People came to do everything I had hoped for and more. I personally was most impressed with the danced story, but enjoyed every entry I followed (was out having a smoke during one of the stories, bad luck there)

So to those who were wondering on the outcome of the competition part of storytelling. All entries were applauded and liked a lot, but those that received special recognition from baronial hand were:

Sahra, A story of a Viking wife
Birgitta, her part as the market going lady in the dance Merchanzia
Mikael Rantzow, Knight’s Poem
The whole thespian crew, a play by Eleanora & Eleanora

Needless to spell it out, but I’m damn proud of everyone who attended the competition and made it great as well as of the people who allowed room for these performances all through their feast.