Expositions and fairs almost always occur around a Christian holiday, though some fairs may attract (and even be named for) a specific commodity...leather, wine, and horses for example. Most last for 3 days to several weeks for the larger fairs. Markets are usually held in the fall after the harvests, though some towns may attract enough peasants to warrant monthly markets, usually held on a Saturday.
The local Lord grants rights to markets, and collects taxes on all sales. Some towns have been granted market rights, and can host these at their own leisure (Leoben, Friesach, and Graz are the nearest towns to Rabenstein that currently possess this right). Out of tradition, Rabenstein attends the market of their leige, the Bishop of Sekcau, in Leoben on the first Saturday of every month.
The great fairs at Champagne and Cologne are the most famous in the Holy Roman Empire. Small, valuable items are the focus of the fairs, conveyed primarily over land routes (from Italian traders) via convoys of pack animals over the Alps. With the growth of the Hanseatic League in the north of Germany, the sea route is becomming more widely used, even by the Venetians. Piracy in the 12th Century was insurmountable, but in the 13th the English kings fight constantly for coastal use with their navy. The Channel is considered the most dangerous place by open sea in all of Europe.
Tournaments are similar to fairs, attracting great throngs of peasants and merchants, but they revolve around a mighty test of arms between nobles. Because their Rittern and Ministeriales are the most numerous in all of Europe, the great tournaments of the Holy Roman Empire are thought to be the grandest in the world. They are normally convened by a Duke or Margrave, if not the Emperor himself. With the Crusades fading into memory, their popularity has begun to grow.
Markets often grant special rights to the villagers, while denying them to visitors (such as selling goods before noon to locals, and after noon opening up the market to the rest of the public). Fairs are under the rule of the Lord of the town, or alternately the leadership of the Town. Curfews at dusk are commonplace, marked by the ringing of Church Bells. After dark the gates are locked, and the taverns stay open for three hours after dark. After this time anyone caught out in town will most likely be arrested.
Only bakers and taverns may operate after sunset. All other professions are prohibited. Weapons are strictly prohibited and are impounded at the town gates, and the wearing of armor is thought particularly strange (unless the patrons are nobles, of course).
The abundance of goods at a fair depends upon the size of the fair, its geographic location, and the season. For southern Germany, birds of many sorts may be available at (including quail, pheasants, partridges, thrushes, egrets, gulls, or plovers depending on where they came from). Salted herring imported from the Baltic is common fare throughout Austria, and larger towns may have crafts from their specialists available for purchase. Animals and foodstuffs are also commonplace. The common form of payment is the God's penny, a legally binding token by which the customer agrees to purchase the specified product and the craftsman agrees to make it. If the task fails to be completed, then twice the amount of the God's Penny must be paid back.
In the winter all meats are smoked in order that they be preserved. Please refer to the section on market goods for more information (however, Germany often offers hazel nuts, apples, and pears; Italy imports almonds, oranges, lemons, figs, and wine; the Balkans often bring folk eager to trade beans, carrots, lettuces and cabbages, particularly turnips, peas, onions, and beans which are available year round).
Stilt-walkers, fire-eaters, passion plays and minnesingers, or even minstrels from distant France provide the main entertainment at these events. Drink and food may be purchased from vendors. Unfortunately these fairs attract a great many cutpurses as well. Sometimes tournaments are held, but this more commonly occurs for nobility.
Lepers and loose women are forbidden, but the latter may often be found. Large towns may have stew-houses (brothels) set up outside the walls (where they are outside the jurisdiction of the Lord and convieniently neglected by authorities). They are normally headed by a married couple. Local Rittern are often very defensive over their stew-houses, so woe to those who stir trouble for the harlots.
This is held one half hour after dawn for the benefit of the many visitors at the Fair or Exposition. At larger events, additional masses may be held throughout midmorning.
In the larger towns, the threat of fire is such a constant danger that special arrangements are made to deal with the problem during fairs. Water buckets are kept near most buildings, outside, and all citizens are required to fight any fires which arise. There are heavy fines for false alarms, and the theft of a water bucket is hanging. Arson is similarly punishable by burning at the stake.
This page last modified 9/14/97.
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