The Quarterstaff:
"Medieval Quarterstaff - This weapon consisted of a long shaft of hardwood
The shaft consisted of a long, thick pole measuring between 6 - 9 feet (3.6 to 5.4 metres)
Quarterstaffs were sometimes reinforced with metal tips usually made of iron
Used as a close contact weapon with thrusting, sweeping, clubbing or striking actions
A blow could apply tremendous force cracking a mans head, or bones if unprotected
The weapon was primarily used for bludgeoning an opponent. It was used both to deliver crushing blows, and also to thrust like a spear
Type or group of weapons - Bludgeoning Weapon
The Medieval Quarterstaff was also known by names such Stave or Balkstaff"
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As you can see a quarterstaff was a very effective weapon for any peoples. It was used to increase agility and reaction time. If you could react by blocking a quarterstaff for some time you could block a sword a lot more easily. Though a sword is not slow a sword could not change direction of the blow as quickly as a quarterstaff could. Therefore making the quarterstaff a very lethal weapon. Not only that, but a quarterstaff could crush skulls and bones.
Wrestling and "Boxing":
Wrestling was a brutal form of combat that encouraged taking advantage of your opponent by any means necessary in order to win a fight and stay alive. It is apparent that wrestling was accepted by all masters of weapons as essential to combat. It gave a distinct advantage to those who possessed it and the masters taught their savage techniques throughout the age. With wrestling a warrior could use himself as the weapon, which truly would have been an advantage if all others were lost.
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They would try to knowck the other person on the ground and they would wrestle. It is pretty universal what wrestling is, and their form of wrestling was very similair. they would knock the other person on the ground, and would get them in choke holds, and arm holds until the opponent gave up.
In boxing it was also very smple and similair. they would get in a ring usually with small padding, but not a lot, and they would fist fight. they would do these with teams or free for all, and it was the last man standing.
Entertainment:
Although the main objective of the Medieval fairs were trade and commerce, every fair contained some element of merry-making. Possibly starting from merchants trying to sell their goods, people were determined to attract the most customers to their stalls. Therefore, from a very early date, there was always fun at the fair. Any entertainment to attract a crowd, singers, musicians, acrobats, stilt walkers and fools. Fairs included various contests such as archery tournaments. Medieval tournaments sometimes coincided with Medieval fairs. Fast food and other refreshments were available. There were lots of opportunities for fun at the Medieval fairs.
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Feasts and Banquets:
"Anyone who has seen medieval pictures of banqueting scenes will have noticed musicians almost invariably present, blowing fanfares to herald the beginning of a course or playing to entertain the diners while they eat. Other entertainers might include minstrels, jugglers, mummers, or players putting on a pageant or interlude, a form of theatrical entertainment referred to in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. This poem is also one of many sources of evidence that the guests themselves did a lot of singing and dancing. Since the banqueting in the poem takes place in the Christmas season, much of the singing and dancing consists of carols. But a major source of entertainment at a medieval banquet was apt to be culinary in nature, at least in part."
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They would have storytellers telling epics or legends, and a lot of the times they would say riddles. The riddles could be anything, and during the night people would try to figure them out, and sometimes the lords would give a prize to the person who could solve one of the hardest riddles. During the feasting part they would have 5-7 course dinners. Most of them were 6, but with a few exceptions. the most important of feasts had more food, and least important had less food.
Drinking and Dancing:
These are pretty simple. You can dance individually or with a partner, and temas or individuals would compete. they would see who could dance the best, and for the longest. if it was deemed to easy the person(s) were taken out, and the last person standing won. Now for drinking it was whoever could drink the most in a certain amount of time. This was usually ale or beer, and was never wine.(My Father a history nerd like Mr. Lockwood:})
So in all fairs/festivals were usually held on church feast days and or land days such as 1st day of spring etc. There was plenty of entertainment and fun. Fairs were more public like festivals, but there was a special feast after festivals unlike fairs. Fairs were mainly for merchanting, and festivals for showing off skill, and winning prizes. There were plenty of events, and anyone could enter them knowing real well the consequences of joining an event such as wrestling or quarterstaff fights.
