Feast of Fools Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
The Feast of Fools is the name given to popular medieval festivals regularly celebrated by the clergy and laity of the Roman Catholic Church from the 5th century to the 16th century in several countries of Europe. The feast of fools was an imitation of the Roman Saturnalia, and, like that festival, was also celebrated in December. The young people, who played the chief parts, chose from among their own number a mock pope, archbishop, bishop, or abbot. Participants would then "consecrate" him with many ridiculous ceremonies in the chief church of the place, giving names such as Archbishop of Dolts, Abbot of Unreason, Boy Bishop, or Pope of Fools. The ceremonies were often travesties mocking the performance of the highest offices of the church, while other persons, dressed in different kinds of masks and disguises, engaged in indecent songs and dances and practiced all possible follies within the church building.Except for the association with Saturnalia, little is known about the origin of these extravagances. which appear to have been very ancient. The festivals were most common in France, but were also observed in Spain, Germany, England, and Scotland. The Council of Basel in 1431 imposed prohibitions, yet the feasts survived in France until 1644.
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