FDU Magazine Winter/Spring 2021

Parting Shot: Ye Olde Banquet

Students studying abroad go all out, getting into costume and character, at the Medieval Banquet, held at Wroxton College each semester. From left: Ralphy Williams, BA’20 (Flor); Annie Fillenwarth, BA’18 (Flor); Ricky Belizaire, BA’19 (Flor), and Gabrielle Maitland, BA’19 (Flor). (Photos courtesy of Williams, Fillenwarth and Belizaire)

DaShaun Williams, BA’19 (Flor). (Photo courtesy of Williams)

The Medieval Banquet at Wroxton College is a time-honored tradition dating back 30 years. Students studying abroad delight in medieval festivities — a toast with mead in the Buttery, a traditional dinner and performances by a jester and minstrels in the dining hall.

They can rent, or “hire” in British parlance, traditional attire to wear for the evening and dress like a lady, a bar wench, a lord, a friar or a jester. “I dressed as a bar wench. I loved the Buttery and spent lots of time there. I wanted to feel authentic,” says Ralphy Williams, BA’20 (Flor).

It’s a special night, often filled with dancing, laughter and many selfies.

“When everyone dispersed at the end of the night, a group of us hung back in the Buttery,” says Annie Fillenwarth, BA’18 (Flor). “The only CD we could find was a collection of Motown hits, so we put it on and danced in our medieval garb. Such a fun memory!”