Ya Raqs: Formby Medieval & Viking Festival, posted by Phoenece

Last month Ya Raqs were invited to join another Medieval and Viking Event, this time in Formby. This is the third year the event has taken place and we were pleased to be invited - it was a great success and attracted over 700 visitors. I was joined by Kebi, Mish Mish, Naima and Tameri. and we all had a great time - it was a really relaxed atmosphere.

As we entered the entrance to the Guild Hall where the event was held we were met by a magnificent Viking ship. The Vikings built fast ships for raiding and war. These ships were 'dragon-ships' or 'long ships'. The prows of the ships often featured a carved dragon or other creature. Its purpose was to protect the sailors from sea and to frighten their enemies.

The prow of the Viking long ship

We have got to know a lot of the re-enactors and stall holders over the past few months so it was good to catch up with them again.

Kebi teaching a knight to dance

We performed four sets throughout the day, which included lots of audience participation, young and old alike.

Audience participation with Kebi, Phoenece, Naima and Tameri

I danced a stick routine with John, a member of the scouts who was raising funds throughout the day, but he took time out for a spot of dancing. He was really keen and he picked it up really quickly.

Stick dance with John

We also did some impromptu dancing outside the tent.

Later on in the day we were asked by John (my young dancing partner) if we would go and watch a Viking show between some local children, they had arranged it among themselves; it was good fun watching them.

Tameri and Naima with some of the children from the Viking show

There was lots going on throughout the day, we circulated during the day in between dance sets.

Tameri and Naima joined in with the local children in a battle with the Knights

There was also a magnificent young raven whose parent’s offspring are used to keep the Tower of London stocked up. The presence of the ravens is traditionally believed to protect the Crown and the Tower; a superstition holds that "If the six resident Tower of London ravens are lost or fly away, the Crown will fall and Britain with it. There are seven resident ravens at the Tower today (the required six and one spare!).