Laurel A. Rockefeller's Blog, page 20

Dancing Bransle les Lavandieres with Queen Mary. Excerpt from Mary Queen of the Scots: a Play in Three Acts

I love to dance, especially the wonderful medieval and Renaissance dances I learned during my twenty years in the Society for Creative Anachronism. Though the contradances (aka “English Country Dances”) are highly favored both historically and in the SCA, I always enjoy the style of dancing called “bransles” that was common among poor and middle class folks. It should come as no surprise that I included my favourite, Bransle les Lavandieres (Washer Woman Bransle) in this scene of Mary Queen of...

Who were the Medieval Queens?

The Legendary Women of World History covers (to date) thirteen fascinating and historically influential women from antiquity through the turn of the 17th century (this will expand about 100 years in 2025 or 2026). These women represent the three main eras in European/Asian history covered by the Legendary Women of World History series: antiquity, European middle ages, and the Renaissance.

To date, four boxed sets group the first twelve books together. The only book not in one of these sets...

Gatorade: Not a Health Drink

We’ve all seen the commercials. Gatorade gives you essential hydration. Gatorade is essential to drink if you are exercising, hot from summer heat, or otherwise dehydrated. Better than water. The adult option over the kid’s drink pedialyte for when you are sick. The list goes on and on.

Which is precisely why I felt I needed Gatorade specifically to help me through my recent bout with the respiratory virus going around town – cold? RSV? Covid? I have no idea, especially with so many overlappi...

Katharina’s First Christmas in Wittenberg. Excerpt from Katharina von Bora: A Play in Three Acts

Martin Luther is one of the most famous theologians in the western world. But how well do you know the story of his relationship with and courtship towards his wife Katharina von Bora?

In “Katharina von Bora: First Lady of the Reformation” and its stage adaptation, “Katharina von Bora: A Play in Three Acts” historian Laurel A. Rockefeller explores Katharina’s life, beginning with her escape from Kloster Nimbschen in April 1523.

In this scene, Katharina and her sister nuns from Kloster Nim...

Don’t Force It: Fighting the December Blues

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year” sings the carol in celebration. From about mid November through mid-January, depending on your culture and religion, we are invited to get into the “holiday season” and automatically lighten our mood. We are expected to be extremely social at this time of year even as we are told to spend massive amounts of money – despite the promises of the “very real” Santa Claus coming to town and giving us presents – or at least to our children.

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It’s...

Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora celebrate Christmas (1524)

Martin Luther is one of the most famous theologians of all time. But how well do you know his family life? In April 1523 Martin’s world was turned upside down (again), this time by the Easter escape of a dozen nuns from Kloster Nimbschen. Among them: Katharina von Bora.

In this scene from “Katharina von Bora: First Lady of the Reformation” Martin and Katharina celebrate their second Christmas together with a boisterous rendering of the medieval “The Boar’s Head Carol.”

Excerpt f...

Martin Luther writes to Hieronymus Baumgartner (1524). Excerpt from Katharina von Bora: A Play in Three Acts

Martin Luther is one of the most famous theologians in the western world. But how well do you know the story of his relationship with and courtship towards his wife Katharina von Bora?

In “Katharina von Bora: First Lady of the Reformation” and its stage adaptation, “Katharina von Bora: A Play in Three Acts” historian Laurel A. Rockefeller explores Katharina’s life, beginning with her escape from Kloster Nimbschen in April 1523.

In the following scene we read the actual letter that Martin ...

December: The Season of Kindness

December has returned and with it the flurry of activity that is the holiday season. Depending on your culture and part of the world up to about 30 or 40 holidays are celebrated between December 1st and January 31st. Candles are lit, greenery comes into our homes, decorations are everywhere, as is food.

In the United States and across “Christendom” (to use the medieval term), nativity scenes, menorahs, and Santa Claus especially appears everywhere. “Jesus is the Reason for the Seas...

Who were the Ancient Heroines?

The Legendary Women of World History covers (to date) thirteen fascinating and historically influential women from antiquity through the turn of the 17th century (this will expand about 100 years in 2025 or 2026). These women represent the three main eras in European/Asian history: antiquity, European middle ages, and the Renaissance.

To date, four boxed sets group the first twelve books together. The only book not in one of these sets: book thirteen, “Eleanor of Aquitaine.”

The fi...

Vetting the avian vet: questions to ask your next veterinarian for your bird

Aragorn at the vet in New York City.

The bond between humans and birds is one of the most special and magical of any relationship I have ever seen or experienced. There is something truly wonderful about winning the trust of such a strong yet fragile creature. In nature few lifeforms equal the beauty and majesty of birds. Since childhood it has been my honor to share nearly every single day with budgerigars, zebra finches, and finally cockatiel cockatoos. Along the way I’ve experi...