1620's weekend in Vadstena

Every year Vadstena castle, which was finished in 1621, has a military weekend with and invites reenactors to recreate the 1620s. The focus is military, but there was a camp to show off the cooking and crafts as well. I had met some of the people organizing it last year and decided to go. The 17th century is a new era for me, even if I had dipped my toes into it, but for this event I felt that I had to up my game, since the other recreators are really good. 

I will post more about my clothes as individual posts, but this was the full ensemble.

I had brought things with me so that I could show what a table in a tavern, and the ingredients that they used, looked like. It is based on an archaeological excavation in Falun, and I have written more about it here. 

For my own main meal on Saturday I didn't cook anything but had brought with me a mix of pickled vegetables, greens and meats to make what was called a "grand sallet" in the time period in England.

What is really nice with the event is that we were allowed to be in the casle at night, and if you had the proper gear you could even sleep in one of the towers. I bought a modern airbed with me though so I slept in a modern part of the castle.

The focus was on the military though and there were people from Sweden, Finland, Poland and the Netherlands there, and it was impressive to see such a large group of infantry working together.

There were also some musketeers, and two horses but I didn't get any good photos of the cavalry.

It was a really nice experience going to an even that is so limited in time, and everyone were really dressed up in clothes from the same era, early 16th century.

Still I'm not a big fan of the 17th century, and I didn't go from the event inspired to make a lot of new clothes, except that it would be nice to have a nice apron and not the worn and dirty that I have. Still I will definitely try to make it to Vadstena if the event returns next year because it was a great weekend.