Festival Cultures in Early Modern France: Elite and Popular Celebrations, c. 1560-c. 1640

Abstract

There was a wide range of festival cultures in France between 1560 and 1640: a formative period that saw increasing use of celebratory entertainment and ritual for sociopolitical purposes among both elite and non-elite communities. Festivals organized by the elite and non-elite populations had differing characteristics but were not exclusively targeted at either population: popular celebrations, largely intended for the populace, occasionally borrowed from, or even mocked, elements of court festivities, while festivals of state or royal importance, most parts of which addressed a ruling elite, could include segments that also involved non-elite audiences. Additionally, festivals in France were rarely, if ever, exclusively made up of “French” audiences and frequently involved participants from various international backgrounds. A final section will discuss online and printed resources for students who wish to further explore the topic.