Yard Sales, Episcopalians, and Medieval Knights

Finally, a quiet weekend - just the two of us. Tim and I had been on vacation in San Antonio with my family for a week and then entertained his parents July Fourth weekend. We really needed some time to ourselves. We have our normal routine on Saturday mornings - coffee, a quick frog inspection, the post office, Price Chopper groceries, liquor store, and cauldron shopping at the local "dark arts" gift shop for some herbs and occasional skull candle. Just a normal Saturday in Delaware county.

Saturday also happened to be the annual St. James Church yard sale. Local craftsman, booksellers, bric-a-brac dealers, all show up and brave the rain and hopefully sell something. We go to the event every year and always manage to spend money. Another event that occurs during the sale is the Medieval Jousting Event. Don't ask how Medieval Jousting sneaks past the event coordinator every year but it does. People paying to dress up in costume and pretend to fight each other with prehistoric weapons? Now, I can't pass up a joust or for that matter a mime act - but this year there was an interesting little twist.

We got to the yard sale earlier then usual and we noticed that the Medieval persons had added these charming new jousting tents. We walked over to inspect the tents and noticed that the "jousters" were sitting outside of their tents - praying? Oddly enough, it turns out that the jousters are Orthodox Jews and they were praying - in preparation for the day? It this allowed? I know that Medieval people didn't have electricity but shouldn't there be a boy hired to handle the weapons for them? They can't turn on a stove but they can run someone through with a sword? I know I am not always up to speed with all things kosher - I just find this a little disconcerting. I will have to google Hassidic jousting. Who knew?