Banquet turns back calendar

The cafeteria of Glendale High School was turned into a royal court on Tuesday night as seniors from two English literature classes participated in their Medieval Banquet.

The seniors masqueraded in costume and character as medieval kings, queens, entertainers and townspeople from two fictional clans called Staffordshire and Keastdom.

The Medieval Banquet was part pay-off and part learning experience for the students’ curriculum on medieval times.

The menu, music and entertainment of the evening all followed closely the time period. Even their customs and manners were modeled after those found in medieval living.

“Nobody sits until the queen says so,” shouted the benevolent sovereign of Keastdom — English literature teacher Cheryl Keast.

“You may be seated,” said Ellada Safaryan, queen of Keastdom, and senior at Glendale High.

The 70 or so students and four staff and faculty members sat on either side of long tables with particle-board “wooden” planks down the middle, generously garnished with cheeses, crackers and grapes.

The two kings and two queens of the court sat up front in full regalia.

“It’s not every day that you get to be the king,” said Mark Nayra, 17, and king of Keastdom. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

As two jugglers tossed balls back-and-forth and a third juggled solo, the court cheered and sipped their hot malt ciders.

The food, which included a main course of roasted Cornish game hen, white rice with pomegranate seeds and carrot soufflé, was all prepared by the school’s bistro cooking class.

The three-course meal included an appetizer, main course and choice of two desserts, all in accordance with what medieval people would have feasted upon.

“Since it’s like a banquet, it makes it more interesting,” Ellada said. “We’re able to experience it and it helps me to understand how they were and how they acted.”

The use of the winter feast as a teaching tool is important for the instructors, Keast said. But it also provides an opportunity to keep the students’ interest piqued and keep learning light.

“This is really something to do for fun,” she said. “If it’s not fun, I don’t want to do it. And the whole thing, pulling it all together, really is a bonding experience for the kids.”

Getting to know each other better, as well as the curriculum, is something Romina Keshishyan, 17, and queen of Staffordshire, said she valued in the experience.

“It brings forth talents from other students that we never knew that they had,” Romina said. “Like the guitarists or the jugglers.”

Before the main course was served on silver platers, Criselda Esguerra, 17, and Arin Hagverdian, 17, both of Glendale, played “Greensleeves” in a guitar duet.

As the duo played, the court clapped along.

“I’m really excited,” Criselda said. “I didn’t expect everyone to turn out dressed up and ready to show their medieval talents. This definitely gets me pumped up to learn more about Shakespeare and everything else.”

“Three cheers for our sovereign four,” shouted Keast as she raised her mug of cider. “Huzzah!”

“Huzzah!” they all shouted, and toasted to their efforts.