Nearly 600 years after the Middle Ages, the romance of a knight in shining armour, mounted and brandishing a sword, is not lost.
That's why ‘Squire School' at the Time Travelling Makers' Faire, in Tauranga this weekend, is firing young imaginations.
Historically, the squire was basically the knight's apprentice, doing simple but important tasks like saddling the knight's horse and tending his weapons and armour. He was an errand runner before the squire became a knight himself.
Boys became a squire at age 14 after they had served as a page.
For children, the fascination lives on, and ‘Squire School', at Southey Field off Devonport Road this Saturday and Sunday, will introduce kids from six-to-12 to disciplines associated with being attendant to a knight. They'll get a feeling of what it was like being a knight-in-waiting, and for $25 would-be squires can pre-register via: hobdid@gmail.com
There are still places available but numbers will be strictly limited.
The Time Travelling Makers' Faire aims to encourage traditional crafts from all time periods, and some from alternative realities. Visitors will witness Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Norse (Viking) and even some Victorian sci-fi Steampunkers.
Everyone is encouraged to pirate up or dress as their favourite fantasy character, but modern travellers will also be most welcome.
The Romans and Norse promise the largest encampments at the Faire, and will be participating in some demonstration combat alongside the locals, the Northern Horde. Craft workers will show off their various skills, and there will even be a Victorian pipe press in action!
Some crafts will be for sale, and others offer the chance to get your hands dirty and have a go.
There's a chance to get involved with Alf's Imperial Fifth Waikato Army, who will offer budding soldiers the chance to train and battle with Victorian finesse. There may even be battles between squires and squires.
You can try some archery or axe flinging, or perhaps something less threatening, such as medieval dancing.
There will also be storytellers of yore from Tauranga Writers, and Auckland re-enactment group the Germanic Landsknecht's Company of the Wolpertinger, which specialised in providing armed forces during the transitory crossover period between swords and guns, will be there.
They're a colourful bunch with floppy hats, but have diverse talents in both combat and crafts and their blacksmiths will be hard at work.
The event takes place at Southey Field, Tauranga Boys' College, 664 Cameron Road, on Saturday, January 19 and Sunday, January 20, from 9.30am-4.30pm. Entry cost is $5 per person.