European life was difficult for all people, especially during the Middle Ages, but not without issues throughout the Renaissance/Restoration and continuing into the present. People in Europe came to celebrate the good things that happened. When civil rights flourished, towns would have festivals to party. When law enforcement apprehended a criminal, the people would gather around to acknowledge the good work. As the years went by, people used to the large groups to serve other purposes besides celebration and entertainment. Festivals in European life were held to celebrate and entertain, as well as for punishment and political discontent.
Festivals for entertainment were a universal celebration. Religious events were times of great celebration, and to entertain people, merchants and local artisans brought beer, music, and created huge fires [Doc. 2]. Cultural events were also a time for parties, sometimes bringing people together that would otherwise have a strictly business relationship [Doc. 6]. Citizens celebrated after enduring bad times too, as a Frenchman observed in Italy during Carnival [Doc. 5]. .
As Europe moved into the 19th century, rituals were expanded to include the public punishment of civil disobedience. The punishments weren't fatal, but embarrassed the person enough to dissuade him or her from upsetting the town again. An example of this is that when a woman is found to be disrespecting her husband (scolding, hitting, etc), she is made to "ride stand". The townsman find her and mount her on the horse backwards and chase it out of town [Doc. 8]. Another example from the late 19th century is that of a woman who was picking berry's in the community's berry patch during a time not designated to pick. She was escorted into town and people danced around her while she hung her neck in her basket of berries [Doc. 10].
When people couldn't celebrate economic or political success, they held demonstrations, a form of political festival or ritual.
