Trinkets

Hark! Whilst the grand Renaissance Faires of the New World often celebrate different historical periods than the Medieval festivals of our own lands, there is a most curious custom that has taken root at the Fantasy Medieval Fair in Mount Gambier, South Australia— an act most delightful and endearing: the gifting of trinkets.

Perchance it is the presence of the fantastical, a flourish not oft seen in other such fairs, that hath given rise to this practice. Yet, as our festival hath thrice been held, so too hath this custom grown, and verily, we do heartily encourage its continuance.

But pray, what be a trinket?

Trinket (ˈtrɪŋ-kɪt)

Of origin most uncertain, yet thought to stem from Middle English “trinkette,” meaning a small adornment or device, perchance with roots in Old French or Middle Dutch.

Noun: A modest token, crafted not for utility but for joy alone—a bauble most charming, meant as a gift of goodwill and merriment.

And why dost we trade these trinkets?

This fair custom, known as “trinket trading,” doth see festival-goers, garbed in their finery, bestowing upon one another small treasures, oft crafted by their own hands. It is a means of fellowship, an enchantment that binds stranger to stranger, a gesture most noble that doth deepen the magic of the festival. Be it a polished button, a sparkling jewel, a tiny vial of mystic draught, or some other whimsical charm, the gift matters not—it is the spirit of the giving that doth weave the enchantment.

Tenets of Trinket Trading:

🔹 Small and humble treasures: Trinkets be simple things—beads, buttons, painted tokens, delicate charms, or even fine-folded parchment bearing words of wisdom.

🔹 A bond ‘twixt kindred souls: A trinket given is a hand extended, a moment shared betwixt revelers, and a tale begun anew.

🔹 Given with mirth, received with grace: Though the word “trade” doth linger in the name, many do bestow their trinkets freely, with naught expected in return. Let them be offered in the spirit of goodwill, and let them be received with joy and gratitude.

So come, ye merry folk! Let us clasp hands in revelry and let the trinkets flow, for in these small tokens, we craft a memory most enduring.