Very Merrie Medieval Christmas with Robin Hood

We surprised the family with the medieval Robin Hood Christmas theme in 2015. We had a very merrie time complete with an archery competition and rob your enemy gift exchange battle!

Medieval Finger Food

The medieval feast included all finger foods including: smoked turkey legs, ham (boar face), cheese & onion pie (GoT cookbook), trenchers (bread), blueberry tarts (GoT cookbook), apple flower tarts, mini pecan pies, cheese & crackers, and fruit (grapes). We also served holiday spiced wassail, mulled wine, and ale.

Rob Your Enemy

We came up with our own white elephant game called “Rob Your Enemy”, which is a gift battle between the Merry Men and Malevolent Minions. Everyone is assigned to a team and even has a costume/prop associated with their character 🙂

The Game

• Everyone should pick a prop, which determines your character and team.
  • Make sure your prop has a pink sticker if you are a lady or a green sticker if you are a man.
  • They have a monetary value assigned which will be paid out from the treasury at the start of the game.
  • You may switch props/characters with someone else prior to the start of the game.
• At the start of the game, you will be given the role card associated with your prop, which tells you which team you’re on. Everybody can play but only people that brought treasures can receive treasures.
• All will be assigned to one of two teams: Merry Men (Green) or Malevolent Minions (Blue).
• Merry Men can steal from the Malevolent Minions, but have to give the treasure to someone on their team.
  • They cannot steal from other Merry Men, but may pick a new treasure from the Forest (Christmas tree) rather than steal.
  • If a new treasure is picked, they can keep it for themselves or give it to a teammate.
• Malevolent Minions can steal from Merry Men or the Forest (Christmas tree) and keep any treasures for themselves. 
  • Malevolent Minions may also share their plunders with other Malevolent Minions if it is of no value to them (must do this if you didn’t bring a treasure).
  • They however cannot steal from other Malevolent Minions or share with Merry Men.
• Treasures have unlimited number of steals!
• The order is drawn out of a hat by character. 
• There are ways to get your name put back into the hat to participate again in robbing your enemy.
  • Gold coins can be earned from Robin Hood throughout evening for doing good deeds.
  • You may save coins for later use, eat them or hold onto them because there might be a surprise.
  • Three coins must be given to Robin to get your name put back in the hat.
  • Robin will keep redistributing coins until they run out.
• If your name is drawn again and you already have a treasure, you may skip your turn to keep your treasure or give your treasure away and follow normal stealing rules for your team.
• A person’s turn is complete after they have completed one steal or picked a treasure from under the tree and kept it or shared it.
• If your treasure is stolen, you do not get to steal or pick another treasure like typical white elephant.
• You must wait to receive a treasure from a teammate or buy/barter your way back into the game.
• You may not have a treasure after your turn.
• You can give a treasure to another teammate that already has a treasure, but they must agree to give their current treasure to someone else or complete the swap with the giver.
• If offered a treasure, you have to take the treasure if you don’t already have a treasure. 
• Game ends when there are no names remaining in the hat (nobody wants to buy-in) and everyone that brought a treasure has a treasure.

Surprises

1. Archery contest is after the Sherwood survival kit is opened. Everyone participates – if you hit the target you get one coin, if it sticks you get 3 coins (get your name put back in the hat).
2. There are a few characters that will switch sides after the archery contest. Maid Marian and Friar Tuck will join the Merry Men. Will Scarlett joins the Soldiers. 
3. Person with most coins left at end gets a prize – Friar Tuck Gift Card

Teams & Props

Merry Men

• Robin Hood – costume & arrow (Scott)
• Maid Marian – gown & headband (Sarah starts as soldier)
• Little John – green elf hat/bow staff
• Will Scarlett – red Santa hat/bow & arrow
• Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine – queen crown/dress
• King Richard the Lionheart – King crown
• Broomhilde – horse/bonnet
• Fanny – baby doll

Malevolent Minions

• Prince John  – prince crown
• Sheriff of Nottingham  – badge
• Sir Guy of Gisborne – sword
• Latrine – wand
• Prioress of Kirklees – blue head cover and headpiece 
• Friar Tuck – Wooden mug (starts as soldier but switches sides)
• Sir Godfrey – Flail/red candy pop
• Isabella of Angoulême – gold headpiece
• Jester – cloak/hat