Sister Sangria

Way back when in Caid, several ladies whose Significant Others spent all their time at SCA wars on the battlefield -- leaving them "widowed" for the length of the event, banded together to form Widows Abbey.

The Abbey's persona was that of several older, nuns who took beautiful young novices into their unusually wealthy abbey. These novices were trained in to ways of well-to-do ladies and were paired off with suitable (old and wealthy) husbands.

When those husbands died (usually a short time after the marriage), the "bereaved" young widows returned to the abbey (with their newly received riches) to continue the abbey's mission.

Each member of the household created a persona story for their membership in the abbey.

Sister Sangria

My persona was of a young woman who had married a much older man who fancied himself a master brewer. He was a tyrant in his household, keeping his family and servants terrified of his temper should they disobey his rules.

The young woman never missed an opportunity to tell him (some would say needle him about) how much she missed the wonderful sangria that she had enjoyed in her native Spain. Finally, he took up her challenge and brewed a batch of sangria to prove that he was as good a brewer as those in Spain.

The day came to taste and bottle the sangria, and as was his routine, he went down to the cellar alone. As usual, he ordered all members of the household to stay out of the cellar until he had tasted and savored the new brew. Time passed, minutes became hours, hours became days, and the household wasn't sure what to do. To enter the cellar without permission would be to deal with his wrath. But finally, she summoned up her courage and went down to see what was happening.

She found her "beloved" husband dead on the floor, pierced by hundreds of splinters from the cask that had held the sangria. Apparently, extra sugar had been introduced into the wine before it was sealed up and so fermentation continued and pressure built up. When he tapped the cask, it exploded with a killing force.

In her widowhood, she retired to the Abbey bringing his immense riches with her ... the saddest part was ... the little sangria left in the bottom of the cask, was the BEST sangria she'd ever tasted!!!

The Legend of Saint Sangria

On July 2, 2005 the Barony of The Angels had Crown Prints Prize Tournament with the theme of pilgrimage. Each geopolitical group was encouraged to create a shrine to a saint, real or imaginary, and have an activity associated with the saint / shrine. The activities were fundraisers for the Caid Kingdom newsletter: The Crown Prints.

It seemed like a good time to revisit Sister Sangria and her poor, deceased husband. I created the Legend of Saint Sangria, complete with miracles, and more.

We created a ring toss game with .... wine bottles ... and winners of the game were allowed to view the Holy Relic of the Saint: The very spigot that the Saint used to broach the fateful cask!

Read the full Legend of Saint Sangria