A Star in Scotland: Rome, the Celts, the Scots & the Jews

This magnificent Plaid Brooches features a bold Star of David surrounded with a traditional Celtic ring of shields inlaid with blue glass Millefiori. As always… a Nagle Forge & Foundry original….

Between them Edinburgh and Glasgow have seven Synagogues. Today the vast majority of Jewish Scots can trace their ancestry to 19th century Poland. The pogroms that decimated many of the Jewish villages of Poland and Russia at the end of the 19th century coincided with the industrial boom of Scotland and, just as hundreds of thousands of Jews from the Pale fled Europe for America, tens of thousands of their cousins fled mainland Europe for the religious freedom of Scotland and the then booming industrial city of Glasgow.

However, while the modern story of Jewish Scotland is rooted in the 19th century, the origins of Scotland’s Jewish community are probably lost somewhere in the bloody shadows of Scotland’s Middle Ages –and may in fact date back to the Roman occupation of Britain.

Mildenhall Star
Our “Mildenhall Star” is inspired by a Star of David from the last years of the Roman occupation of Britain.

The Diaspora is generally thought of as a “modern” phenomenon. However, even before the Judaean Wars chronicled by Josephus it is estimated that roughly 50% of all Jews lived outside of Judaea and up to 10% of the population of some of the new cities established throughout the Empire to house the veterans of Rome’s armies were Jewish. When the remnants of Romanized Britain finally fell to the invading Angles and Saxons at least some of the families that fled the coast of what would become England (the land of the Angles) were Jewish.

Hordes of heavy household goods buried in the late 4th and 5th centuries around modern day Mildenhall and discovered in the early 20th century included some Jewish ritual objects. Over the next thousand years the story becomes increasingly murky. “Historic” Scotland –stripped of mystery, legend, opinion, conspiracy theory and pseudo-fact– is almost devoid of any significant written record prior to the 15th century and we are left with scattered images and fragmentary stories.

In honor of the Jewish Scots who have contributed so much to the history of Scotland we at Nagle Forge & Foundry make seven different sash pins and plaid brooches that feature a Star of David.

Scottish Star

St. Andrew Patron Saint of Scotland –November 30th

November 30th –St. Andrew’s Day

In life Andrew never visited Scotland, but his cross today is the basis for the Scottish flag. And as the patron St. of Scotland Andrew is particularly beloved by Scottish military men and women.

In Scotland St. Andrew has been closely associated with military engagements since the early 9th century. While at different times different clans would carry the relicts of Saints Fillan, Columba and Ninian into battle with them until the 18th century, it was St. Andrew who was most closely associated with military victory and, in the aftermath of the Jacobite uprising & the eventual incorporation of many Highland Clansmen into the new Scottish regiments of the British Army, it was St. Andrew who would become the symbol of the Scottish military man of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries

This depiction of St. Andrew is inspired by the depictions of St. Andrew on military badges of the early 19th century.

The symbol of St. Andrew –an early Christian disciple who was martyred on an X shaped cross– the Saltire has been a symbol of the land now known as Scotland since Pictish times. Closely associated with battle-field victories since the early 9th century –when the Saltire appeared in a vision to a mixed force of Picts and Scots preparing for battle– by the time of the Crusades many Scots who joined the march to the Holy Land chose to mark their tunics with a Saltire rather than the Normans’ pilgrims’ cross. (Interestingly, although Andrew has been closely linked to Scotland for well over a thousand years, in life St. Andrew never travelled to Scotland. It was only centuries after his death that some of his relics were brought to Scotland.) Today the Saltire –traditionally blue and white– has been a rallying symbol for Scots for over a thousand years.

Oktoberfest at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival

“ Oktoberfest ”

Minnesota Renaissance Festival 2017

Weekend #7

September 30th & October 1st…

Love Beer? Dachshunds? Fall Fun? For the last weekend of the Renaissance we will be having a Renaissance style Oktoberfest! Check out the home-brew competition… meet the brewers… Wear your lederhosen… Dance & make merry…

Own a dachshund? Pre-register your Dachshund for the long-dog races and get special treats for dog and human.

This is the last weekend of the 2017 Renaissance season so… make sure you make note of any special items you want to pick-up (or mail order) for that special someone in your life. Especially if you are that special someone…

As always we will be in Booth #418.

Interested in the details of the dachshund competition? Click here to be taken directly to the Oktoberfest page.

Festival Friday –September 29th at the Minnesota Renaissance Fest

Festival Friday!

Minnesota Renaissance Festival 2017

September 29th…

All stages open… All booths open… Special ticket deals!

We know we aren’t the only people who work weekends so every year the Festival has a bonus Friday for everyone who can’t make it out on a Saturday or Sunday.

As usual there will be fantastic ticket deals and packages offered for Festival Friday. Click here to be taken directly to the Festival Friday page.

Shamrocks & Shenanigans at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival

“ Shamrocks & Shenanigans ”

Minnesota Renaissance Festival 2017

Weekend #6

September 23rd & 24th…

Love Ireland? Love Irish dance? Well… we love Ireland too and this weekend at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival is devoted to all things Irish.

For more information about the Shamrocks & Shenanigans events at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival –including a Kilt contest– click here to go directly to the relevant page of the mInnesota Renaissance Festival website.

Think of it as “St. Patrick’s Day in September.” Nagle is an Irish name so we at Nagle Forge & Foundry have always made a wide variety of “Irish” styles for our fellow Irish-Americans.

We are particularly proud of our “Irish County Ship” line. Nagle Forge & Foundry’s  unique Irish County ship series features a pin for every county of Ireland. Each pin is engraved with the symbols of the specific county it represents and comes with a story card with a mini history of the specific county. (At only $37.- these are a wonderful gift item for the sons, daughters and grandchildren of the diaspora.)

Come see us at Booth #418 & ask to see the “Irish Fleet.”

Sign Language Sat. –(And more at the Minnesota Renaissance Fest…)

Sign Language Sat.

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“Pets & Pirates”

Minnesota Renaissance Festival 2017

Weekend #5

September 16th & 17th…

On Sat. September 16th there will be sign-language interpreters at all stages and help booths throughout the day.

This is also our traditional “Pirate” & “Pet Costume” week… So if Fido loves to play dress up this is your weekend… Even if you don’t have a pet you are welcome to join in the piratical fun.

Click here to go directly to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival page to get more information about Sign Language Saturday and the Pets & Pirates Competitions this weekend.

 

Want to go directly to the FULL Nagle Forge & Foundry 2017 Minnesota Renaissance Festival Calendar of Events? Click here for coupons and more…

Wine, Chocolate & Romance –at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival

“ Wine, Chocolate & Romance ”

Minnesota Renaissance Festival 2017

Weekend #4

September 9th & 10th…

Love chocolate? Love wine? Want a day out with the one you love? Or looking for love? This is your weekend. 

For the fourth weekend of the 2017 Minnesota Renaissance Festival the theme of the faire will be love, chocolate and wine. There will be chocolate tastings & wine tastings throughout the day. A chocolate pie eating contest for people who really love chocolate. And for all the would-be wine-makers out there you can join the fun and help stomp some grapes.

If you want to celebrate your love this is the weekend for free vow renewals… (You do need to pre-register at least fifteen minutes in advance.)

And… for those still looking for love there will be a few special events too… So prep your lines & get ready to meet someone…

For more information about participating in the wine stomp, chocolate pie eating contest, singles events or vow renewals click here to check out the event page at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival & find out more about the wine, chocolate and romance weekend.

Want to go directly to the FULL Nagle Forge & Foundry 2017 Minnesota Renaissance Festival Calendar of Events? Click here for coupons and more…

 

Christmas in September –At the Minnesota Renaissance Festival…

“Christmas in September…”

Minnesota Renaissance Festival 2017

Weekend #3

September 2, 3 & 4th…

Longing for sugar cookies? Want to get a head start on your shopping? There will be special shopping opportunities and ticket deals for Labor Day Sept. 4th…

(Feel free to make your reservations online or at the box office to get the “Christmas in September package.)

Did we mention there are special ticket prices for “Christmas in September”? Click here to go the Minnesota Renaissance Festival’s Christmas in September page to check out the deals. Start your shopping trip by treating yourself to a fun day out.

Brunch, shopping, cookies, a “Holiday Sweater” contest and more…

As always we at Nagle Forge & Foundry offer layaway and gift wrap for all of our pieces.

At Nagle Forge & Foundry we believe you shouldn't have to try and figure out that whole "giftwrap" thing on your own. So when you shop with us we take care of the wrapping. Anything you pick up from Nagle Forge & Foundry during the "Christmas in September" event --or any other time of the year-- will be tucked in a logoed velvet bag. Or, wrapped in tissue paper and placed in a box.
At Nagle Forge & Foundry we believe you shouldn’t have to try and figure out that whole “giftwrap” thing on your own. So when you shop with us we take care of the wrapping. Anything you pick up from Nagle Forge & Foundry during the “Christmas in September” event –or any other time of the year– will be tucked in a logoed velvet bag. Or, wrapped in tissue paper and placed in a box. Come see us at Booth #418 and get your seasonal shopping started (or finished) early…

Once Upon A Time –At the Minnesota Renaissance Festival

“Once Upon A Time”

Minnesota Renaissance Festival 2017

Weekend #2

August 26th – 27th 2017

The Warrior
Fantasy comes in all shapes and sizes… Because dreams are truth and truth can be a dream. Our greenpeople are our version of a “once upon a time” masque. Handcrafted and signed by the artist… Stop by Booth #418 and ask to see the “Greenpeople” in person.

Love Fantasy? Fairytales? Masks? Knights? Dragons? Steampunk? All the best stories begin with “once upon a time…” For the second weekend of the 2017 Minnesota Renaissance Festival we are encouraging everyone to create their own stories and their own costumes.

This is a weekend for the creative, crafty, costumey and athletic…

Make your own mask, build a fairyhouse. Compete in the steampunk costume competition.

Always wanted to be Robin Hood? Sign up for the longbow competition.

Fleet of foot? Try the 9:00AM 5k race on Sunday…

For more information about participating in one of the great costume events click here to check out the Minnesota Renaissance Highland Fling page. 

At Nagle Forge & Foundry we love fantasy too… so for the second weekend we will be featuring our full collection of Dragon pins at our booth #418.

Want to go directly to the FULL Nagle Forge & Foundry 2017 Minnesota Renaissance Festival Calendar of Events? Click here for coupons and more…

 

Highland Fling! At the Minnesota Renaissance Festival….

HIGHLAND FLING!

Minnesota Renaissance Festival 2017

Weekend #1

August 19th – 20th 2017

Love Scotland? Love Scottish Athletics? Dancing? Kilts? The skirl of the Pipes? The Renaissance?

Once again the Scottish Games will be retuning to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.

On Sat. August 19th the 11th Annual World Amateur Highland Heavy Games Championships will be held on Shepherds’ Green.

On Sunday the 20th the Midwest Women’s Highland Games will take place. Come both days and cheer on your favorite athletes.

Throughout the weekend there will also be demonstrations of Scottish dancing, a Kilt competition (feel free to wear your kilt & join the fun) & performances by Celtic musicians. For more information about joining in the festivities click here to check out the Minnesota Renaissance Highland Fling page. 

Want to add shopping to your Highland weekend at the Renaissance? We at Nagle Forge & Foundry will be in our regular Booth #418 but we will also have a tent set up near the Games site with an expanded display of our decorative and fully functional Made in America Plaid Brooches and Kilt Belt Buckles!

Did you know Nagle Forge & Foundry handcrafts over 25 styles of fully guaranteed and fully functional Kilt Belt Buckles? We also make over one hundred and forty Plaid Brooch styles. First weekend gets first choice of all of our new styles so be sure to ask for the “new styles” as well as our classic Thistles and Luckenbooths!

If you are like me and always have trouble remembering how to wear your sash check out our handy how to guide for the ladies....
If you are like me and always have trouble remembering how to wear your sash check out our handy Sash Pin Style Guide for the Ladies…

Want to go directly to the FULL Nagle Forge & Foundry 2017 Minnesota Renaissance Festival Calendar of Events? Click here for coupons and more…