Odd things I researched

Odd things I researched before writing my Christmas novella:

1. In Toledo, Spain, in 1193, what would typical Christmas decorations have looked like in a public square—not inside a home? For example, what might have been placed around a Nativity scene? Would they have used evergreen branches? What kind of lighting would there have been?

2. What songs would Jews have sung while lighting the Hanukkah candles in 1193?

3. How common was the pilgrimage to Mecca among 12th-century Muslims, specifically Muslims living under Christian rule, as they did in Toledo? And was the honorific Hajj/Hajji already used for someone who had completed the pilgrimage?

4. How were warehouses built in 12th-century Spain? What would the interior have looked like, and how would goods have been stored?

5. Could a Jewish man or woman in 12th-century Iberia examine a tallit and have some idea where it came from? Were there regional differences in weaving, materials, dyes, patterns, or workmanship that might hint at a prayer shawl's origin?

   
   

When I have some free time I'll turn all of those into blog posts.

But for now let's look at number 5, since it figures in my upcoming mystery Poison in the Season of Peace.

Could a Jewish man or woman in 12th-century Iberia tell where a tallit came from?

Yes—although they would be more likely to identify its general region of origin than a particular town or workshop.

Textile production varied considerably across medieval Iberia and the wider Mediterranean. Different regions were known for particular materials, weaving techniques, dyes, finishes, and decorative styles. What might give it away?

1. The material and weave

Tallitot could be made from wool or linen, as well as finer materials such as silk or cotton. The quality of the fibers, density of the threads, weave, weight, and finish could all provide clues.

Someone who had seen their share of shawls would notice immediately whether a fabric was exceptionally fine, whether the wool seemed familiar, or whether its weave resembled textiles produced in a particular region.

2. Colors and decoration

Colored bands, woven patterns, inscriptions, and decorative motifs could provide further clues. Particularly fine silk or richly decorated cloth might suggest an Andalusian or imported textile rather than an ordinary locally produced woolen garment.

Could a woman recognize these differences? Certainly. A Jewish woman who regularly handled good-quality fabrics knew quite a lot about cloth, even though she wouldn't normally wear a tallit herself.

Why I needed to know

In Poison in the Season of Peace, Rebecca and John find a tallit thrown over a smeared nativity scene. Rebecca gets it out of sight before anyone else can see it. She starts asking questions : Would a Jewish man deface a nativity scene and leave his own prayer shawl behind? But then, where would a Muslim or a Christian get their hands on one? Was it a local tallit or one out of town? And what is the brown smear on it?

I guess you'll need to read to find out.

Poison in the Season of Peace is out now, but it on Amazon or read for free on Kindle Unlimited