The sky's the limit in terms of Joan-of-Arc-inspired art and creativity...I have had people contacting me about St. Joan reliquaries they've made, a woman painting matchbook covers to give out as throws, and parents who are making their daughters farm animal outfits to dress as Joan's animals from when she was a peasant sheperdess in Domremy. What next?
I can't wait to see who shows up for the parade...
If you are still looking for inspiration, here are some ideas about possible costumes that you could put together: (See earlier posts for additional ideas!)
1. Butterfly...because Joan's standard was supposedly surrounded by butterflies when she entered Orleans.
2. Thirteen birthday candles. Do you have thirteen friends looking for something to do on Twelfth Night? Joan was thirteen when she first heard her Voices...
3. Fairies. At her trial, Joan denied believing in fairies and partaking in activities at the well-known "fairy tree" in her hometown. She seemed to find it all ridiculous, even immature. She had bigger fish to fry.
http://www.stjoan-center.com/Trials/sec14.html
4. Merlin. Allegedly this magician of the Arthurian legend prophesied that France would be saved by a "Maid from Lorraine". Many assume this was Joan, although apparently Joan herself was not aware of this until the time of her trial.
5. Doves. An Englishman who was present at Joan's execution claims to have seen a dove fly from her mouth as she breathed her last sigh.
http://books.google.com/books?id=peUYAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA461&lpg=PA461&dq=dove,+joan+of+arc&source=web&ots=V35Yabvt7z&sig=-1pUlnrnvAMDSjqJbmgccmsZ6k0&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result
6. Mark Twain. He is one of her biggest fans of the modern age and wrote Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc. Here are a few quotes from his book:
"Whatever thing men call great, look for it in Joan of Arc, and there you will find it."
" It took six thousand years to produce her; her like will not be seen in the earth again in fifty thousand."
"She is easily and by far the most extraordinary person the human race has ever produced."
7. A Joan of Arc tower (yes, you can go as a piece of architecture!). Joan was imprisoned in a tower in Rouen that became known as the Joan of Arc Tower. During one of her escape attempts, she lept from a tower...not this particular one, but...(opportunity to use a Joan of Arc puppet? anyone?)
