The sixth graders created illuminated letters inspired by traditional Medieval designs for this year’s Winterfest. Illumination originated in the 400’s, when monks decorated manuscripts they spent hours copying with elaborate drawings and details. Frequently, the first letter of a block of type would be “illuminated” and made to stand out larger than the rest. The illustrations would often portray the subjects and themes in the stories. The students each chose a letter and thoughtfully picked a font to render it in. They then used Medieval imagery to decorate it by either wrapping ribbons, vines, or snakes around it, laying dragons, princesses, or swords atop it, or creating the letter itself entirely out of objects. They also decorated a frame with related subject matter and carefully painted their designs with tempera.