Waits facts for kids

A band of modern waits playing music in York, England.

Waits were special musicians who worked for towns and cities in Britain. From the Middle Ages until the early 1800s, almost every big town had its own group of waits. They were like official town musicians!

Other countries in Europe also had similar musicians. In Germany, they were called Stadtpfeifer. In Italy, they were known as Pifferi.

What Did Waits Do?

The jobs of the waits changed a bit over time and in different towns. But they had some very important duties.

Telling the Time

One of their main jobs was to help people know the time. They would play music at certain hours of the day. Often, they played their instruments from the top of tall church towers. This way, their music could be heard all over town.

Being Town Guards

Waits sometimes acted as guards or watchmen. They would watch from high places like towers. Their job was to look out for any danger, like fires or enemies. There were no police back then, so waits helped keep the town safe. They also woke people up in the mornings by playing music in the streets.

What Instruments Did Waits Play?

Waits usually played loud wind instruments. The most common one was the shawm. This instrument sounds a bit like a modern oboe, but it's much louder!

In Germany, the Stadtpfeifer also played for church services. On regular days, they might play shawms or trombones. But on special feast-days, they would use loud trumpets and drums.

What Did Waits Look Like?

Being a wait was a paid job, and they were important people in the town. They wore fancy uniforms called liveries. These were special clothes that showed they worked for the town. They also wore silver chains around their necks. These chains had the town's coat of arms on them, which was like the town's special symbol.

The End of the Waits

In Britain, the waits stopped existing after the year 1835. Their jobs were taken over by other people and new systems.

However, the name "waits" is still used today. You might hear it in the term "Christmas Waits." This refers to groups of people who sing carols during the Christmas season.