Young and old
attracted
to Saturday
Market
in tradition
of 'olde worlde
faires'
P ortland to
By Jim McCaffrey
Of The Print
For those of us lucky enough
to live in the Portland area the
spirit and festivity of open air
markets are again being bought
to life every weekend ~at the
Saturday Market.
Do you remember growing
up with the ancient tales of the
Arabian Nights? Aladdin prob
ably found his lamp in some
bazaar or market so customary
in those eastern and near eastern
cou ntries.
Sinbad, like most of the Per
sian sailors, set out to bring
back gold and silks and other
fine ware to sell at the open air
markets in hopes of quick for
tune.
Circuses of acrobats and jug
glers used the markets as forums
to display their talents in hopes
that people would throw money
in appreciation. Musicians also
came to markets to entertain.
Just as important, people
came to these markets to see
and learn about other people
and the treasures and cultures of
other lands.
Fine foods and
clothing were sold at the market
and people with an eye for artis
tic quality in
furniture and
household utensils rarely went
away disappointed.
The market was visited by
king and peasant alike and rarely
did either leave empty handed.
Market days were an event that
created great excitement and
anticipation in households much
as Christmas creates similar feel-
Ijngs among many modern house
holds. The markets were another
Mecca to trade,
and crafts
people who were able to distri
bute and display their wares at
little cost to themselves.
The rich cultural heritages
were most adequately expressed
in these markets, thus providing
the opportunity for The exchange
and enrichment of ideas. The
markets then attracted poets and
philosophers, teachers and stu
dents,
madmen and religious
folk all there to participate in
the market festivities.
Market places were an impor
tant means that the great relig
ious leaders used as a tool to
help spread their ideals. Both
Jesus and Buddha could both be
found doing much pf their tea
chings in market places.
For some reason it is hard to
imagine a modern Jesus preach
ing in Washington Square or a
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I
I Bataw sw i
I
’
modern Ailadin finding a cheap
lamp in Lloyd's Center, forthat
matter.
For many areas the market
place is still the exciting open
forum that it always was, but,
the pressures of modern living
are rapidly decreasing them even
in the far east and Arab lands.
Located downtown under
neath the Steel Bridge in North
west Portland, the Saturday Mar
ket is a collection of artisans,
craftsmen and entertainers gath
ered together to display and sell
their work. People from miles
around come to see the sights
and enjoy the entertainment.
Others come to enjoy the fine
cooked food and tasty desserts
served by many of the merch
ants. The open air setting pro
vides the perfect spot for blend
ing the bright colors and lucious
smells with a mixture of people
from'all areas and walks of life.
Surrounding the Saturday Mar
ket is a collection of fairly
recently renovated shops and
restaurants which are some of
the most interesting in Portland.
Woodcarvings, paintings, pho
tographs, pottery and clothing
can be found amongst a collec
tion of other displays too num
erous to mention, but as unique
as the people who take the time
to make them. At the Saturday
Market mimists can be found
entertaining alongside a Green
peace booth where people are
being asked to help prevent the
slaughter of whales.
At the ma rket "madmen" are
free to preach and musicians free
to play.
The market is an
acknowledgement that often the
old ways can be better. More
important the market still is a
place to have fun, learn of other
cultures (and more about your
own) and participate in the crea
tive exchange pf ideas and crea
tivity that were so important to
so much of the world for so long
a time-