Editing Jester (section)

{{Short description|Medieval European entertainer}}
{{Other uses|Jester (disambiguation)|Court jester (disambiguation)}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox performing art
| image      = Heinrich Vogtherr d. J. Schalksnarr.JPG|
| caption    = Woodcut of a jester, by Heinrich Vogtherr the Younger, c. 1540
| era        = 
}}

A '''jester''', also known as '''joker''', '''court jester''', or '''fool''', was a member of the household of a nobleman or a monarch kept to entertain guests at the royal court. Jesters were also travelling performers who entertained common folk at fairs and town markets, and the discipline continues into the modern day, where jesters perform at historical-themed events. Jester-like figures were common throughout the world, including Ancient Rome, China, Persia, and the Aztec empire.

During the [[Post-classical history|post-classical]] and [[Renaissance]] eras, jesters are often thought to have worn brightly coloured clothes and [[Cap and bells|eccentric hats]] in a [[motley]] pattern.

Jesters entertained with a wide variety of skills: principal among them were song, music, and storytelling, but many also employed acrobatics, juggling, telling jokes (such as puns and imitation), and performing [[Magic (illusion)|magic tricks]]. Much of the entertainment was performed in a comic style. Many jesters made contemporary jokes in word or song about people or events well known to their audiences.