The Society for Creative Anachronism.
(The SCA)
In The Barony of Lions Gate.
(The SCA)
In The Barony of Lions Gate.
The SCA is the Society for Creative Anachronism, which is a group dedicated to researching and recreating the Middle Ages in the present. The SCA started out in Berkeley California May First 1966 by a group of science fiction and fantasy fans that wanted a theme party. Following the party, a group got together to discuss the idea of a medieval re-creation and re-enactment group. These people founded the SCA.
There are SCA groups all over the world. There are approximately 25,000 paying members (sca.org June 2002) in the US, Canada, Great Britain, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, New Zealand, Australia, Iceland, the Netherlands, Scotland, Ireland, and Spain. It is thought that there are three or four active members for every paid member. At the 30th anniversary celebration in 1996 over 5,000 people from around the world participated.
In the SCA the emphasis is on participation. Rather than simply study The Middle Ages, we attempt to re-create parts of it for fun and education.
What are The Middle Ages?
The “Middle Ages” is a term used in for the historical period falling between the years 600 AD and 1600 AD. This is also known as “The Medieval Period”. Roughly this starts at the end of the Roman Empire in Britain and ends at the beginning of the Renaissance. In the SCA we focus on the Western European Civilization before 1600 AD. Things from this time are often referred to in the SCA as “Period”. Most people stick to the period between 600 and 1600 AD. There are also people who have interest in other regions that Europeans had contact with during the Middle Ages. The Middle East is common as are Japan and India.
The “Current Middle Ages” is a phrase used by members in the SCA for what we try to recreate at our banquets, tournaments, wars, and other events. The SCA is set up somewhat following the feudal system with Kingdoms and Kings, with Knights and their Ladies. The world is divided up into Kingdoms, Principalities, Baronies, Shires, Cantons, Colleges, and Ports. At present there are 17 Kingdoms including An Tir which includes the 21st Century Canadian Yukon, Nunuvit, and Northwest Territories; the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan; and the American States of Washington, Oregon, and the northern tip of Idaho.
The Barony of Lions Gate
Vancouver, BC is considered to be in The Barony of Lions Gate. It is in the Principality of Tir Righ in The Kingdom of An Tir. Lions Gate encompasses much of the Greater Vancouver area sharing it with the Shire of Eisenmarche. The Principality includes most of British Columbia and parts of Northern Washington. Kingdoms are an equivalent to countries and Principalities equivalent to provinces or states in those Kingdoms.
Baronies and Shires are the equivalent to cities and towns while Cantons are smaller groups. Cantons are often new groups with social connections to a nearby Barony with which they share resources. The Shire of Lionsdale (Abbotsford and Chilliwack, BC) was once a Canton of the Barony of Lions Gate. It is now an independent Shire. Colleges are groups based out of a University or College where the members are students or faculty and are there on a seasonal/semester basis. Ports are groups based at Military Bases and also often have high turnovers as members are transferred.
What about the funny names?
Members of the SCA are expected, or at least encouraged to create a character to portray who could have lived some time in the Middle Ages. The character can be from anywhere in the world and of any nationality or race. Actual historical figures are not allowed, and titles are earned within the society. Trying to be King Alfred the Great would be wrong on two points. The first point being that Alfred the Great is a historic figure. The second point being that the title “King” is something to be earned. The character you create, often called a persona, should have a name, a place they lived, and a time they lived in. Greater development is encouraged as well as putting together a costume from that place and time. People also often put together costumes from different eras and places from that of their main persona. Many have more than one persona.
Who’s that person in the Crown?In the Current Middle Ages we also have our own Nobility. Anybody participating is considered to be a lady or lord unless they wish otherwise to be peasants. Other titles are earned.
In The Kingdom of An Tir we have two Crown Tournaments each year to determine who will be King and Queen. (See section about “guys in armour” for more details on tournaments.) The best fighters in the Kingdom gather to fight in the tournament and at the end the winner becomes Crown Prince of An Tir and his Lady, Crown Princess. They will later be crowned King and Queen. The Crown Prince and Princess chosen in May will be crowned in July and rule until January where they will be succeeded by the Crown Prince and Princess chosen in September. If a lady wins the tournament she becomes Queen in her own right and her lord becomes the Prince Consort.
Principalities have Coronet Tourneys where a Prince and Princess are chosen in the same manner as the King and Queen. When the Crown Principality of the North becomes a full Principality, we will have a Coronet Tourney to choose our Prince and Princess.
Barons and Baronesses are chosen by the people of the various Baronies, though there are also court Barons and Baronesses created by the King and Queen at their whim.
Among other earned titles are those of the Peers: Knight, which is earned for combat and chivalry; Laurel, which is a peer to a Knight and is earned by excellence in the arts, sciences, or crafts; and Pelican, which is also a peer to the Knights and Laurels and are earned for service to the SCA. (The services including organizing the events that take place.)
While you can pay for a membership in the SCA or the NSCA (in BC) you don’t have to in order to take part. The main requirement is that you participate. When you come to activities held by the society it is expected that you make an attempt at wearing a medieval costume. It can be something you make or it can be borrowed. There are people who have costumes to loan if you make arrangements in advance.
If you decide to get more involved with things you’ll likely want to get a membership. Having one is necessary if you are planning to hold an office in the SCA or wish to enter certain contests like the Crown Tournament. SCA memberships start at around $25 US for an International Membership (I.E. Canada). NSCA (Northern Society for Creative Anachronism) membership is available to British Columbians and provides local support to the members in BC including travelling health insurance for members travelling to SCA events in the US. NSCA membership costs $5 Can. Site fees for events range from Free to around $30. ($30 would be for a formal banquet.)
You can spend as little or as much as you wish participating in this hobby. There is no requirement for attending activities so that you may also spend as little or as much time as you wish as well.
Where does this medieval stuff come from? How do they get that armour?
For the most part, the medieval items, garb, armour, swords, and such are made by members of the SCA. Some people make things for themselves, some make it to sell to other members, and many barter what they can make for things that they cannot. Some things can be bought either from regular shops or from SCA merchants.
The SCA can be participated in on a shoestring budget or can be as expensive as you wish. Simple costumes can be made from cast-offs or remnant material, bartering is a common way to pay for products and services members provide. It is also possible to have someone make costumes for you that would rival those of historical Kings and Queens.
People learn how to do various crafts while in the SCA. Members research a number of subjects for their own interest. They learn how people in the middle ages might have done a given craft, or how a given item could be made using modern materials and resources. They teach other members what they have learned and what is known is added to.
People bring skills into the SCA from their everyday life. Carpenters can build things for people and teach woodworking; tailors can make costumes and teach others to sew; welders can help people putting together metal armour or other metal items.
Often things are learned by doing. Sometimes historians are unsure just how an item was made or used in the Middle Ages. In making these items using period tools possible ways to make an item can be found. People are rediscovering things like recipes for dyes and learning how they might have been used.
One of the great things about being involved with the SCA is having an outlet for talent. Say you like to sew; there is great satisfaction in wearing clothes made by your own hand or seeing others wearing them. If you liked ceramics or pottery in school you can express that talent with a purpose. (Instead of making another ashtray or knickknack.)
If you want to buy a sword, but can’t really afford to buy one on your budget, you might be able to use what you know to make something to trade for it. I know of someone who is making carved leather knife sheaths and belts in exchange for a chain mail shirt.
There are musicians, artists, craftsmen, researchers, and others using their abilities and having fun doing it.
What is the story on the designs on the shields and banners?The designs actually are heraldic devices within the SCA. Like the Coats of Arms of today’s Royal families and those of Countries, heraldic devices in the SCA are registered and represent the person they are registered to. Members in the SCA are encouraged to design a heraldic device. Each group has a Herald who can help in designing such a device. Displaying heraldic banners and shields at SCA events adds greatly to the pageantry and medieval atmosphere at events. A Herald also acts as a Master of Ceremonies at Tournaments, Banquets and the like.
What about those guys in the armour?
First off, some of those “guys” in armour are actually ladies. Unlike the real middle ages, gender is not a restriction to participating. There is nothing unusual to find a woman putting on armour to participate in a tournament.
You will notice that the fighters aren’t carrying real swords on the tourney field. Rather than doing sword fights as in a play where all moves are choreographed or done at slow speed, in the SCA we use special tourney weapons designed so that a properly armoured fighter should not get hurt being hit. We have strict rules as to armour and weapon standards. If it hasn’t been certified by an SCA Marshall, it can not be used. For that reason the BC Sports Federation places the NSCA in the same insurance category as curling! We also have strict rules as to training of fighters and Marshals. Marshals, by the way, are something like referees or umpires who ensure that things are kept safe. They are also the ones on the Tourney field not wearing armour.
At tournaments members of the SCA who are involved in armoured fighting participate for fun, honour, and sometimes even prizes. Blows from weapons are struck with full force and the strength of the blow is judged only by the person being struck.
As well as tournaments, we have “Wars”. Wars are events where members from a large region get together to have fun in our sport. Sides are decided and the groups of fighters fight battles in large fields and woods. The rules are much the same as for tournaments.
As well as “Heavy Fighting” in armour we also have people who are involved in period Fencing and in Archery.
There are a number of different events that we hold. The most obvious events to the general public are the demonstrations we give at various special events. At demos we give demonstrations of what we do in the SCA as well as telling people a bit about the Middle Ages. We also do demos in local schools and for other groups where we provide educational entertainment.
We hold tournaments at various parks throughout the year. Crown Tournaments can attract over 2000 participants, most of whom are not the fighters. Smaller Tournaments might involve a hundred people or so. There are a number of Wars that we hold in the summer. One of the wars, held on a private ranch near Clinton, BC attracts over a thousand people.
We also hold Banquets and Feasts. At feasts members dress in their best costumes and are served sumptuous dishes originating in the Middle Ages. These banquets are held at various halls we rent for that purpose. There can be much pomp and ceremony at some banquets. Some feasts are “pot lucks” where members all bring one dish each that would feed ten or so people.
Practices are held weekly and monthly for Guilds, Fighters, Fencers, Archers, Dancers, Minstrels, (Musicians, Singers, Composers, and Writers) Cooks, Needle point, Embroidery, Costuming, Armouring, and many other things.How do I get involved in the SCA?
Basically getting involved is as simple as just coming out to an event and participating. In order to do that you need to know where and when the next event is. This information can be found in Newsletters put out by the society or by phoning up a member. The Chatelaine of a group is the person normally in charge of helping out new members. The phone number of the local Chatelaine is included at the end of this brochure. The Chatelaine is also the person who can put you in touch with “Gold Key.” Gold Key is the office in charge of costumes that can be loaned out for an event.
There are a number of Newsletters available: Lions Gate has “The North Wind”; the Crown Principality of the North has “The Northern Sentinel," and the Kingdom of An Tir has “The Crier.”
Contacts:
Chatelaines:
Chatelaine of Lions Gate:
Principality, Tir Righ: [email protected]
Kingdom, An Tir: [email protected]
SCA corporate office in Milpitas, CA, at (800) 789-7486
Lord Wade Anderson of Many Places, (Darrell Penner): (604) 469-5571 [email protected]
On the Internet you can find information about the SCA in the Vancouver, BC area at the following Web Site:
http://www.lionsgate.antir.sca.org/
Brochure, Map, and Artwork by Wade of Many Places (aka Darrell Penner)
© 1997, 2002 by Darrell Wade Penner