Recreating history: the society for creative anachronism

Do you ever wish that you had a time machine, so that you could see how things were way back when? Wouldn't it be great if you could just step through a doorway and be transported to another time and place, where all of the hustle and bustle of modern society didn't apply? It's actually not as difficult as you might think.

You see, there exists a group for whom the last several hundred years never occurred. On pretty much any given weekend, somewhere these people gather together and throw off the yoke of tyranny that is modern society and revert to a simpler way of life. Chivalry, honor, and loyalty run rampant, and they live within their "Dream" uninterrupted. They are the members of the Society for Creative Anachronism, or the SCA for short.

The SCA started back in the late 60's, when two California friends decided it would be fun to make wooden weapons and fight like the knights they had learned about while studying the medieval orders of chivalry. They decided to recreate an English tournament, and expected it to go no further than that. Now, closing in on 40 years later, the SCA has 18 Kingdoms worldwide (with more on the way).

Of course, the SCA has grown into so much more than just recreations of fighting tournaments. While it's true that armored combat does still take place in abundance, you can also find sewing, rapier dueling, beer and wine making, arts and crafts, and a variety of other activities, all done in ways as close to those used in the Middle Ages as possible. Members create personas from all over Europe, as well as the Orient and mainland Asia. If it existed or was done in the Middle Ages, there's a good chance that someone in the SCA knows about it and does it as well.

The main purpose of the SCA is to recreate the Middle Ages "as they should have been", emphasizing the arts and chivalry and removing the oppression and hatred. There are Kings and Queens to all of the Kingdoms, but they are chosen in tournaments and change every 6 months. There are Knights, but they must prove themselves to uphold a high standard of both combat skills and personal integrity. Members (or Scadians, as they are often called) are quick to let others know when they are acting in ways that are inappropriate.

In recent years, the SCA has become much more popular with people seeking an escape from the everyday monotony of mundane life. Now much more than a bunch of weirdos dressing up in funny clothes, SCA events have gained a worldwide following. The Pennsic Wars, for example, draw SCA players from across the globe to northern Pennsylvania for two weeks each August. The event has grown so large that state law requires that it be zoned as a small city for the duration of the War.

More information about the SCA can be found on the SCA website or by making a search on any internet search engine. An internet search will also likely yield websites belonging to members who are "living the dream" and willing to share their experiences and research with any who wish to learn.