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Society for Creative Anachronism

© Virginia Marin

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If you like folklore, mythology, legends, art, chivalry, costumes, history, literature, heraldry, genealogy and a host of other subjects, you will love the Society For Creative Anachronism. Here, one can delve into virtually every facet that is incorporated into folklore. This is a non-profit, fun group dedicated to researching and recreating the Middle Ages in the present - not as they were, but as they could have been. If you like calligraphy, working with stained glass, metal and leather crafts, weaving, open-pit cooking, wine and beer making, folk music, dancing and fighting in suits of mail, read on...

Webster defines anachronism as anything out of its proper historical time or the representation of this. In the SCA (Society For Creative Anachronism) the seventeenth century comes out of the past and into our time frame. If you are looking for a perfect way to relax, unwind and live as if in an earlier slower paced century this group is for you.

As applied to folklore, legends and mythology, lovers of these genra can create a folk or legendary persona as long as it fits into the Middle Age time frame. Persona? Yes. Choosing a persona is central to the life of SCA, and this is one of their activities that makes membership very exciting!

Many of the groups meet weekly so one can always look forward to something interesting and exciting. At the meetings the members dance, eat, talk, study, read, learn and make plans. One example of making plans is for a Renaissance Fair. Other actual activities include, but are not limited to, folk and period dancing, open pit cooking, metal work, making stained glass, calligraphy, martial arts, and reading the literature of the period. If one is interested in early brewery, instead of simply reading about it, he makes his own wines, meads and beers. Those who want to learn about infantry fighting make their armor, weapons and shields.

SCA members wear costumes of the period, and enjoy making their own, though they can be purchased or another member who is interested in costuming sometimes makes them. Many chapters also maintain an inventory of costumes which members may use. Along with choosing a persona, costuming is of utmost importance in belonging to the SCA. Being knowledgeable about customs and courtesies is also vital. A lot is expected, even of new members in the way of customs and courtesies. The courtesy and chivalry seen here is seldom found elsewhere.

The copyright of the article Society for Creative Anachronism in Folklore is owned by Virginia Marin. Permission to republish Society for Creative Anachronism in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.