Medieval history/hobby/reenactment/recreation...

[Mir]

Greetings, all!

I want this to be a thread for all things medieval - while I'm a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, there are other hobby research and reenactment/recreation groups out there and I want to include all of us.

(There was a thread on the previous forum called Butch Femme SCAdians... we had some neat discussions there.)

Let me give a little background for my own aspect of this hobby: I've been in the SCA since 1988 (as we say, anno societatis 22). Our particular group does research and recreation (unlike re-enactors we don't exactly choreograph actual battles or exactly copy illumination - we use the learning to test our own mettle and ideas in their asthetic and tradition.)

In the SCA, I portray a Russian merchant from Novgorod who keeps a warehouse near Chepstow, on the English / Welsh border in the 1220s. Because we're recreation not reenactment, Tvorimir Danilov was not a real person I can prove - in fact we don't let you portray a specific famous person. Instead, he's a valid example of that sort of person from that time. I wear the clothes and portray the background and attitudes (it makes a good joke when I send the dog to be my wife's guard on merchants' row - she SURELY can't be allowed to go alone!). However, I am also a Marshal (safety official), a Chirurgeon (first aid officer), and Herald (announcer). I do enough work and leadership that I was elevated to the peerage as a Companion of the Order of the Pelican, and am in direct fealty to the Crown. In the SCA, our rulers win a tournament for the headache...I mean privilege... of ruling for 6 months.

So, here's a snapshot. I think our modern era can learn a lot from the chivalrous ideals, and I go play a game on weekends that gives me a focus for learning, an excuse to teach and show what I'm learning, and a community I've enjoyed for years.

Anyone else?

in service,
Mir

Master Tvorimir Danilov, OP, MC, GPoAT

(Here's one of my pet projects)
http://www.cafepress.com/conalscorner/4747221 - Mir's Quest is an effort to get those ideals thought about and discussed, as described in Lord Conal's store...

[StillettoDoll]

We'are In the process of a total make over to our bedroom which we are doing in medieval style it been quite fun , Finished painting last weekend. Found a Handmade iron bed we had to drive 200 miles for . and been in high search for lamps dressers ect. Found some great shields for the wall . BLaze loves the swords. I will be makeing the curtains , its awsome! maye I'll post a pic......:knighthorse:

[Soft*Silver]

I , too, am a member of SCA, and am a 13 th cent woodswoman in the carpathian mountians. Taken from the archetype of the baba yaga, Magda'elena Bada is the token remnant of the Old Ways after Xtianity took over her village.

I live right by Pennsic, which is the largest international SCA event. It is a two week period where people stay, camping, in households and shires, in character and period garb. You cannot buy tickets to come and watch, which is more like a Renne Faire. People from over the pond actually rent storage units year round close to the Pennsic ground, so they dont have to ship their equipment back and forth.
(I cannot attend, because I cannot camp and they do not sell one day tickets. )

From swordsmanship to fencing, from leather work to spinning, from dance to barding, thereis something to be learned and enjoyed. Developing my character persona, helped me learn more about my family ancestry, for that is what I used as a jumping board for my persona.

[bright_arrow]

I am very intrigued by this! I've been to one renaissance festival and absolutely fell in love with it - the clothing, the way they spoke.. and you're telling me there is a group that, excuse me if i'm wrong, re-enacts/re-lives it?

Tell me more? :wine:

[Galahad]

Greetings,
Just looking for a fix it advice thread when I saw this. It's war season! Huzzah! I hope you are all having a safe and joyful summer. Yesterday we cleaned all the SCA stuff out of the garage, organized the camp gear and found enough odds and ends to put me in armor. The practice will either kill of cure me. A new/old group is starting nearby. I'm so excited.

[dreadgeek]

I'm actually not a member of the SCA but I saw this thread and the geekgirl in me just HAD to come read it. People have been trying to get me into SCA for 30 years, since I first sat down to play D&D. I used to go to RenFaire in California but haven't been to one since I moved up here.

I do have a thing for Medieval history and am re-re-reading William Manchester's "A World Lit Only by Fire" because every now and again I like to return to it.

Cheers
Aj

[Galahad]

You just missed the West /Antir kingdoms war weekend in Gold Beach,OR. I hope you find a group near you and try it, discussions with others who love history and living just a little bit of the best parts.

[princessbelle]

Great thread. So interesting.

I just found out that my son, who is getting married on Oct 9, is having a medieval wedding of sorts. He and his future bride will be dressed the part as will the wedding party, decorations and theme to the receptions, as well as the music.

The wedding will be in large house downtown that is some sort of museum or something.

Have been told that the 'mothers' don't have to and are not expected to dress the part. But, am looking forward to seeing it all.

Saw this thread and thought wow, i may actually learn something from this.

Medieval dress, speech and etiquite have always facinated me. Great thread.


.

[Soft*Silver]

BFF...I might have some accessories you could have to compliment your garb. While I am a woodwoman, travelers who hear of me and seek me out, pay me in handsome prizes from their cultures. I have many a shiny thing a beautiful woman such as yourself should wear to a courted wedding...

[princessbelle]

BFF...I might have some accessories you could have to compliment your garb. While I am a woodwoman, travelers who hear of me and seek me out, pay me in handsome prizes from their cultures. I have many a shiny thing a beautiful woman such as yourself should wear to a courted wedding...

Well, ty for the compliment honey. Yes, that would be a good idea to maybe accessorize something that would be "fitting".

oh and i also have been to the Renaissance Festival in Minnesota as desdansmoncoeur described, a few years back. Wonderful, wonderful party. Walked around with a chicken leg (forget the proper term for that). I do remember it was hard to find out where the bathrooms were and get a response that I actually understood. However, my southern accent played a part in the communication gap as well.

But, had a blast.

[Andrew, Jr.]

There is a magazine called Design Toscano that sells shields, armour, swords, and such. They are in Elk Grove Village, Il. 1-800-525-0733. www.DesignToscano.com. Also you can follow them on fb and twitter.

Andrew

[Galahad]

Greetings Lords and Ladies,
I am sitting here trying to get used to this helm. It's an exercise in overcoming claustrophobia. I have a hand me down Japanese type helm with a chin strap. I don't know what I hate more at this point. The heaviness(eight pounds), or that my chin is held tight, I think it's the chin. I know it's better than a strap under my throat, but having my chin held freaks me out more than a bit. I'm trying to stretch out the time I can wear this thing here.... It helps to hold my glasses up to the grill. I'm not so frantic if I can see. If I can ever lay on my back in armour I'll have the claustrophobia whipped. No practice yet for me until I get a things fitting a little safer. Besides, it's just too hot here. Last night it was ninety at nine o'clock, and eighty plus at six thirty this am with smoke and humidity. Next week I hope to be ready to get hit. At my age, I worry about my chest/heart area getting hit, or my shoulders. Joints just take so long to heal. I can tell already that I want another helm. This is compressing my neck. Is that ok? A little over 13 minutes today.
How long do you wear your helm? How do you build strength in your neck? How do people get their glasses in there with them (I've seen them and never thought to ask)? What type of pauldrons do people like best?
Galahad

[Soft*Silver]

Dear Sir G... I have always marveled at the warriors for wearing stifling and stuffy suits and togs to battle. I have served as water bearer before and have witnessed the sweat pour down faces from helms that MUST be worn.

Pennsic is but a short time away. I could not attend again this year because of the need for surgeries. I do hope I will be blessed enough to participate next year. And, to join in equestrian activities as well, and coursing hounds.

adieu.

mags

[Galahad]

M'Lady Softness,
I hope your knee (and the rest) is better and you will be able to attend the event again soon. Pennsic sounds and looks so wondrous, however, I don't know if I could stand the humidity you have there though. It must be more than a little frustrating for you. So near and yet so far. I love to see the photos

http://www.pbase.com/darter02/sca

For anyone wondering, this is an almost all around view of what happens at a war. Pennsic is one of the biggest.
Galahad

[Mir]

You just missed the West /Antir kingdoms war weekend in Gold Beach,OR. I hope you find a group near you and try it, discussions with others who love history and living just a little bit of the best parts.

You were there??? Now I'm REALLY pissed I couldn't make it! Next year?
Mir

[Mir]

Galahad, that helm needs help. No, in that heat, don't fight in a claustrophobic helm.

The compression may be your neck muscles needing to beef up for its weight - that is an issue new fighters have. The only real workaround is a helm that rests on your torso armor, and that adds more weight there and is less mobile. Strengthening your neck is like the exercises for your shield arm - just work up to it.

To all these wonderful people who have been talking while I've had my head in a bucket - thank you so much! It's really gratifying. I'm a SCA lifer, at this point, and my hobby has been a profound influence in the quality of person I am. one of you I thanked for posting, I was actually thanking for your signature!

in service to the dream,
Mir

[Mir]

http://www.sca.org/scacensus2010/index.html please go answer - I think it was good for me to think through, took about 20 minutes, and I'm so tickled they asked about orientation - I've a male persona (in more than just the SCA!) and why *can't* I have a lady serve with me as baron and baroness? What, the people polling can't express whether they want us?

Anyway, I'm excited about the survey and really want as many of us to respond as possible - I want them to know we're out here!

in service to the Dream,
Mir

(Galahad, are any of my BF posts useful to crosspost here?)

[Galahad]

My Lord Mir!!
So glad to see you posting again. I hope your chirurgeon teaching duties are over for the summer and you have time for yourself. I am very grateful for the helm advice. I was feeling quite the failure over the neck issue. Now I know I am not alone and just have to keep up a stiff neck for a little longer. I will go slower and I am not going to practice in the heat. 111 here today.

I did not get to Gold Beach and the War this year. I posted it for Dreadgeek who only needs a gentle nudge in our direction. I dream of going to that war too. The cool ocean breeze.......green.....

Yes, many of the things you wrote are worth repeating. I never read enough and I'm sure others will feel the same. If they are on this thread they will be.

Survey is done and yes, Other, never felt so good to click. And the same sex couples as Sovereigns and Baronial rulers, the world looks much better suddenly.

It is great to see you posting again my lord and I look forward to reading many more from you.

Your servant,
Galahad

[Soft*Silver]

thank you for posting this survery..I have filled it out and submitted

[Gabriella]

I also belonged to the SCA a very long time ago, a friend who invited me to the events was actually one of the first female knights and I can't remember all the titles she held, her husband was very involved as well. My persona was gypsy my name was Bibiana and the time line was 12th to 14th century. My son was around 7 or 8 yrs old and he loved it, living history doesn't get much better and they really enjoyed him and always included him in everything..As a gypsy I sang and danced and told alot of fortunes.. Hadn't thought about that for ago times so, thanks for the little aaahhh moment...

[Mir]

I was approached recently (before we'd seen the survey questions) by a Laurel who is also a squire and wanted to fight for her girlfriend in Crown Tourney. She was working on strategy, and then the survey comes out and hands it to her! Pretty handy!

fwiw,
Mir

[Spoon]

Just wanted to say this thread is awesome! My minor was Medieval Studies, and I still go to Congress at my alma mater every year.

[Mir]

I really don't want to make this totally SCA - there are amazing groups in Europe, Russia, and across North America that do different slants on exploring the middle ages.

First off, medieval, middle ages, etc. are European terms for a European era, so first of all the groups may have folks who represent visitors from other places but we have a commonality so us visitors have a story - I'm a Novgorodian (Russian) merchant with a "factory" (think warehouse and trans-shipment point) in England.

Next, we have the level of seriousness, the area of focus, and the purpose.

Re-enactors generally have a specific group, time, and place - even to a specific battle or town - that they represent. Some of these are museum organizations, some are hobby groups who really go for authenticity. They provide a really good picture and generally do really well with that time/place. Their focus is to teach, and they want very much to "get it right" and normally have people in charge of helping and enforcing authenticity, requiring you to have gear together before you can really get into it. Faithful medievalism.

Re-creators generally want to have an accurate feel, have varying levels of authenticity, and want to explore more than explain the middle ages. Groups like the SCA may have a hodgepodge of cultures and times at one event, and people whose accuracy level varies widely - and arguments about how authentic they should be vs how accessible they should be. They're still about teaching and learning what really happened, but feel they may pick and choose more - let's not have another inquisition, after all! Selective medievalism.

Renaissance (Medieval, Tudor and whatever) Faires are entertainment with a strong common theme. They use historic elements to put on their show, and it can be edutainment of a fairly high level - it depends on what the faire focuses on. These are for-profit, normally, and have the freedom to include fairies and trolls and such, if they want to. They want you to step into their 3D stage, and join the play. Medieval fantasy.

Hope this helps start for a clarification...
Mir

[Galahad]

Greetings,
Not exactly reenacting, but I have been reading from this site and it's forums lately. If anyone else is interested in the subject of chivalry, it's not perfect, but some great discussions on chivalry both historic and contemporary.

http://www.chivalrynow.net/imagine.htm

[Soft*Silver]

anyone going to pennsic? I am not but have been busy making plans to attend, for the first time, next year! A friend is loaning me her camper so i wont have to sleep outside, which has been a major problem for me because of my health issues.