Welcome to the SCA!
The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is an international non-profit volunteer educational organization. We are devoted to the research and re-creation of pre-seventeenth century skills, arts, combat, culture, and employing knowledge of history to enrich the lives of participants through events, demonstrations, and other educational presentations and activities.
So, how did all of this start?
The SCA started in 1966 when a few friends who were history buffs and science fiction/fantasy fans hosted a big outdoor party in Berkeley, California. The invitation stated that a Tournament would be held on the first of May, summoning “all knights to defend in single combat the title of ‘fairest’ for their ladies.”
The rest, as they say, is history (ツ)_/¯
Our Society and its people
Since its inception in 1966, the Society has grown to nineteen kingdoms, which cover the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, South Africa, and Australia. There are over 30,000 paid members of the corporation, and the total number of participants is estimated to be around 60,000 people.
People from all walks of life join the SCA – students, teachers, historians, writers, legal clerks, doctors, nurses, artists, chefs, IT – any and every profession you can think of. In our increasingly high-tech society, where the majority of us spend our time infront of computers, many find it relaxing to spend their leisure time using simpler technologies in a less modern setting.
What makes the SCA different from a Humanities 101 class is the active participation in the learning process. To learn about the clothing of the period, you research it, then sew and wear it yourself. To learn about combat, you put on armour (which you may have built yourself) and learn how to defeat your opponent. To learn to brew, you make (and sample!) your own wines, meads and beers.
You will frequently hear SCA participants describe the SCA as recreating the Middle Ages “as they ought to have been.” In some ways this is true – we choose to use indoor plumbing, heated halls, and sewing machines. In the dead of winter, we have more to eat than King’s venison, salt pork and dried tubers. However, a better description is that we selectively recreate the culture, choosing elements of the culture that interest and attract us.
That all sounds great, how do I get involved?
Come tumble down the rabbit hole! It’s a great time, trust us ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Step 1:
Find your local Branch!
Depending on where you live, your local group may be directly in town or out of town. They usually have a Chatelaine, someone who’s specifically there to greet and help new folks, if not, the Seneschal will fulfill this role.
Step 2:
Get in touch!
Once you have found your branch, if they have a website please go there to see their schedule. If not, you can reach out to their Seneschal or Chatelaine directly. You can also join the local Facebook group and introduce yourself to get things started!
Step 4:
Have a great time!
Whatever your interests may be, we have something for everyone! Take your time figuring out what that is because, once you have, it’s a rabbit hole you’ll be tumbling down for a long time to come!
Parts of this article are from sca.org