Resources
Start with the Basics
New to the SCA? Please contact our Chatelaine (Formerly Hospitallier), Mistress Ceridwen o Cahercommaun, OL. at chatelaine@ancrosaire.org
If you need to borrow some medieval clothing, check here to see what takes your fancy and contact our Chatelaine. Clothing closet inventory.
What is the SCA?
The Society for Creative Anachronism, or SCA, is a legally chartered, non-profit society whose aims are:
to reproduce and recreate the best aspects of the middle ages and renaissance, especially the ideals of courtesy, chivalry and personal honor
to keep the culture and society of the middle ages and renaissance alive
to support the study of medieval and renaissance history
to support the study of the arts and sciences of the middle ages and renaissance
to provide a forum for medieval sports and martial arts, especially tournament style combat
Most of the SCA's activities take place within a social structure modeled and adapted on that of the Western European middle ages. This allows participants to immerse themselves in the culture, arts, crafts, sciences, traditions, literature and lifestyles of the period.
The SCA defines its scope as pre-17th century, meaning that individuals recreate all historical periods up to the year 1600 AD. In the SCA most of the world can be a source for personal inspiration, research and reenactment. Many members focus on the Middle East or Far East, though the core of the SCA focuses on Western Europe.
One of the things that makes the SCA different from Renaissance Faires is that the SCA is a participatory organization - there is no "audience" and no "performers". Everyone who attends an SCA event becomes both "performer" and "audience" by participating in the activities around them. In the SCA you can learn to dance period dances, do calligraphy and illumination, make and fight in armor, sew period clothing, cook period dishes and do pretty much anything else that was done in middle ages and renaissance periods. What makes the SCA different from a Medieval History Class or Humanities 101 Class is that instead of just reading books about things, you actually do them!
Some History of the SCA...
The SCA began in Berkeley, California in 1966 and has grown to become an organization with an estimated 100.000 participants with groups located all around the globe! Every country that hosts a local SCA group is considered to be part of the "Known World". The SCA divides the Known World into 19 kingdoms, each ruled over by a King and Queen and a staff of Kingdom Officers.
The Kingdom of Trimaris ( www.trimaris.org ) is the SCA Kingdom comprised of the majority of the state of Florida (excluding the Florida Panhandle) and Panama. Local groups are located all over the state of Florida.
The Society Seneschal has a collection of information for newcomers on its Newcomer Information page. Below are a few links from this page, we believe to be the most useful.
SCA Terminology - "Good grief - what do they mean by that?" The SCA has a vocabulary all its own. Here are definitions for the most commonly used terms you'll hear at events or read in newsletters.
Check out the SCA pages specifically for Newcomers:
Interested in....?
What to Wear (garb links): How to make Garb
Equestrian/Horses-outside link opens in a new window.
Teenager's activities- outside link opens in a new window.
Many more specialized Facebook pages cater to almost ever imaginable topic within the SCA.