If you are wondering what this is all about, allow me to illuminate you regarding your knowledge of the Society for Creative Anachronism or, S.C.A.

The Society for Creative Anachronism was started in 1966 in Berkley California, as a gathering of history majors having a sort of May celebration in middle age style. From these humble beginnings, the Society has grown into a international organization with hundreds of thousands of members world wide.

The Society is first and foremost is an educational organization that researches and recreates many aspects of middle age and renaissance history. The time period we study is from 600-1600 AD. A broad spectrum to say the least. This gives us a glorious historical palate from which to paint. Below you will find a small F.A.Q. list. If this does not help answer your questions please feel free to e-mail the site administrator from the link on the main page.

Q: "Why do you do this?"
A: Well, basically the people of the SCA share a love of history. We find that researching and recreating the Renaissance and the Middle Ages is not only educational, but a heck of a lot of fun.

Q: "Can I be King Arthur?"
A: Ummmmm.....no. In the Society we craft personas of people who "could" have lived in the time period, not who actually did. Also, since we are an educational organization, we shy away from the "fantasy" realm in building a persona. That's why you won't hear anybody at an SCA event say "I'm a 5th level Knight named Oshmar the Mean.", or "I'm an Elf." Also, titles are important within the organization. We have an elaborate awards structure that gives you such titles as King, Queen, Prince, Princess, Duke, Duchess, Count, Countess, Knight, Master, Mistress, Baron, Baroness, Lord, Lady, and so on. So when you come to an event and are new, you can't place a title before your name. But you can (and hopefully will) earn those in the future.

Q: "How do you recreate the Middle Ages?"
A: With much fun. We make our clothes, our tents (pavilions), our weapons, our armor, everything! SCA events are, to say the least, great visual splendors. But we also research and recreate music, dance, books, literature, heraldry, combat, archery, sciences, etc, etc, etc.

Q: "You mentioned fighting. What's that all about?"
A: Armored combat is one of the most visually outstanding things we do in the Society. We research and recreate armor from the time period, and craft swords out of rattan (a bamboo that is dense and does not shatter like wood does, lending the weight and heft of steel weapons, without the deadly effects) and use an honor system to acknowledge blows. If you get hit in the arm, you cannot use that arm, etc. None of it is choreographed, so in truth, the best man wins.

Q: "Who can fight?"
A: Anyone. You can start fighting at 16, with parental permission, and anytime after 18, male or female. SCA combat is a sport like any other. There is a (rather large) manual on rules and conventions for combat as well as armor standards. There are marshals on the field at all times during fights to watch for safety as well as conduct.

Q: "What can I do besides swing a big stick?"
A: Just about anything. As I said before there is singing, dancing, cooking, crafting, painting, just about anything done in the period is open and chances are somebody who is in the SCA does it.

Q: "I can't sew a lick, what do I do?"
A: There are tons of people in the Society to see for clothes. If you are new, don't let not having period clothing stop you from coming to meetings. If you are truly interested, then there are many people who will be happy to help you make something to wear, or teach you if you like.

Q: "How do I get started?"
A: Come to a meeting. You can find meeting places and times on the Main Page or click here. Don't worry about weather you can go to a meeting or not, because you can go to anyone you want, business, populace, it does not matter. Just come.