How do you describe the SCA?
These are responses to a Facebook question, "Quick! What's the best description of the SCA you've given to family or friends?"
A-E
From Albra
My husband calls it my "hysterical historical society"...and asked last year if I thought I might "outgrow it one day"....ha! May 2nd will mark my 43rd year..I asked him if the word 'lifer' came to mind yet...
From Drogo Fitz William
It's my, "I get to hit people with sticks and not go to jail club".
F-J
From Grace Bywater
The sewing circle, the martial arts club and the theater guild go camping together.
From Grace Fenix
Dress up in the park, camping with costumes.
From Illuminada Eugenia de Guadalupe y Godoy
I once described Pennsic as like a huge family reunion - of the family I chose, rather than the one I was born into.
From Isolde de Fetherestan
I once described it to a friend as "It's like all the best parts of your history classes came to life, and then got incredibly excited that you wanted to get involved."
From Johanna von Nurnberg
Uh,like the Renaissance faire,but every weekend.Sort of. It's not a good description, but people know the fair as a point of reference.
From Kendrick
Medieval camping with booze n'fighting n'sh!t. That's my short definition, hahaha....I tell them it's a medieval research society, then get into detail...this, that and the other thing... Oh, and my fiancé calls it weird camping. Lol... She's not into it but is very supportive & attends wars with me
K-O
From Katherine of Hornechurch
Think of a Renaissance Fair, only its cheaper, better and you actually live it, plus you get to hit people with sticks without being arrested, and there is always a party going on somewhere!
From Muirgen ingen Ailella
Reliving wonderful medieval times with the best people on Earth - without the Plague and with Stone Privies!
P-T
From Randulf Greenwall
"The SCA is where you spend every day beating people soundly about the head, then spend all night drinking with friends while singing songs by firelight."
From Sadb ingen Abner uí Lorccáin
Medieval scouting on steroids.
From Sean O'Fallon (Captain Sean the Blue Handed)
"A wild desert party where everyone is as interested in history as they are in whiskey. Also, armored stick fighting."
OR...
"A party with three thousand of my friends in awesome clothes and opportunities to learn almost anything."
Really, it depends which side of War you ask me on...
From Tetchubah of Greenlake
My mother has always called it "that weirdo organization you belong to." Even when I was on the Board and Society Exchequer I think she kept thinking I'd eventually grow out of it.
From Thorin of Bexhill
The SCA is a group of historical reenactors that give you the ability to choose who and what you would be in a best of the Middle Ages scenario, where there are only people of nobility. There are no peasants or plagues. All the different elements come together just as they like have in a town. All the craftspeople, the arts, the fighting, of which there are several different forms, but NONE are scripted; they are real fights, but no one gets physically injured when they "die".
We have members and groups all around the world, and there is some event you can attend virtually every weekend that is within driving distance. There are merchants you can buy things from, and guilds where you can learn to make things yourself.
To me, what really makes is perfect is that it is something you need never grow out of. There are things to do for people of ALL ages, including the very young and very old. If you have any interest at all in the Middle Ages, I strongly recommend you go to an event and check it out for yourself.
U-Z
(SCA Names Needed)
From Diana
Somewhere between a Ren Faire and a Scout encampment. With cool costumes and arts-and-crafts.
From Joanna
It's like what I do at home when no one's watching, except that I do it with a bunch of friends who are weird like me.
