June Faire By the S.C.A. (Society for Creative Anachronism)

Delta variant put the kabosh on the whole “post-pandemic summer” idea last year– so this is it, but it almost seems anti-climatic, because it’s such a slow start. At least Omicron is not as deadly as previous versions of Covid, so things are proceeding apace this year– and being outdoors is the best options for gatherings anyways, so there’s that.

I miss faires and festivals. A LOT. Like– SO much…!

It came across my facebook feed that the S.C.A. was holding a Medieval Faire at the county fairgrounds this Saturday, so I decided it was a good Litha (pagan summer solstice holiday) activity. The Society for Creative Anachronism is a hobbyist group of historical “re-imaginers” and cosplayers that’s been around since 1966. It was begun by a witch (something that’s kind of hush-hush) Diana Paxton and her husband. It’s now all over the western world: America, Canada, Europe, and Australia mainly. Which makes sense since it’s all about studying and re-creating skills, music, fighting, and other cultural motifs from about 600 to 1600, the Medieval Period to the Middle Renaissance Period, mainly in Europe. However, other nations’ cultures from that period can be included! It’s mainly about how things were before the major colonial period.

Each member creates one or more fictional characters based upon a real period and place in history– like, you can be a Viking, or a German monk, or an English Knight from the Crusades, or a French healer/midwife. There aren’t any elves, goblins or wizards– it’s historical fiction, not fantasy fiction (although a lot of people in the SCA do both, just in different places!) You choose a name and a back story, then you take on what your character should do — and join guilds that teach skills from the past, like blacksmithing, old style cooking, illuminating manuscripts, dancing in old styles, playing medieval instruments, and– of course!– fighting with bows and arrows, swords, pikes, and so forth. As you gain skills, you get recognized with medals and scrolls of achievement, and you can become an officer who helps run things, and/or your character gains prestige and honor and titles! Yes, there is a King and Queen for every Kingdom. Dukes & Duchesses I think are the “retired” Kings & Queens. Counts, Barons, Earls, Lords, Ladies, Knights, Squires, etc. But you have to earn those titles through service and/or by winning at fighting and/or being married to someone who wins at the fights– which are done with blunted weapons and wooden swords, but wearing real armor because you can get bruised with even blunt weapons!

The modern world is called “the current Middle Ages” and areas are named as Kingdoms, with Baronies, Shires, and so forth. There are meetings for overall things per region plus faires (for fundraising and recruitment of “normies” or “mundanes”) and special occasions like Wars (which are a lot of fun, unlike the real thing!)

I’m in the Barony of Dragon’s Lair (which is the Kitsap Peninsula & northern Tacoma),

which is west of Seattle–>   

in the Kingdom of An Tir (the Pacific Northwest, northern Idaho, and western most Canada.)

in the New World

in the Known World

Anyways, it was really dark, cloudy, and misty for an outdoor event, but Cat and I went to see what was what. It was hugely successful, kids were free, adults $15, and there were fighting demos, skill demos, stuff for sale, and some food. We spent late morning into early afternoon there and ran into a young woman with purple hair named Lavender who was in the Illuminators Guild. Cat can do that kind of line drawing, so she was interested in that, plus Cat’s already into medieval cooking and archery. 3 Guilds! Me– I love the historical deep-diving and character creation stuff, and I want to do writing and dancing.

We’re thinking seriously of joining. New skills, new local contacts who could become friends, new social shit to do! What’s not to love?