SC - Middle Ages Revisited - Brief Article on the SCA

[micaylah]

As seen at Detnews.com.

http://detnews.com/2000/metro/0012/21/b07w-165475.htm

So who's doing the feast?

YIS
Micaylah

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Middle Ages Revisited
Boyne City group recreates aspects of medieval life
Ryan Bentley / Associated Press
Ryan Bentley writes for the Petoskey News-Review. This report was
distributed by The Associated Press.


BOYNE CITY -- When Chip Wilte takes a break from his work life, he often
escapes not only to different places, but also to a different time.

Wilte is one of three Northwest Michigan residents who founded a shire, or
chapter, of the Society for Creative Anachronism in Boyne City earlier this
year. During regular meetings and special events, SCA members don clothing
in pre-17th century styles and work to recreate the martial arts, cooking,
crafts and other aspects of life in the Middle Ages.

"You truly get a chance to forget about all the things around you in the
real world," Wilte said.

Once a month, about 20 members of the local shire, known as Vargavik, meet
to discuss organizational tasks and plan special events highlighting
medieval life. Once the members' reports are made and old and new business
is resolved, many of the members don armor, pick up weapons crafted from
rattan and practice medieval-style combat.

"There's actually very strict rules on armor," Wilte said. "It's a very safe
sport."

When engaged in heavy weapons combat, SCA members are required to shield
their head, arms, groin, knees and other body parts. To participate in
formal combat events, members must have their skills using various weaponry
certified by a committee of "weapons marshals."

"With the wooden swords, obviously you could bruise somebody, but with the
armor, you usually don't get hurt," said Tim Crumbaugh, another founder of
the Vargavik shire.

SCA combat events may take a one-on-one format or involve much larger
groups. Though the weapons used in the re-creation don't have a cutting
edge, participants observe the limitations of medieval armor. For example, a
combatant must leave battle if struck by a sword on an exposed part of the
leg.

Though the combat is one of the elements of medieval life that the local SCA
group practices most frequently, there are many other activities which
members can explore, Crumbaugh said.

People join to dance," he said. "People join to do the arts and crafts."

In May 2001, the local shire plans to host an event showcasing medieval life
for other SCA groups and visitors, said SCA participant Terri Korthase.
Members will recreate a Viking raid and prepare a poacher's feast featuring
venison and other foods from the wild.

People who become involved in SCA on a regular basis typically work to
develop one or more medieval persona which they can share with others in the
group, Korthase said.

SCA participants normally do library research or seek input from other
members in recreating the historical context for their persona. They often
craft their own period clothing and armor.

Though the local shire's activities focus on the Viking era, participants
are welcome to explore any culture existing between the years 500 and 1500,
Korthase said.

"There's a lot of people who do Japanese personas," she said. "There's tons
of Arabic."

Crumbaugh, Wilte and their friend, John Magee, became involved in the
organization in the early 1990s. Magee said the three were helping another
friend construct a replica of a Viking long ship and traveled to a
Renaissance festival in Traverse City seeking advice for the project. There,
they learned about SCA and gradually became involved in its medieval
re-creation activities together.