THE SCA
The SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) is an international society that
studies the Middle Ages and Early Rennaisance. The basic premise is to study
this time period by doing. The group was founded in 1967 at the University of
Southern California at Berkley. Since is founding in 1967 the organization
has spread throughout all the United States and been caried overseas by
the US military and foreign students studying in the US. The oranization
currently has in excess of 40,000 dues paying members, however the actual
number of participants is greater. The SCA does not require membership to
to actually participate, the only requirement to participate is that you
must wear an attempt at Medieval or Rennaisance garb at events.
Members of the SCA practice the skills of the Medieval period, from combat
to caligraphy, armor construction, garb construction, brewing, woodworking,
heraldry, food preparation, embroydery, music, dance, weapon smithing, and
history and herbology. It can probably be said no matter how obsure the art
there is probaly someone in the SCA pracicing it and willing to talk to you
at great length, until you can't stand it any more, ignoring all your body
language and droning on endlessly about it. On the other hand if you are
interested in, say caligraphy, and not invloved in the SCA, when you proudly
show your latest work to a friend, they will probably look at it and say
some platitude and try to change the subject. In the SCA however there are
many people who will show genuine interest and be able to converse with you
readily about embroydery and exchange ideas.
The SCA has divided the world up into regions called Kingdoms, each Kingdom
is ruled by a King and a Queen. The ruling period differs from Kingdom to
Kingdom however generally it is about 6 months. The Monarchs are chosen by
combat. One of the 1st things the new Monarchs are required to do, is hold
a tournament to choose their successor. These kingdoms are further broken
down into smaller regions called Principalies, Baronies, Shires etc. These
Baronies and Shires sponsor Events every so often, and are responsible for
fostering the SCA within their geographic areas. Generally speaking almost
any weekend of the month a kingdom has 1 or more envents occuring, all you
need do is travel to it and pay whatever the fee is to participe for that
day. Usually, the sites events are held at are rented by the sponsoring
group, and the group needs to charge an admission cost to recoup the event's
expenses. An SCA Event usually does not attempt to recreate an actual
historical event, usually we try to create a medieval or Rennaisiance setting
where full contact tournamnets or battles are fought, the royality holds
Court and awards members for excellance in various fields, and competions
in various Medieval Arts and Sciences are held.
In order to step farther away from our daily mundane world, members create
for themselves a persona from sometime in the Middle Ages or Rennaisance.
It also promotes study of the medieval period as one must read allitle bit
of history to create the persona.
Sooooooo, If you find the thought of participating in the SCA interesting
and would like more information or contact points in your local area (we
are probably pretty close to your hometown, if not in it) check out my
link page. My link page will have other SCA links including the SCA main
website.
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HOUSE TAIVASSALAMA
House Taivassalama was founded in 1984. When Axel was knighted in the
Kingdom of Atlantia, he left the household of the knight he had been
squired to, Count Sir Knarlic Wolfharisson, and with his then fiancee
Jeanmaire du Domremy, founded this household. Jeanmaire and Axel were
married in 1985, the Wedding, though not an SCA event, was more like an
SCA event than many SCA events we have been to. Jeanmaire was elevated
into the Order of the Laurel the following year (1986). During Axel's
vigil at the Pennsic War, a storm blew in, but no rain fell until
after Axel had finished his vigil. During the vigil a great light show
occured in the night sky as the lighting and the storm got closer and
closer. Two years later, Mistress Jeanmaire's vigil was cut short by
lighting and a storm as well. These two occurances resulted in the
name Taivassalama (sky lighting in Finnish..Axel's persona is a Finnish
Viking circa 1170, but that's another story). Axel and Jeanmaire have
travelled from Atlantia to Drachenwald, to Ansteora, and now back to
Atlantia, bringing new members into the household and releasing members
from feality as they complete their training and enter the peerage of
their respective Kingdoms.
The household badge represents a stormy night sky. The Sable (black)
field, representing night, an Or (Gold) embattled, dovetailed pile,
repesenting lighting, the black field is surrounded by an Argent
(White) outline representing clouds.
Sir Axel's Chivalric Lineage (as determined by Chivalric hand):
Axel Knighted by Richard FitzGilbert (AS 19)
Richard FitzGilbert Knighted by Jahn of Outmon (AS 17)
Jahn of Outmon Knighted by Dagan du Darrengonne (AS 11)
Dagan du Darrengonne Knighted by Merowald de Sylveastan (AS 7)
Merowald de Sylveastan Knighted by Cyridach (AS 6)
Cyridach Knighted by Andrew of Seldom Rest (AS 6)
Andrew of Seldom Rest Knighted by Henrik of Havn (AS 5)
Henrik of Havn Knighted by Fulk de Wyvern (AS 2)
Fulk de Wyvern is one of the 1st Knights...Knighted as part of the orginal
SCA order of Chivalry. Created at the West Kingdom 12th Night Jan 6th 1968.
I can not find where Henrik of Haven was Knighted then or before, although he was the 2nd King of the West...I would guess he was actually knighted
later. Henrik of Havn was, however, one of the 3 inital people awarded the
title of Duke, and and according to West Kingdom records, this occured at
the same 12th Night the Order of the Chivalry was created at.
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Artwork Credits:
The Guard is from Lori's fantasy Clipart Page
The Badge is ours
