By Sir Vladimir Ivanovitch
The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is a non-profit educational organization devoted to the study of pre-seventeenth century western culture. We concentrate on the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods in Europe, and some members study the Middle East, Asia, and other regions and their interaction with Europe.
The word anachronism means something that is taken out of its proper time frame. Thus, creative anachronism takes the best qualities of a time period and recreates them in the modern world.
The SCA is a worldwide organization with over 22,000 subscribing members. The world is divided into geographical regions called Kingdoms. Each Kingdom is ruled by a King and Queen who are chosen in an armored combat tournament known as a Crown Tournament. Kingdoms are further divided into smaller local chapters known as principalities, baronies, shires, cantons or colleges, depending on their size. Each smaller group has its own ruling structure.
The region including Wyoming, most of Colorado, New Mexico and the tip of Texas is called the Kingdom of the Outlands. Denver, Colorado is known as the Barony of Caerthe and is ruled by our own Baron and Baroness.
The SCA re-creates the culture of the period. This means that you pick a persona (a fictional character who you would be had you lived prior to the seventeenth century) and study and recreate the arts and skills of your chosen period. We in the SCA have many ways to participate: we practice period fighting, including armored combat, fencing and archery; we cook and brew; sew clothing and build pavillions (tents) and furniture; perform music, theatre, and dance; practice horsemanship; and study and design heraldry, and much more. We also practice the ideals of literary medieval society- courtesy, honor, and chivalry. In short, anything to do with the Medieval and Renaissance periods is a subject for study and even competition, if one wishes.
Quite often the SCA populace gathers for an event at which members wear garb, or period clothing. At these events we feast and practice the fine, domestic, and martial arts of the period. The only requirements are that you must pay the required site fees (usually less than ten dollars) and do your best to wear period clothing.
Since the SCA is a volunteer organization, the Society runs on the work its members do. The SCA, although very entertaining, is a participation based group, not a performance based group. This means that it is a lot more fun to come and help rather than come and watch. There are several ways to participate including: holding offices or coordinating events; attending classes or sharing skills with others; or just coming out and playing.
In Caerthe, you can come to the Newcomer’s meetings. They are held almost every month. You can contact Lady Gwenhevare at 303-650-1404 or by e-mail at hospitaller@caerthe.org for more information.
Fighter practice is also a wonderful and informal place to meet local members. Practice is every Wednesday afternoon at 6:00 at the Fitsimmons Army Reserve Center.
Directions: Make your best way to I-225 and East Colfax Ave. One block West of I-225 on Colfax is Potomac St. Go North a quarter mile on Potomac and take your first left at 17th Ave. past an old guard hut. At the first traffic light, turn right (North) on Wheeling. Take a left on Montview and go West. Drive about one block. Turn right on Victor St. Turn left on 23rd Ave. The building is on the North side of the road as you follow 23rd. Take your first right on Ursula, and park in the parking lot on your right. There are a lot of construction and closed roads, but the way to the site is O.K.
Back to the Newcomer's Section