Escape into history and leave modern society behind with the Society for Creative Anachronism.
The Society is a research organization that focuses on the Middle Ages, such as medieval history and times between the 6th and 16th centuries. SCA is considered a “living” research organization, which means they re-enact the daily lives of those in the Middle Ages.
“Winter Wolf,” a major event hosted by the society, will offer classes, tournaments, food and displays relating to what they learn in the meetings, said president of the Society, Natasha Glazener. The event will be at the Duck Pond and in the SUB from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The research organization has chapters all over the world, Glazener said.
“We re-create aspects of the Middle Ages,” she said. “For instance, back then they could weave linen so fine that we cannot duplicate it today. So, we cannot duplicate it because we do not have proper materials, therefore we look back and find how they did things.”
The group works with three major aspects of the Middle Ages. On Mondays, the Society meets for “period-style dancing.” Wednesdays, they meet for “fighter practice,” and Thursdays are meetings for “arts and sciences.”
Both the dancing and art meetings are held in the SUB, while “combat practice” is held on Johnson Field.
Glazener said each meeting works with different elements from the time period. “Combat practice” includes fencing and other fighting techniques. The “art and sciences” meeting teaches weaving and calligraphy, among other things, Glazener said.
“Not only is it about understanding the history involved and how things have changed and why they have changed, it is largely about finding hobbies,” Glazener said. “You can say that pretty much any field someone is interested in, you can find information on in the Society. It’s about learning new information and finding activities that you enjoy.”
Lawrence Zalewski, the SCA chronicler, said there are theatre majors who are involved because of costuming, as well as history majors for the researching aspect.
“I have a better understanding of crafts, which is very rewarding,” he said. “Also, the group is very tight-knit. It is a fascinating group because it is living history; you try to do things as close as possible to the Middle Ages’ techniques. It makes history more real.”
The SCA incorporates community involvement, Glazener said. Last year, the SCA helped a local school put together a Renaissance fair. The Society also volunteers with the Santa Fe Renaissance Fair.
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Yayalina Mendiola, a junior studying medical laboratory sciences, said she likes the idea of reliving medieval practices to better understand history.
“I would definitely consider joining the Society because of the community involvement,” she said. “It sounds like both the group and the community benefit from their research in history. I think it would be interesting to compare our time to the Middle Ages and see how everything has evolved.”
BOX:
“Winter Wolf”
Society for Creative Anachronism
Saturday, Jan. 30
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Duck Pond and in the SUB
