How to Start in Historical Re-enactment
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2024
- Want to get started in historical re-enactment? Not sure how? It can be daunting trying to find a society or historical reenactment group that fits you, whether you want to be a Roman, a Greek hoplite, a Tudor man-at-arms, a medieval knight, or a Viking.
Let me give you some tips on breaking into reenactment, what you can expect, and what to steer clear of!
This videowas made as part of CoCoVid 2020! A colossal cavalcade of creative costuming content from the CosTube community!
Find me elsewhere:
Patreon: patreon.com/jimmyjohnson
IG: @littlewelshviking
FB: The Welsh Viking
Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/thew...
Business email (for personal research or other questions/comments please use the Facebook or Instagram links above) : thewelshviking1@gmail.com
Correspondence address:
Welsh Viking,
PO BOX 24200,
EDINBURGH,
EH3 1JL,
UK
Some potentially useful links (not affiliated with me or my channel, content is not monitored by me)
Stone Age:
/ athra-stone-age-reenac...
www.livinghisto...
Roman:
www.erminestree...
www.legioxxirap...
www.novaroma.org/
Sub-Roman:
www.facebook.c...
Early Medieval:
www.vikingsonl...
/ 236847166410289
regia.org/
Medieval:
winterfest.com...
www.reenactmen...
www.reenactmen...
Tudor:
www.tudorgroup...
17th Century:
www.thesealedkn...
www.ecws.org.uk/
18th century:
www.colonialwi...
rwfia.org/wp/
Napoleonic:
www.napoleonic...
19th century:
acws.co.uk/
www.victorians...
/ 479873458746863
WW1:
www.greatwarass...
/ posts (Excellent chaps!)
WW2:
www.ww2lha.co.uk/
www.friendsofth...
Various:
www.alhf.org.a...
www.sca.org/
www.historic-u...
livinghistory.... (Ask these guys things!)
SCA global groups:
www.sca.org/ab...
"You're not a Viking, Trevor. You're an accountant." lol you're awesome
"stop it, get your bloody act together and stop being a child".... I want the t shirt!!!!
If ever I get a merch option! XD
The text should totally be embroidered!
That was literally the exact line after which I hit the 'like' button on this one.
“You can spend £300 on shoes, or you can spend £30 on shoes, or you can make your own shoes for a tenner with materials.” Or, if the local climate allows it, you can go barefoot. Obviously, don’t go barefoot in scorching heat or freezing cold, because that will cause burns or frostbite, but for in-between temperatures, the majority of people were barefoot a lot of the time. And if you can’t afford fancy shoes, you probably don’t have the budget to portray the people who would wear fancy shoes anyway, and that’s fine! Most people were and are commoners.
Yup! Actually now you mention, I was barefoot at events for years!
This covered so many great points, as a reenactor with a disability I really appreciate that you took the time to talk about it. Another option for anyone considering the hobby is to use your disability to build your persona, have some fun. Maybe you were a soldier in your younger years but you were injured, this is the route I took, and I feel like it adds another level of immersion. Happy to see Ontario get mentioned as well haha
Being already a Viking reenactor, trying to learn Welsh, for a different reason, your video was a must see!
Then I’ll have to do a few more Welsh based videos! Diolch yn fawr iawn am wylio!
Omg you and Viking Welsh sould do a zoom collab. I live in 🇲🇽 Mexico. I have never been on a fair, nor a reenactment convention... so I want to know more... 😀
Someone needs to start a fishing *and* reenactment group. The Compleat Anglers, perhaps.
"You're not a viking, Trevor." That killed me XD
He’s an IT consultant! He just get so *into it*
I'm more of a larp person than a reenactment person and all you said is so true! Don't do something if you don't want, not all styles are for everyone and people always want to help you have fun.
Yes, yes, and yes! You’re the best kind of human! Or...whatever species you may larp.
My husband and I went to an SCA event a number of years ago. Much fun was had! We got to borrow some clothes, I learned the basics of card weaving, husband helped others with other crafts. We got to do this in the prehistoric museum, so we slept in barns (but in modern sleeping bags, it was really cold). I got woken up in the middle of the night by a hedgehog that found a plastic bag and rustled around with it, very cute.
We had some amazing food, bought some lovely wooden plates and bowls. We decided against joining (my interests lie a bit later historically and lean more to the fantasy than accuracy), but felt very welcomed. So go when there are events again, meet nice people and try out what you like!
The best alarm clock! :O
Unfortunately I was turned off from reenacting in college after hearing a few classmates who were involved tearing into other woman because her buttons were 5 years late. And in my state (at least at that time) they were the only game in town that didn't do American Civil War. This has made me want to look back into it again. Hopefully over the last few years new groups have popped up.
I’m so glad this helped you feel it was an option again. The classmates sound like they suffered the worst of reenactors and I apologise on the hobby’s behalf.
Given all the current interest in reenactment, my theory is that some day soon a bunch of portals are going to open and SUCK all the people who are dressed to survive the different periods, back through.
So choose your time period CAREFULLY. And, uh, you might want to learn how to fight. And farm.
Hullo, second gen SCAdian here. Don't forget about just being involved in events to help them run! I'm a service junkie who only just now is getting into the arts and sciences. I've had a literal lifetime of wearing "close enough" garb while working with the royalty, making reigns run, and helping work events. If you want to go to an event and have something to do, volunteer to run gate, serve feast (you may get some free feast while you're at it). The help is always needed and it's a great way to meet friends!
Oh, I know I already commented, but to reenactment newbies: the SCA is a FANTASTIC place to start! The lack of strict accuracy rules makes jumping in really easy, and the broad scope of time and place lets you narrow down when and where you want your persona. Also, if you want to hit people with swords, they have fantastic insurance. But anyway, the breadth of people and personas in the SCA makes it great for newbies; it's rather like a library. And at least in my little corner of Allyshia, you'll sometimes be given or loaned things to get you started (at my first big feast in February, I showed up without a cup and got straight up given a handmade cup, it was amazing).
There is no chocolate on CoCovid?
You got me with that one. Also thank you for your Tedtalk. Also I was delighted with your Gentlemen Club panel yesterday 👏.
No chocolate? I've been munching on a huge, fancy fennel and honey chocolate bar throughout CoCoVid...lol, gotta make our own fun!
Same here...been drinking tea with homemade cookies....and watching every video of CoCovid.
On the side of accessibility mobility scooters make great horses 🐴♿
"stop it, get your bloody act together, and stop being a child"
Too right mate, couldn't have put it better myself. Love the channel, keep up the good work!
Finding out about your channel has been one of the highlights of CoCoVid. It's almost enough to make me forgive the overall lack of chocolate.
Hi LWV! I didn’t know you were going to be on CoCoVid. I didn’t even know you had a TH-cam channel.. I’m off to binge watch and make comments!
Oh hello! So pleased you’re here! :D
I had the easy route into reenactment. My parents met in the SK, when I was born they sent off my membership form before they even registered my birth. 37 years later I’m still a member! I’d love to try some different periods though
That was awesome! Thanks so much for addressing access for disabled re-enactors! You rock!
You rock! You’re most welcome and thank you for being here :) If you want anything else covered please let me know
I am still wrapping my brain around Needing a walker, and sometimes an oxygen tank or oxygen concentrator.
Thank you for speaking to access challenges.
I have a club right around the corner, who is fully inclusive. I met them on fairs and they are a really nice bunch.
Sadly, they are not reenacting my period/head topic.
Nice people, who are very welcome on every fair.
I don't know about other reenactment groups, but SCA tends to lean VERY heavily towards fighting in demos. It's almost like the arts and crafts are a hidden community within the larger group. Most people that I tend to interact with hardly even notice that there is fighting going on. But sometimes you will get a fighter who feels like every other aspect of SCA is just some minor support class for the all-important fighters. Luckily that attitude is few and far between. At least where I have played.
Ok, TH-cam algorithm has definitely understood me... currently on a deep dive into the world of living history/re-enactment, and this was so helpful! Thank you so much, and in such a wonderfully humorous way!
If you're looking into a society to help you learn to do historical crafts for reenactments - specifically beading, braids and weaving, try the Great British Bead Society (GBBS), The Braid Society or the Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers (WSD) - yes, they're all based in the UK, but they all have worldwide members and they're all internet based as well (the WSD even has a specific online guild) with extensive websites. All of those groups have excellent newsletters/journals (I know, I have been a member of all these groups) and a LOT of historical-specific workers and they *love* to share their skills and knowledge at local meetings or even online (quite a few members of the Braid Society and the WSD love doing reenactment groups). If you're in the UK, all of those groups have stalls at the Knitting and Stitching show (yes, it's been postponed for 2020) in Harrogate in November (There's also a K&S show in October in London, but I've never been to that one. . .)..
What a great video! I wish resources like this existed when I was starting out a long time ago - it would have saved me a lot of frustration! You are going to empower a lot of new reenactors!
From someone as accomplished as yourself that’s a real compliment. Thank you!
Great video! I loved that you discussed disability. It would be great if you could talk some more about inclusivity in reenactment. I've had some bad experiences with groups that don't allow women in combat roles, or exclude POC on grounds of "historical accuracy". Sadly it's still a real issue, as much in Europe as in the US.
I definitely want to talk more about this.
As a CIS hetero white man I feel it's more my role to amplify the voices of those who have firsthand experience of this and have made work on it, but I'll do my best to give good advice and content myself on this really soon for you. It's in the pipeline!
can't wait for that, I've always been vaguely interested but the idea of showing up and having people say "oh there weren't black people in the uk before x date" or "oh you can only be a servant/slave" scares me, especially because a) i live in the north atm and b) i am interested in more of the living history side... i know those arguments are false but it's still scary
Someday soon, I want to try and go to some SCA events. For now, I am going to sew myself some kit.
I truly appreciate the amount of thought that went into this video.
The links are wicked useful for helping people find a group that works for their needs.
Also: Thank you for the shout out to Canadians, we do love our Timmy's
Missing those Timbits hard, right now! Thank you so much :)
These videos are so fun. Making my COVID convalescence better.
I am sewing and enjoying your videos in 2022. Thank you so much!
I've been playing in the SCA for 13 years all over the United States. I'd love more friends to enjoy the social atmosphere and make some really fun crafts. We also do dance in Colorado if you don't want to fight. Come out and play friends!
The group im a part of (bohus Elfsborgs caroliner) we reenact 1700s sweden, so the soldiers under karl XII or carolus rex, very few of oss own their own uniforms, the group owns almost all of them :)
Thank you for encouraging folks towards the easy access of the SCA. I hope we can someday manage to meet at an event. :) Let me know if you ever make it to Ealdormere. :)
Thanks to you too! Well, I’m with a Torontonian partner, so should be there within a year! :)
@@TheWelshViking Woot woot! I'll look forward to it.
you earnt my subscription u have a nice and eloquent yet simple to understand keep it up
Jimmy you are such a treasure
So trying to make my way through all the CoCoVid videos. Only a week late, but I enjoyed this one so much. My hubby, son, and I have been thinking about trying to join a group. My son is differently abled and finds connecting and socializing with people very tricky. He very much enjoys costumes and 'playing' being in a different period, so it may be something to try so that he can find others and have fun while making friends. Thank you so much for all the tips on how to get started. The reference list in the comments is impressive and I'll definitely make use of it soon. Take care of you and yours and I look forward to your next video.
I hope it goes well, let me know if you need any more help on finding a group or anything. :)
@@TheWelshViking Thanks!
salutations from Bhakail in the East Kingdom!
Quick mention. Nothing wrong with saying we're Disabled Jimmy. Able bodied people also have different abilities. ❤️
So wonderful to see the Early Medieval period represented at CoCoVid! I started in the SCA then transitioned to Regia Anglorum when I narrowed down what my level of authentic interest was. It has been years since I did any public living history activities, but I had some of the most valuable and enjoyable experiences of my life at Whitby and Jorvik. Having said that- I still enjoy exploring the Migration Period and Viking Age. Thank you so much for this and your other videos.
I appreciate very much you addressing the issue of reenacting without appropriating. It is exactly as you say- all you have to do to start is to reach out. You will eventually find the group that is the right fit for you.
Thanks Sid! Glad you enjoyed and thanks for repping Regia in the comments section!
In the us the NRLHF rendezvous are very laid back and not at all combat focused, outside of competition shoots and hawk/knife throwing. Most have a public aspect but if you don’t interact first they’ll usually leave well enough alone and not talk to you. It’s based in the pre 1840 fur trade era, typically “buckskinners”
I saw you on 'the gentleman's club' on cocovid and was fascinated by you. I have been wanting to get into reenactmant for over 10 years thanks to you I have finally got the confidence to actually research and reach out to a couple of groups. I have also subscribed you are so eloquent I could listen to you for ages
This is so lovely, thank you! I hope the groups reach back and you get into this wonderful and slightly mad world!
@@TheWelshViking I've been interested in dress history for over 15 years since I was in school. In the last 3 or 4 years I've brought a lot of books on historical "women's work" Cooking, sewing etc that I like to read for fun. I will be looking forward to be able to talk to people about history without boring them 😂 I made a medevial kirtle and over gown before. All the stitching of the overgown came out in the wash and the kirtle was a bit wonky and shit tbh
Thankyou. this has made getting into re-enacting much less scary :)
This is amazing! I'm disabled and really appreciated the comments on just how accommodating SCA can be (I'd been really hesitant to reach out prior to that)!
I'm also tremendously entertained both "You're not a Viking Trevor, you're an accountant!"
I have no interest in joining a re-enactment group, and yet this was still so interesting! Thanks :D
Thanks Jimmy, I needed to hear this. I love ya for many reasons and the way you encourage me is a big one.
Thanks for all the ideas. I just spent two hours on Google and Facebook and found a few places to investigate. Loved your video!!!
Amazing! I’m so glad!
I started my reenactment journey 6 months ago in Bundaberg qld Australia 😊
You do a really good job of making reaching out to someone seem less scary, and its really cool that this is a topic and that you joined CocoVid!
the badge game is a fun game ^^ i just cant seem to be albe to get yours.. its hidden behind the recomendation for one of your other videos..
Oh bum! I’m sorry, that’s my fault. I’ll 3air63 try to fix it of course
The end screen is gone!
Vikings in Northern Ireland.look for Magnus Vikings from Downpatrick.
They do everything from cooking.
Wood and iron leather work.
Sailing they have longboats.
They do school work.
And fighting. Boys and girls.
And they have a brand new Viking village.
"You're not a viking, Trevor. You're an accountant." PREACH
OMG, beautiful work. Well done.
Thank you for this thorough break down!
SCA fam! 💙
Also, super wish we had jacobite uprising reenactment in the states.
Start a group! Or maybe convince some of the 18th century folks they need some basket hilted swords ;)
YIS
Wish there were things closer to where I live. Found one for in a little under a year and it's still over an hour away. Reenactment just seems really awesome and fun.
Thank you Jimmy... Very informative ... ❤️ Love your channel. 😊
Where I am, SCA is the only medieval re-enactment group in town. There is much to love, of course, but the lack of commitment to authenticity is a serious problem to both me and my partner. We would probably be best suited to something like Regia Anglorum, but the closest branch is in another state, several hours away.
Crumbs, sorry to hear Regia's not a useful distance away. If it's of interest, you could set up a new Regia sub group. It does involve work, but can be fun and as small scale as you want. We have groups that comprise a single family :)
@@TheWelshViking That's quite helpful, and I shall explore that. Thanks!
11:57 Well spoken Jimmy! That is a good life lesson as well lol I look forward to that tunic neck tutorial haha I am a newbie. Perhaps someday we may cross paths in the reenacting world!
I do hope so! I’m filming the neck thing as I type!
I’M EXCITED 😃
Wonderful content! I kept thinking of questions and as you were going along, you answered them!
Slightly psychic, you see! Thank you very much :)
Very informative and interesting. Thanks.
please get a mic so we can listen to your mellow clear voice better. welcome to the online costume community xx
Thank you Jenny! I have a mic, two in fact, but TH-cam has messed with the sound on this one somehow. Working on it.
I do what I call historical cosplay. It's a casual fb group all about dressing up in the appropriate era clothing and having a picnic or visiting a museum. There's an 18th century and a 19th century one so far.
I also wear my stuff to comicons. Went full on tudor at London film and comicon.
I finally could watch the video.
Thank you so much for adressing the Japan point (as it is so super random, I did not expect you'd bring it up...)! I will check the links and figure things out!
With Covid (yeaaaah) it is the perfect time for research :D
Btw....still trying to find a car so I can go to those not so piraty pirate graves...to get that picture!
I hope they’re of use! I tried to research specific group areas, but the link died
@@TheWelshViking
Yes they are! I was able to find some active links. For now everyone is bit far away from me (like 8 hours or more) but I will see what I can do.
Also somehow watching the video yesterday got my brain rolling and remembered a Manga I saw once about a victiorian looking lady traveling in ye olde Japan.
Isabella L. Bird was in her 40s when she visited Japan, and she travelled, only with an interpreter, all the way to Hokkaido.
I know feel at liberty to run around in a victorian outfit...
So, thanks alot! I am not sure in which direction things will go, but they are going in some direction :D and that is very motivating
I'm hoping to eventually go to a ren faire or something but also I am super awkward and an introvert so gatherings scare me. 🤣
Cathy Hay is also an introvert and has some good videos on how to deal with that; here's the link to her video on how to deal with attending Costume College (which can be an intense 4 days): th-cam.com/video/TsFPZoXvVco/w-d-xo.html. My two suggestions for events would be 1. If you can find someone to attend with--even if they have never been to anything, either--you can explore together and give each other moral support; and 2. When you get there, ask if there is any way you can help; having something to do can make you feel less awkward and volunteering endears you to the regulars! And keep at it; the more often you try, the more familiar and comfortable you will become with the group's culture--the first few visits can be awkward even for extroverts. You can do it!
I do 18th Century American (2nd Light Dragoons, and 6th CT Light Infantry) but have done Celtic Iron Age and just started in Victorian. My Norse group disbanded like 10 years ago and the nearest group is a five hour drive away.
You can never have too many centuries in your closet!
Please pardon my OCD, I was really paying attention but every second moment I was gazing at your brooch and praying it wouldn't stab you.
I think that’s just your good nature in this case :) I’m an experience penannular user, and it was way further away than it looked, I promise
A tip on material high quality wool cloth can be found for very affordable prices on eBay you will have to dig to find enough for a tunic but I've made a whole kit (sans shoes) or around 60 dollars by buying second hand cloth
It's very interesting to see the structures in great Britain and Northern America and how they are different from what we do in Germany.
We have smaller and larger groups, who have a certain theme and period and we have lots of people, who just do their own thing.
I came into this rabbit hole by talking to a work mate, who has his own tent and camp together with his girlfriend. He portraits a frankonian knight of the 12th century.
He doesn't take part in the fighting part, because of... Well... We also have trevor(s) here and nobody wants to go to work with bashed in teeth or a black eye next monday.
I will probably do as he does (although late 11th century for me), and join with my own tent. A little bit of friendly combat training and sparring here and there and the visitors of the fairs have something to watch.
I'll stay away from Trevor though.
Thanks
volume is really low, but the content is great! thanks for sharing :)
I am starting to get interested in something like re-enactment. My interest has to do with my other interests: textile handcrafts and gardening/foraging. Coincidental I happen to live in a region where there's a museum (Hunebedcentrum Borger, partly open-air museum), where (educational) events are held to show how people lived here in the distant past. The era is prehistory, the first agricultural settlements (neolithical). Maybe that's the right period for me to re-enact. Or maybe the next period in time, the bronze age, is even better. Anyway: I am going to find out more, coming weekend I'll go to such an event, as a visitor.
With so many focused on the combat aspect I worry about homophobia, im too old to deal with that anymore. The daily life/ camping, make your own kit aspect is appealing
By and large it's been slowly improving in the UK at least. A lot of societies have put a lot of work into being inclusive, and even some of the "old guard straight white guys" societies have really made big strides.
yaaaaay resources~
Awesome! Thanks for including ALHF in your links, we have some pretty awesome groups here in Australia from all different time periods, and with all different focuses. Two of the groups I'm with do having *some* fighting, but it's not the primary focus, and that's the way I like it, but there are more fighting focuses groups as well.
Thank you for pointing out toxic fight culture, it absolutely is on group leaders to set the standard for their groups culture, or weed out those who don't click with that culture.
r/AskAReenactor
Fantastic idea! Love it!
No worries! I’d love to come play in Oz sometime.
Right? There must be a way to make this subreddit happen!
@@TheWelshViking we'd love to have you come down, after the plague.
Also, the sub does exist now 😁
The embroidery on your cloak, and cuffs, is beautiful. Did you do that yourself? Also, twas so heartwarming to read the comments on this video. Helping others feel seen, and included, finding a new possibility. Well done, sir.
I did, and thank you very much indeed for the kind words!
@@TheWelshViking You are most welcome! Just saw your teeny tiny tunic video, and would you be able to remove the cuffs, in case cleaning needs to be done? Like the decorative neck piece on the tunic. I had always wondered about decorative embroidered pieces, if they were removed, and reused. Now I kinda know, thank you.
Loved your video
I loved how your personality showed in this and how informative your video is! Great job! And I have a question, what if I’m a woman who wants to do something like WW2 military reenactment but I don’t want to be a nurse? Could I do male centric reenactment (like a WW2 US marine) even as a woman?
Oh and do you have the badge code?
Many societies are happy for women to take on male roles!
Also, women did have military roles in WW2 like the anti-air gunners here in the UK, Soviet women often fought as frontline troops, and British women flew fighter and bombers to new airfields and as experimental pilots :D
And you may need to give me a sec to find a code for you! Or head on to the CoCoVid Discord badge game thread :)
The Welsh Viking thank you very much! I’ll super excited to go look now!
Of course! :) 3air63
I have two completed unrelated questions:
Firstly, wool. It seems confusing, what sort of weave (?) am I looking for? I've seen stuff about twill, and worsted, and fabric weights and it's just confusing me!! I'm interested in viking reenactment, btw. I'd also like a fabric I can dye myself.
Secondly, it's really encouraging to hear you talk about inclusivity in groups. What is your opinion on trans people in reenactment? I know people might argue it's not historically accurate (debatable), and I was wondering if you had any experience reenacting with trans people, or any thoughts?
Love your videos 😊
Hey Hannah!
So, twills and tabby and things are general terms that encompass lots of different types of weaves. A good place to look for some Viking age clarification is here www.vikingage.org/wiki/wiki/Cloth_Weaving_Patterns
Weight-wise the world’s your oyster from almost suiting to thick coating weight, depending on what you’re making.
I have indeed reenacted with trans people and the idea that being trans is a 21st century phenomenon is a complete nonsense and needs to not exist!
@@TheWelshViking this article looks so helpful, thank you! I'll have a proper read of it now.
There's so much to learn, I love it.
Thank you for your encouragement! I'm definitely thinking of getting involved in a group now, once things get back to normal.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply, diolch yn fawr :)
Google🏭, Bing🏦, 🌳 ECOSIA🌲👌🏻
THAT one! Thank you!
I just emailed my local SCA group and I'm really nervous. I hope they get back to me soon!
Oh my goodness! your bedframe!
My name is Trevor and I am a Viking accountant!
I enjoyed your talk! But.... what is a “badge” for? Clueless in Florida
usually at costume collage theres a tradition of collecting ribbons to attach to your name badge from each event/session you attend, cocovid has decided to continue this through the badge wallet app and many videos have a code/qr scan to put into the app so we can all still collect”ribbons”
I love how this is also a rant 🤣
I really like your comment on battle-focused groups forcing combat and being full of toxic masculinity. This is one of the reasons I don't wanna join any of the groups I have found so far in my area and time period. That and these groups being historically not on the level I strive for, as well as making fun and insulting people like me. Yeah, viking reenactment in Germany is fun.
You tell em!! Hah! Luckily if had the same experience with groups being friendly open minded and very helpful.
Im having a bit of a hard time with my research for the viking age as it pertains to embroidery and embellishments done on fabric. Do you know of any good sources I could read up on? I know you say to keep it simple but Id like to do some embroidery on my kit that isnt just from tablet weaving (Since I want a bit of a fancier outfit I can wear to parties at SCA events).
Really enjoying your videos so far! Could I please get a text code for the badge?
Surely you can! Thank you so much for being here 3air63 and watching! ;)
My experience in the SCA was that it was pretty focused on strict accuracy, but I'm in the US, and this was about fifteen years ago. Maybe that's a difference between different groups or even different countries?
The SCA requires an attempt at pre-17th sectury garb, that's it. Individuals (not very many in my experience) may want more, but nobody can require more.
The advantage of the SCA over other groups is breadth and inclusiveness. Anyone is welcome, and if someone makes you feel unwelcome they are both wrong and against the regulations of the Society.
I agree with Penn Davies. I have discovered, though, that the SCA in different regions of the U.S. have different cultural norms. Within my own barony (I'm from the Middle Kingdom), there are folk who work hard to be very authentic; there are middlin' folk like me who have both authentic garb and what I call "SCA" garb; and there are folk who have one $1-a-yard Walmart-fabric tunic over sweatpants. Research and improvement are encouraged, but not required.
Great and informative video! Thank you for that.
I have a question about the cloak. I'm wanting to "make" one myself and I would like to keep it as simple as possible (as a beginner I would probably mess it up if I try something to difficult right now), but also historically accurate. I've found a place to buy myself a nice, rectangular piece of wool and I'm wondering. How should I calculate the size? And should I fold the edge over en sew it or is the rectangular piece of wool and a penannular brooch enough? I'm very interested in the germanic tribes of the early medieval period (700-1000).
No matter how hard I search for Napoleonic units in Eastern US I can't find em. It sucks because folks seem to have no difficulty forming WW German units or other European units here. I wish there was Napoleonic in Eastern US
I don't expect this will get answered on an old video - but I'm having a hell of a time breaking into reenactment. I would really love to start out with some kind of crafting, but I'm completely overwhelmed with what to try. Any advice? I know how to knit and do simple sewing, but that's about it.
Well that's a fine start and exactly where I was at the start of my reenactment journey! See if any local reenactor types might give you some sewing or weaving tips?
@@TheWelshViking I can't believe I got a reply! Thank you so much! I've just reached out locally (there's not many active groups currently where I live) and someone suggested Nålbinding, so I'm giving that a go for now! (both the history and actually doing it)
This was very helpful, thank you! I did have a question about re-enactment and gender. I have always been interested in re-enactment, but until now my only exposure to it was through stories from friends I knew who did re-enactment. I found that they would usually end up participating in activities related to the gender roles of the time period they were re-enacting, and this was a deterrent for me. So in short, what I'm asking is; can I as a woman do combat re-enactment even though that isn't my "expected gender role"? What are re-enactment societies thoughts about that?
An excellent point I’m ashamed to have missed. Must do a full video on this.
In short, yes. Do what you want and eff anyone who says you can’t. Many societies (SCA foremost) encourage all activities for all genders. Some have regulations regarding clothing, so a woman would be required to dress as a man for a WW1 or Napoleonic battle, for example. Yet more still don’t allow women on the field. Those groups can eat my shorts.
And your mates have my sympathies because this is a real issue in many eras, and is one so easy to fix.
@@TheWelshViking Thank you for the reply! I couldn't agree more with regard to the shorts eating. I look forward to the full-length video on this when you decide to do it. Thanks again!
@@jennm.thompson9258 THe SCA has gone a long way just in the last 12 months on making their governing documents as well as the culture as a whole more inclusive. The Chivalry of the Society wear chains around their necks as symbols of their station -- many in the east are wearing rainbow and/or black chains to show support for the LGBTQ+ and BLM communities.
Also, I am a ciswoman and I fight in the SCA as a combat archer, and I'm a regional marshal (safety officer) in the East Kingdom. Before I started fighting, though, my focus was on textile production and clothing in the Viking Age, so you can really do whatever you want. I know cooks, fighters, archers, equestrians, blacksmiths, jewelers, brewers, etc etc etc of all genders.
I have been playing SCA for over 15 years now, and we have woman fighters, our Kingdom has had female knights for 4 years now, others have had female knights for longer. I know of several kingdoms that have had Queens and Princess who have won that title through fighting for their consort. Our governing documents have been changed to allow for same sex couples to reign, at all levels within the group. My Barony had the first female/female reign, which was wonderful to experience.
@@asilverfoxintasmania9940 There's only been two Queens by her own hand, and one just happened in Ealdormere.. she just stepped down. More princesses! So very proud of them and all our female knights. :)
Day late (2 years) and a dollar short, but the universal acceptance thing was not my experience with the SCA, at least not in my state (USA, state redacted). Yes, some were kind, knowing I was a complete noob, but even the SCA rules can be quite overwhelming for one's first time and most are not that forgiving. I get that accuracy is what is strived for, but far too many make that effort not worth it, for their judgement removes the joy of learning more about it. I still have SCA friends and I still love learning old crafts techniques, but I won't bring them or myself to another event anytime soon.
WHY AM I ALWAYS LATE TO THESE
You have me on IG already though! Just gimme a DM :D
@@TheWelshViking true enough, lol! I'll do that next time
audio is too low i cant hear anything
You didn't really touch on wives and kids. One of the things I love about the Viking festivals in historical Viking territory is that they are crawling with women and children. Yes, the guys--and some girls--do bash each other with sharp and pointy things, but there's a lot else. If you want to get together with other guys in all fighting, fine. But reenacting can be good family fun, too. Maybe mention women and kids in you next TedTalk? However, Bravo!
Where do you go for reenactment swords?
So, start with a tunic which isn't historically accurate?
Start with what you can. Don't be obtuse.
Where do you get your kit from Jimmy?
I mostly make it
Man I wish this video had been out when my body and brain still worked enough for reenactment and larp, and now I live far, far away from the action 😩 I used to have a couple of friends who had the best time going to events, but it was too confusing and overwhelming to get in to 😔
It can be, but please don’t think you can’t give it a go! Make a piece of kit or two, read up on the subjects that interest you, try crafts. You’re absolutely still a reenactor!
@@TheWelshViking I'm definitely gonna check again if there's an English speaking group of North-West European reenactors here in Greece, and then hope my parents didn't leave my garb in Holland when they moved here 😅 I miss my cloak so much, haven't seen it in years
Good news 😃 after the fifth time searching through the attic and every single storage space I've finally found my historic(ish) clothes 🥳
@@supergroveraap Spectacular! Good luck in your search, and if you strike out on a specialised group, there's almost certainly an SCA group there, and you can reenact with me if you ever get to Scotland!
@@TheWelshViking That's a deal! With this plague going on and my clothes located, I can finally start working on them :D I've missed my cloak so much!
this video was great but frustrate me. I live in eastern germany and I am looking for a reenactment group for the early medieval periode ( if nt possible also later) but most important IS NOT FOCUS ON FIGHTING! and it seems impossible to find :( I know nobody who is interested (only Larp people, with fake fur and polyester things).
but I will not give up, maybe I will dress myself up and wlak on the street waiting for people to ask me why....