Arts and Combat

People in Østgarðr participate in a wide variety of activities related to the Middle Ages. For some ideas, check out the Society's Medieval Arts and Sciences page and Arts of Combat page, or the East Kingdom Activities page.

Archery

Archery is quite popular in Østgarðr. Mongo Chinua runs archery-fighting-and-potluck practices on Sundays in Staten Island.  Mistress Ygraine of Kellswood maintains a Web page called the East Kingdom Archery Scorekeeper with information about Royal Rounds, rankings, archery marshals, etc. There's also an email list for archery in Northpass (the Westchester and Putnam County portions of Østgarðr); visit the Northpass Archery group or email northpass_archery-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Books and movies

We've collected a number of book and movie reviews by Østgarðrians of books and movies with medieval themes.

Brewing

Brewing in Østgarðr

Classes

Many SCA events are centered around a tournament, royal court, or something like that. Other events are designed as opportunities for people to teach things to one another. Many of these class events (in the East Kingdom) are collectively referred to as East Kingdom University, or EKU.

Combat

The most conspicuous of the SCA's activities is generally what we call "heavy combat", in which fighters wearing reconstructed medieval- or Renaissance-style armor hit one another with swords, axes, and similar weapons. For safety reasons, the weapons are made of rattan rather than steel; they are wrapped to prevent splintering, and both weapons and armor are inspected before every tournament. Tournaments are not scripted or choreographed; the combatants, spectators, and referees have no idea who will win until that final shot gets through.

Visit the SCA Arts of Combat page, or for information on local combat activities, visit the SCA Combat NYC group or email scacombatnyc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

New would-be fighters are encouraged to attend a practice or two, watch what's going on, and get some instruction (different kinds of blows, how to use a shield, footwork, etc.) without armor. Once you're ready to try fighting for real, contact the Knight Marshal to arrange for loaner armor that you can wear.

In recent years there's been increased interest in historically-accurate sword techniques, as reconstructed from surviving manuals written by 14th-16th-century sword masters. For some video demonstrations, see ARMA Training Videos.

We have a separate division for Youth Combat, in which those under 18 years old can learn the skills of SCA combat in an age-appropriate setting, with opponents of their own ages. Many of those who started in this program, once they turned 18, have been formidable fighters in regular heavy combat.

Cooking

See Cooking in Østgarðr

Costume and clothing research

See Costume and clothing research in Østgarðr

Dance

Very little is known about medieval European dance, but there are surviving dance manuals, specifying steps and music, starting from the mid-15th century; see the SCA Dance Page for more information. Østgarðr holds an outdoor dance practice every other week at Belvedere Castle in Central Park in the warmer months (watch this space for details). Some may also be interested in Elegant Arts, a non-SCA group in the NYC area dedicated to historic dance from the 15th to early 20th centuries.

Demos for the Public

Although the majority of SCA events are "for ourselves", allowing us to educate and entertain other SCA-folk, Østgarðr also provides demonstrations for schools, museums, churches, etc. For example, for almost thirty years we've done an annual demonstration at the Huntington Unitarian Church Renaissance Faire; 2003 marked the end of this ancient tradition, but we have some pictures of the 2003 faire.

We also frequently have a presence at the annual medieval faire held at the Cloisters, in Manhattan. I'll put up some pictures when I get them....

We've also provided numerous demos for school groups, covering such topics as clothing, food and cooking, spinning and weaving, leatherwork, herbs and medicine, calligraphy and illumination, archery, armor and weapons, and (always popular with children) combat using swords, axes, spears, etc.

Embroidery

The East Kingdom embroidery guild is called Athena's Thimble. It's not specific to Østgarðr, but a number of Østgarðrians are active members).

Games

Many people in the greater Østgarðr area enjoy period games: dice games, card games, board games, and outdoor sports. For example, Galen MacByrne holds a monthly "gaming gnight" (largely, but not exclusively, period games) at his home in Cornwall, NY.

Gilded Pearl

There are also groups within the SCA dedicated to particular periods. For example, a number of Østgarðrians are active in the Gilded Pearl, which studies the years 1450-1650.

Heraldry

Heraldry (name and arms research)

Lace

Mistress Ilaine de Cameron maintains a Web page for Arachne's Web, the Renaissance lacemaking group.

Miscellaneous

If you don't see it in this list, contact the Minister of Arts or the Minister of Sciences.

There's an intermittent interest group within Østgarðr called the "Dabblers' Guild", a place to learn a little bit of everything. To find out more, visit the Østgarðr Dabblers' Guild Yahoo group.

Music

Østgarðr has a variety of ongoing musical activities. For example, a Recorder Schola meets every few weeks (usually at the home of John and Rufina) to learn recorder technique, medieval and Renaissance repertoire, and a bit of early music theory. And a lady in Manhattan has been running "Sing Things", informal get-togethers to sing period music; I'll put more info here when she gives me permission to post it.

Here's a page of links and information on Medieval and Renaissance Music (so far this is John and Rufina's stuff)

Narrow wares

A term encompassing the making of cords, laces, braids, etc. as practiced in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. There's an email list for practitioners in the East Kingdom; visit the Narrowwork Guild. Mistress Thora Sharptooth (not actually a resident of Østgarðr) maintains a lovely web page on a particular technique called fingerloop braiding.

Pavilions

Several of our members are actively interested in the construction and decoration of medieval-style pavilions; see Reconstructing medieval pavilions.

Tourneying companies

A movement within the SCA in the past few years has been the formation of "tourneying companies", intended to recreate the style and feel of medieval tournaments. One such operating in our area, in which several Østgarðrians participate, is the Company of St. Michael.

Youth Combat

We have a separate division for Youth Combat, in which those under 18 years old can learn the skills of SCA combat in an age-appropriate setting, with opponents of their own ages. Many of those who started in this program, once they turned 18, have been formidable fighters in regular heavy combat.