That educational aspect is very important to SCA members and one reason why group members frequently participate in programs and fairs in the community. Typical is a Renaissance Faire, held recently at St. Joseph's Villa. "It was a lot of fun," says recreational therapist Hailey Hadean. "We had more response than we've ever had." The event included dancers, jugglers, music, feasting, a town crier and more. "The residents were so impressed by the full suits of armor they wore."

And well they should be, says Sir Michael the Lucky (Michael Huston), a late 14th-century English knight. "Armoring was at its height in those days. And it was built so that anything they could do in street clothes, they could do in armor. They could turn out chain mail practically overnight, and we still don't know exactly how they did it."

Learning about and preserving those old skills is important, he says. "We take a lot of skills for granted. But you miss a couple of links in the chain, and the skill is gone."

Most SCA members have two or three crafts or skills they are interested in. "Anyone who is interested in only one thing, such as the fighting, will probably not stay long. Me, I don't have enough hours in the day, or days in the week, or weeks in the year or years in my life to do all that interests me. Now, I'm hoping to get into illumination and manuscripts."

Sir Michael has been in the society "probably 10 years longer than anyone else here." It's a great family activity, he says. "We have adolescents, teens, little kids. It's a great way to instill the meaning of honor, that your word means something."

Over the years, he has seen subtle changes in the organization. "But the core remains the same. It's still honor and chivalry. Every time we meet in battle, our honor's on the line. You kind of hope that spills over into other parts of our lives."

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SCA information

The Society for Creative Anachronism is a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to researching and re-recreating the Middle Ages in the present. Many groups meet weekly to talk, dance, study, fight, learn and revel, and members of all ages are welcome. For more information, go to www.sca.org.

Information about local chapters can be found at www.artemisia.sca.org and www.lochsalann.org.

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E-MAIL: carma@desnews.com