Myths

Help! How do I avoid the myths? I'm new and I don't know what things are OK and which aren't, help me out here!

No problem! Let me help you with that. Okay, yes it's true, there are some important DO's and DON'Ts to keep in mind:

(and some of these things are specific to our Kingdom here in Meridies)

You DON'T want to wear the "stoplight" colors on a belt, or white. Red, yellow/gold, green, and white/silver are colors you should avoid. Some of them you can NOT wear, and the others it is just common courtesy to avoid (and also so folks don't assume you are a part of a certain order you're not). You can read more about that on the Orders page if you like.

You DON'T want to wear metal circlets unless you have earned them. Ok, technically you CAN, but it is frowned upon if you haven't earned them. This is because they're earned awards, and there are tiered. To be true to period, you could wear it unearned if you pay your sumptuary taxes to the Crowns! ;) In period, certain limitations were set. But folks would exceed them on purpose, just to show that they could afford the cost of the luxury tax. So extravagance is nothing new.

Now, what things are MYTHS that actually ARE ok?

You CAN do these things --

- Wear pink. Yeah, if someone tells you it's not period, this is simply not true!

- Wear purple. It seems to be a myth that this color was really expensive to make and rare to have, so only the highest royalty would wear it. But guess what? In the SCA, we're all automatically considered to be minor nobility. Congrats!

- Wear makeup. Heck yeah they did back then, and even if they didn't have the beauty products of today's world, really, it's fine.

- Wear glasses, sunglasses, or watches.

- Use cameras or cell phones. It is courteous to be discrete with your flash, but it's fine, really! We take many photos at events to capture those special times with our friends.

- Wear something that extreme critiques might tell you *gasp* is just NOT exactly the way they would have done it in period! That's right, unless you're going to try to enter that crocheted cap in an A&S competition, no one is going to criticize you (or SHOULD NOT, anyway) for not knitting it or naalbinding it. Don't sweat it. Do the best you can to make an attempt at not being modern. You will get better with knowing what's what over time, and will collect more items either from making or buying them from merchants. Perhaps you'll find a nice hat and won't need those sunglasses very much. I won't stop wearing my watch though, thank-you-very-much. We ARE the MODERN medieval times, after all!

Again, pay attention to the details if it is something you're entering in an Arts & Sciences competition. The little details really do matter there. Choose the proper style of clothing, and pair it with the corresponding accessories. That's when it counts! ;)

And if anyone does ever over-critique you, please try to keep in mind that many folks within the SCA are very enthusiastic about their passions, and it is not anything personal against you. More likely than not, it is their intent to inform you, NOT to make you feel bad for what you have done! :)