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The SCA could be considered a historical reenactment or living history organization, but, unlike most such organizations, the SCA does not concentrate on a narrowly-defined time period, let alone a specific war or other event. The SCA also has a much less constrained minimum standard of authenticity. The activities of the SCA have more to do with "re-creation" (and recreation) than with re-enactment. Some SCA participants describe the SCA as a large group of people with interlocking hobbies. Others consider the organization as being more oriented to 'fantasy history,' in this case the history of the SCA itself as it interprets Western European history. The relatively low requirements to participate are also seen as one of the strengths of the SCA. Most medieval trades or hobbies within Period are practiced.
At a typical SCA event, you will see a wide range in the quality of re-creations and reenactments. Some individuals may do some aspects of re-creation well (say, music), while simultaneously doing others poorly (say, clothing). Still, there is one standard that all participants of official SCA events are held to: participants should try to dress in pre-17th century garments. In SCA jargon, this era is called "Period", although some insist that "Period" only legitimately refers to the millennium of A.D. 600–1600.
Excellent practitioners of the various arts & sciences are awarded an SCA "peerage" (SCA-wide, highest level award) known as the Order of the Laurel. Other "peerages" are the Order of the Pelican (awarded for service to the organization) and the Master of Arms/Knight (awarded for excellence in heavy weapons infantry combat).
This use of the term "peerage" is unique to the Society and should not be misconstrued to have any resemblance, whatsoever to historical peerage as practiced in the United Kingdom or similar countries, although they are inspired by medieval concepts. "Peers of the Realm" who hold Laurels or Pelicans are given the honorific "Master or Mistress" depending on gender. This holds true also for Masters/Mistresses of Arms. Male knights are styled "Sir." There is no groupwide consensus on the correct honorific for female knights; both "Syr" and "Dame" have been used. The difference between Masters of Arms and Knights is that the latter swear fealty to the Crown while the former do not. This is a choice that a person so selected for the honour must make at the time of investiture into the ranks of the Chivalry.
The SCA is worldwide in scope. There are active groups all over the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand with scattered groups elsewhere. The Knowne World is divided into Kingdoms. As of October 2004, there are 18 SCA Kingdoms worldwide. Worldwide, there are about 30,000 [1] paid members, though many people participate without joining.
Each SCA kingdom is "ruled" by a king and queen chosen by a Crown TournamentThis article is about the tournaments of the Middle Ages. For the general article on tournaments, see tournament. Tournament or tourney ( Fr. tournement tournoi Med. torneamentum from tourner to turn), the name popularly given in the middle ages to a spec. This is typically held as a double-elimination, one-on-one combat tournament (it should be noted, however, that there is no historic precedent for this method of selecting rulers). The winner of the Crown Tournament and his/her Consort will be styled "Crown Prince and Princess" and serve a six-month training period under the current King and Queen prior to acceding to the throne and ruling for six months in their turn.