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St. Cloud State University
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Battle rages in Barden Park
By Derek Sullivan
Published:
Thursday, September 11, 2003
Media Credit: Ryan Henry
First-year student Michael Nicchetta, left, and Steve Johnson take a shot at fencing Monday afternoon at the Society for Creative Anachronism meeting in Barden Park.
Through Sept. 28, the annual Renaissance Festival will be held in the Twin Cities. For several students at SCSU, the Renaissance festival lasts all year. Each year since 1994, about a dozen students join The Society for Creative Anachronism. The society is an international organization dedicated to researching and recreating pre-17th century European history.
The SCSU student chapter works with the local group in St. Cloud named Rockhaven, which totals around 30 members.
The group travels on weekends to festivals and tournaments throughout the upper Midwest. Events this semester include festivals in Duluth, Fargo, and the Twin Cities.
"If you are willing to drive and are willing to dress up, you can come and pay your money and attend that event. You do not even have to be a member," said Donna Conrad. Conrad is the university advisor to the group and holds the position of Chatelaine, which is an officer who helps new members as they join the society.
St. Cloud will hold a Venetian festival in February 2004, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, on North 25th Street and 1st Avenue in Waite Park.
"The event will be a celebration of a 14th and 16th century Italian, pre-Lenten style carnival. It will be a full day of activities," said Conrad.
The event will include a rapier wit tournament, a feast in the evening, dancing-with-a-mask-ball, gondola races, a gondola decorating contest, as well as mask making.
Before attending events, many participants will choose a persona, any historical figure from Pre-1600 Europe.
"It is not a role-playing game; you are not assigned anything. You simply become whoever you want to be. We have people who are Saxons, Spaniards, English," Conrad said.
A position many participants choose is a Knight, or Aztec. Combat participants must go through training to make sure their armor and skills will prevent major injuries. An authorized Marshall will witness the training.
Other events are offered. Several members perform music, cook food from the period, draw, sew period clothes, and write calligraphy.
"I always have been into Renaissance period stuff, medieval art and calligraphy, and all that cool stuff," said new member Christyne Hesse.
"Several members will draw illumination, the pretty art that goes with calligraphy on the scrolls that we do," said Mary Jane Thillen, a recent transfer to SCSU from the Duluth chapter, who draws illumination.
Students who are interested in joining The Society for Creative Anachronism can find more information and contact numbers on the group's Web page: www.shireofrockhaven.org. The society meets every couple weeks and holds heavy combat and fencing training every Tuesday at Barden Park from 7 p.m. to dark.
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Correction: The local groups martial pra... (9/15/03)
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