SpringCrown2025 – Program

Activities which can probably be found at the event:

The crown tournament is held twice a year (in spring and autumn). It is a rattan sword tournament where the ruler of the Kingdom of Drachenwald is decided. The winner of the tournament will first become the heir to the crown and then the ruler of Drachenwald. Each fighter is paired with an Inspiration, so that they can take the throne together.

Historical dances are dances reconstructed by hobbyist dance masters based on old sources that describe dances which have Otherwise been lost to history. Dance sources have been found all over Europe dating from the 15th century onwards. There are very different kind of dances and information about them has been collected from different kind of sources. In SCA we dance, for example
– the so-called early dances, which were compiled before 1450 from rather scarce sources and e.g. from pictures (e.g. Estampiet, Saltarellos, Trotto)
– early Italian bassadanza and ballo dances starting from the middle of the 15th century e.g. the manuscripts of Domenico da Piacenza & his students Guglielmo Ebreo and Antonio Cornazano (e.g. Petit riens, Rostiboli gioioso, Anello, Amoroso)
– dances based on Gresley’s notebook written around 1500 (e.g. Grene gynger, Orynge)
– brandles, i.e. easy chain and circle dances, from Thoinot Arbeau’s dance manual from 1589 (e.g. Branle des Lavandieres also known as Washerwoman’s Branle, Branle Cassandra, Branle Dance de la Haye, Hay brandle, Branle Officiale also known as Toss the Lady)
– From the balls of the Inns of Court law school in London, six note-type dance instructions have been preserved, from around 1570-1675, from easy opening dances danced in pairs, Old Measures dances, most of which are almaines (e.g. Queen’s almaine, Black Almaine, Tinternell)
– “ECD” dances (English Country Dances) from John Playford’s 1651 dance guide The English Dancing Master and its later editions (circle dances e.g. Gathering Peascods, Jenny Pluck Pears, dances specifically for four couples e.g. Hyde Park, Newcastle, dances for a specific number of dancers in the set e.g. Confesse, Upon a Summers Day), and longways dances for as many couples as will e.g. Staines Morris, The Bath, Childgrove).

Anyone can participate in archery, as long as they follow the shooting rules and marshals instructions, and are in a suitable condition. Children under the age of 12 must have a guardian nearby during shooting. In addition to the experiment and beginner’s teaching, the events can also include various competitions, in which all newcomers can of course participate.
Archery, when possible, uses entirely wooden longbows, recurve bows or crossbows, but modern materials such as fiberglass laminate may be included in the bows. Arrows are wood with natural feathers, but plastic nocks are allowed.
When shooting, it is also good to have equipment such as arrow quill, finger guard, wrist guard and shooting glove. The era of our hobby ends in year 1600.
Before getting your own equipment, you should try shooting at events, where it is usually possible to try archery with borrowed equipment. In addition to experiments and beginner lessons, the events can also include various competitions.

The Court is the most “theatrical” program of the events. In front at the thrones are the present rulers (for example the baronials of Aarnimetsä [region of Finland] and/or the royals of Drachenwald [Europe, etc.], sometimes also, for example, ruler of Nordmark [region of Sweden] and other visiting rulers) who, through their heralds, call forward the persons they want. When you get to the front, you can kneel/bow and kneel on the cushion in front of the throne, but you can also just walk and if necessary stay standing or even get a chair. It is also possible to take an escort with you if you are too nervous to go alone.
Those attending events for the first time are often invited to the front (all at once) and given small tokens. As other things, there, for example, you can swear loyalty or oaths of office. At the events of Aarnimetsä, marshlights are often handed out (recognition given by barons) and titles of nobility (given by royalty) and, of course, all other possible merits that we have at the SCA. Things are earned by doing good work in the hobbysociety, and getting them requires recommending the person to the ruling people – so remember to pass on all info of the good guys!
In addition to these, many other events can also take place at the court, such as the changing of the leader of the guild, the announcement and awarding of the winners of the competitions at the event, and other matters that the rulers want to take care of at the court. At the Court heralds will tells you all the time what is happening and e.g. instead of clapping, shout vivat or vivant (depending on whether one or more people are cheering) whenever necessary.
Often the crown heads arrive and leave in a procession while the heralds are shouting about their ariving and it is polite to stand to show respect until they are in place or have left (and shout long live shouts etc in echo when leaving). The court can be excited, but there is no need to be afraid. The purpose is that the court would be a nice and great highlight of the event.