1500s Reenactment

[ScottishPirate]

I am interested in joining or starting a Scots/Irish reenactmet group here in the DFW Texas area. Somewhat like Clan MacColin in California. (http://www.maccolin.com/) for education and fun.

Robbie Cook

[Downunder Kilt]

Hi Robbie, I had a quick look at the MacColin site and lifted the purpose of their Clan, shown below
PURPOSE
We are here to learn, participate in, and theatrically portray the people, activities and culture of Highland Scotland and in Ireland in the mid-1500's. We specialize in costuming, crafts demonstrations, military drill, and music and dance shows. Our mission is ultimately educational- we want people to see and understand something of a time and a set of values that contributed to the development of the world today, and in many ways still exists. We are also here to find friends, new skills, and pleasant pastimes.

A good and admirable purpose, however, as they are portraying Scotland and Ireland in the mid 1500's I find it strange that one of their requirements for those of the group portraying highlanders, is to have a 8 yard belted plaid.

As has been discussed on this forum many times, the first record of a belted plaid was in the 1590's which I think most would agree, is outside the mid 1500's period. Sure as a fantasy group one can wear whatever one likes, but groups that claim to be of a living history type and are trying to be educational should really be honest to the period they portray.

I know some associations have a "give" period of a number of years from when a item was first recorded but putting yourself up a an educational group and only telling the facts when pressed for them is not, in my opinion, doing you or the punters that come to see you justice

Good luck with your venture and please create a group for the correct period and research the facts.