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The Crown Province of Østgarðr is the greater New York City chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism, a not-for-profit educational and social organization dedicated to re-creating aspects of medieval and Renaissance culture. You can read more about the SCA at “About Us.” If you have any questions or want to get involved, email our newcomers’ officer. You can find links to our Facebook group, mailing list, and local sub-chapters at “Getting Involved.”

Date change – A message from Ragnarr Bliskegg our Seneschal

Mexican and Central American calendar systems – Source


Greetings Ostgardr,

Attention Ostgardr, after talking to some officers, we are going to be moving Ostgardr Commons to January 22nd this month.  Due to how the calendar worked this month and how several officers have told me they can’t make it this month, I am making the call to move the meeting back a week. 

Thank you all for understanding and I look forward to talking to you all on January 22nd!  

FB Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/15BZiykKWG/

Best,

Ragnarr bliskegg (he/him)

Seneschal of Ostgardr NYC

SCA

A year end message from our Vicereins

Christine de Pizan presents her book to Isabeau of Bavaria, in the Book of the Queen, France, c. 1410-1414: Harley MS 4431, f. 3r Source

Dear Ostgradr, 
As 2024 comes to a close, we want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for your dedication and contributions. This year has been one of remarkable growth and participation in Ostgardr, and we have so much to celebrate!

Our community thrived with a wide range of events, learning opportunities, and shared experiences. From museum trips, sewing circles, and cooking classes, to the flourishing of our arts, fighter, and fencing communities — your passion and hard work made it all possible.

We also look forward to expanding our borders with the addition of two new Cantons, strengthening both our presence and the greatness of our people. This year, Ostgardr had the distinct honor of one of our own winning Crown, and now we prepare to bid for the celebration of Prince Ryouko’jin and Princess Indrakshi’s Coronation.

Many of our fellow Ostgardrians were recognized with local and Kingdom Awards, and we couldn’t be prouder of these well-deserved honors.

It has been a privilege to be part of such an incredible year, and we’re excited to see what 2025 will bring. Thank you again for your time, talent, and dedication — Ostgardr is stronger because of you!

In gratitude,

Angelica and Sofya

Your Vicereines

Sunday Solar – Spices

Segment of Heures a l’usage de Rome c. 1487

Join us on Northpass for Sunday Solar on January 19th, from 1 to 4 pm for a discussion about spices in Medival cooking.

Please bring an item for the snack potluck that includes ta spice found in the Medieval period and tell us a little bit about that spice.

You can go with something commonly found in modern times like cinnamon, ginger, or garlic. Or feel to delve deeper and bring something with a more obscure spice.

Potluck contributions do not need to be period or made by you.

An ingredient list is appreciated due to food allergies.

Feel free to also bring a project to work on while we chat.

Please RSVP with Vitasha for the address.

Allergy alert: The home has a cat and a dog

A year end message from our Seneschal

Fresco depicting January at Castello Buonconsiglio, Trento, Italy, c. 1405-1410. https://sarahpeverley.com/2013/12/29/medieval-winter-sports/

Greetings Ostgardr,

The year is coming to an end, but here in Ostgardr we have some new beginnings about to start!  Commons this month will have officer elections.  

Current officers, there is no position that has any challengers.  The current list of positions up for election are the following:

Exchequer – Teodora Ivanić
Chatelaine – Catelin Straquhin
Arts & Sciences – Brandr Aronsson
Knight Marshal – Albrecht Anker
Minister of Lists – Ivarr Valsson
Chronicler – Zahra de Andaluzia
Social Media – Lada Monguligin
Chancellor Minor – Pia Maletesta d’Rimini
Herald – Kunigunde Wedemann
Historian – Alfarr Skegglauss

Please send in your officer report by Wednesday and I will collate them together before the meeting.  

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1A54x6ftMe/

Agenda: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQzk0uKwReFKSVcAjIvcQa10HUQScPsXLn9Qklr32RCDUKF-G9kS-3Rxm2N5PjDituBXa4DTuzU_qm4/pub

Dial in details:

Østgarðr Provincial Commons & Social
Wednesday, December 18 · 7:00 – 9:00pm
Time zone: America/New_York
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/nhu-qsgk-zzi
Or dial: ‪(US) +1 402-364-0138‬ PIN: ‪616 864 602‬#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/nhu-qsgk-zzi?pin=7203106506138

Thank you,

-Ragnarr Bliskegg

Seneschal of Ostgardr

Event – Deck the Halls Returns!

Tanum Rock Carvings – c. 1800 to 500 BCE

Deck the Halls of Valhalla Returns!

Follow this link for tickets

The annual Yule celebration is back! Ostgardr invites one and all to join in honoring the Viking holiday of Yule with a grand event filled with warmth, cheer, and spirited competition.

The date is January 11th, 2025 from 10 am to 5 pm at Purgatory
675 Central Ave, Brooklyn, NY, United States, New York

As winter descends, an icy chill grips the land, whispering ominous tales of Fimbulwinter—the long, unrelenting winter prophesied to herald Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods. Darkness grows, spirits waver, and despair creeps into the hearts of even the bravest. Yet, amid the shadows, a spark of hope ignites! With Yule’s light and laughter, the Vikings rally to defy the looming end, decking the halls of Valhalla in a celebration of resilience, unity, and triumph over darkness.

Step into a Valhalla alive with the bustle of games, the wisdom of teachers, and the music of bardic tales by the hearth. Earn coins by testing your skills, learning new arts, and sharing your talents. Gather your treasure, revel in the fellowship of the hall, and compete for glory and prizes before the Yule feast concludes.

Let the halls resound with joy as we stand together against the cold and the night—Deck the Halls of Valhalla awaits you!

How to Earn Coins:
Games at the Tavern Tables:
Two-Player Games: Chess, Go, Castellan, Jaipur, Onitama
Win: 2 coins | Loss: 1 coin
Four-Player Games: Carcassonne, Tournament at Camelot, The King Is Dead
1st: 4 coins | 2nd: 3 coins | 3rd: 2 coins | 4th: 1 coin

Wisdom from the Scholar’s Alcove (Classes):
(Classes will be announced soon!)
Participation: 2 coins
Teachers may receive coin tips for exceptional instruction.

Tales by the Fire (Bardic Performances):
Performing earns 1 coin.
Audience members may tip performers with additional coins.

Gameplay:

Each participant begins with 5 coins.
Coin Commissars will distribute coins around the tavern and classrooms.
Coins are turned in before court for counting.

Prizes:

1st Place: A Medieval related board game and a coffee crisp
2nd Place: A smaller Medieval related game and a coffee crisp
3rd Place: Three Coffee Crisps

Ties will be settled in whatever way the Vicerine’s decide

Timing for court, classes and bardic events will be updated as we get closer to the date.

PLEASE NOTE: No outside Alcohol. The Site has a full cash bar and a bartender.

Registration:
Adult non-members: $40
Adult members: $30
Youth 6-17 years old : $10
Youth 5 and under are Free

To pre-register through PayPal, please follow the tickets link 

Save the Date – Northpass Sunday Solar: Medieval Soup Tasting!

SAVE THE DATE!
The Northpass Sunday Solar on December 22 will be a Medieval Soup Tasting!
Research a period soup, bread, or flavored butter recipe, then create that dish and bring it to share.
We will share our dishes and sample each other’s recipes.

The event will be in Mohegan Lake in northern Northpass from 3-6 pm
RSVP via email with Vitasha Ivanova doch’

Culinary Arts: How To Run An SCA Feast, October 27

The Crown Province of Østgarðr invites you for a hands-on lesson on planning and preparing a meal for an SCA event.

Hosts Brandr Aronsson and Friderich Grimme will share their experience with cooking dayboards and feasts for both local and kingdom events. Topics will include menu selection, the planning process, and on-site logistics. We’ll talk about preparations for an upcoming event and will aim to get our hands dirty in the kitchen.

This session will be perfect for people who’ve already done a bit of cooking but have questions about how to build up from there to serving a historically-themed meal to a large group.

Join us on Sunday, October 27, from 11 AM to 4 PM, at Brandr’s home, located at 3208 Farragut Road, in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn. The nearest subways are the 2 train at Flatbush Ave and the 5 train at Newkirk Avenue; the nearest bus stops are on the B44 and the B6.

All are welcome. No Society membership required. Modern attire. If you have questions, reach out to Brandr at 113751@members.eastkingdom.org.

Photo from Trial By Fire (2015) by Wanda Ostojowna, shared via the SCA Digital Scribes program.

Fiber Festival Demo: Saturday, October 12

The Kings County Fiber Festival celebrates the talented people who turn string and thread into useful objects and works of art — and the Crown Province of Østgarðr is joining in to demonstrate that the handcrafts of the pre-modern era still have relevance today.

This year’s festival will be held at the Old Stone House in Brooklyn, at 336 3rd Street, on Saturday October 12 from 10:00 to 5:00.

We’ll have a exhibition space at the festival and are looking for a few more talented people to help us show off the wide range of fiber crafts practiced in the SCA. If you spin, dye, weave, sew, knit, make lace, or otherwise craft with roving, thread, or yarn, this is an amazing opportunity to show off your work to a big crowd of handcrafting enthusiasts. (And of course there will be time to visit the many fiber vendors who are also part of the event.)

We also have room for a couple of folks who enjoy chatelaining and can explain to passersby how their interests in fiber arts can fit into the universe of our Society. Come out and help us introduce the SCA to an appreciative audience of crafters!

To join our exhibition, please reach out to our event steward, Eadwine the Younger, via Messenger at https://m.me/100068704373783 or via Discord at https://discord.com/channels/@me/875546920272166912.

Detail from “Weaving display by Mistress Eleanora Elizabeth Caley.”
Photo by Helene von Braunschweyg, shared via the SCA’s Digital Scribes program.

Thanks from the Stewards of Barleycorn

To all,

A sincere and heartfelt thank you to the staff and volunteers at this year’s Barleycorn. We had a wonderful event filled with laughter, jests, comradery, and valor.

We want to thank our outgoing marshals and champions for hosting our excellent tournaments:

  • Ronan Fitzrobert & Madwen Gam
  • Albrecht Anker, Samson of Ireland, and Alexander Krause
  • Alexander McLachlan and Ryouku’jin of the Iron Skies
  • Suuder Saran and Eanraig the Bonesetter
  • Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin, Arnora Ketilsdottir, and Rees Ragnarrson
  • Marin il Gondoliri and Foxy the Bard

We thank our day-board staff Gráinne inghean Uí Néill, Valentina, Anna, and Ramic for serving such a delicious meal.

We thank our volunteers Winifred, Franciscus, Evelyn de Trees, Conrad, Matty, Teodora Ivanić, Asta of Brokenbridge, Wojtek y Visby, Ilia Aleksandrovich, Iulian Ilia syn, and Magnus mac Gilleain for providing their hands and labor for this event.

We thank Arabella De Mere, Fenneke Jans, and Martina Maria De La Rosa for helping with the armored and rapier lists.

We thank Brendan Firebow and Eliayhu al-Tahli “Tally” for running Rapier authorizations, who authorized 4 new fencers at Barleycorn.

We thank our Youth Point and Minor Chancellor Kunigunde Wederman for hosting lovely activities for the youth of the province.

We thank our Excellencies Sofya Gianetta di Trieste and Angelica di Nova Lipa for gracing us with their presence and hosting court with us.

We thank Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin for heralding on behalf of their excellencies.

Our thanks to Drasma Dragomir for her excellent heralding of poetry regarding perfect lemons.

We thank Jenna Childslayer, Gibbs Morris, and Aislinn Chiabach for coordinating and hosting barter town.

We thank Antonius Gracchus for building and maintaining our online event page and information.

We thank Pia Maletesta d’Rimini for coordinating our registration point with Richard the Poor, the brewing showcase, collection of food donations, and for the creation of our tokens for the event.

Lastly, we thank the members of Northpass for coming together and coordinating with us to make Barleycorn happen. A special thank you to Meadhbh Mac Pharláin, Marcus mac Pharláin, and Richard the Poor for coordinating all the paperwork and legwork necessary for us to host Barleycorn within the Canton of Northpass.

Many apologies if we missed anyone or any activities that deserve to be noted. Please let us know, so we shall add them to our records.

Though the summer has parted, may we meet the season again with merriment.

In Service,
Vitasha Ivanova doch’ & Catelin Straquhin

Catelin and Vitasha are called before their Excellencies.
Photograph by Martina Maria De La Rosa.