How To Get Started With Historical Reenacting

Have you often wondered what it might have been like to actually live in the past? Historical reenacting gives you that chance. Becoming a historical re-enactor requires an unquenchable thirst for history and abiding patience with uncomfortable accommodations and ridiculous outfits. Short of actually traveling back in time, however, there is no better way to learn about history than by living it first-hand as a reenactor. What Is a Reenactor? Reenactors recreate history by portraying the look, actions, and lives of a person from a particular time period of history. Who Can Become a Reenactor? Just about anyone with an interest in reenactment can become a reenactor. Children can usually even participate, although most reenactment groups have a minimum age (12 or 13 is common) for children to be allowed in more dangerous roles, such as on the battlefield. Most reenactment organizations also wont allow children under 16 to bear arms. If you choose an active reenactment role, youll need to be in good health, capable of the physical activity and lack of everyday comforts that are inherent in reenacting. Most reenactors are everyday people from all walks of life, with ages ranging from 16 to people in their sixties. What to Expect From Reenacting Reenacting for many is a serious, but fun, event. Most people take their roles seriously and pride themselves on representing history as accurately as possible. Some people do take the authenticity to an extreme, but most groups welcome anyone with an interest. Reenacting does require a commitment, however, in both time and resources. Reproduction clothing can cost several hundred dollars, and reproduction period rifles as much as $1000. Reenactment, appropriately called living history, also means living under the same conditions encountered during the past. This can mean everything from uncomfortable clothes and terrible food to inclement weather and a poor excuse for a bed. Hard-core reenactors give up all amenities of modern life, from deodorant to modern wristwatches. Reenactment also takes time, but this can be as little as a 2-3 hour event once or twice a year, to a half-dozen three-day weekend encampments. How to Get Started With Reenacting Youve probably thought to yourself that reenacting sounds like fun, but youre just not sure about committing yourself due to time, money, and lack of know-how. Dont let that stop you! Most reenactment groups are very welcoming to new people and will show you the ropes and even outfit you until you can gradually acquire your own kit. In other words, you can try it out and see how you like it. Choose a Time Period and Location What period of history most grabs your interest? Did you have ancestors who participated in a particular war? Do you have a passion for Ancient Rome, medieval fashion, or Colonial America, and the Salem Witch Trials? Find a Reenactment Group Time and place generally work together, so while youre picking your time period, you will generally have a certain location in mind as well. Most people choose a reenactment group that operates fairly close to home - at least within a days drive. Reenactment groups and societies can be found all over the world, although they are especially active in the U.S., UK, Germany, Sweden, Canada, and Australia. Check your local newspaper or reenactment Web sites for listings of upcoming reenactment events in your area. Most large re-enactment events take place outdoors, so spring through fall are very active times of the year for the majority of these groups. Attend a few such reenactment events and talk to members of the involved groups to learn more about their reenactment focus and activities. Choose a Persona In a reenactment, a persona is a character and role that you choose to portray. The persona is sometimes referred to as an impression. Depending upon your reenactment scenario, this may be a real individual or a fictional one who could have lived during your time period of interest. Think about who you are in real life,  or the person you secretly want to be, and translate that to an individual who lived during your time period of interest. The majority of reenactors choose to be soldiers, but even in a military reenactment group, there are other characters, such as wives, camp followers, surgeons, tinkers and sutlers (merchants). The persona you select should have some personal significance to you. Research Your Persona Once youve chosen a time period and character, you need to learn everything you can,  from the way they dressed and ate, to their manner of speech, cultural beliefs, and social interactions. Immerse yourself in the time period by reading books and primary source documents related to the area, and the type of person youve chosen to portray. Assemble Your Kit Reenactors refer to their clothing and equipment as their  kit. Whether youve chosen to be a fur trapper, a soldier or a medieval princess, this clothing and accessories you select for your kit should match your persona. If youre portraying a poor farmer during the Revolutionary War, then dont purchase a fancy rifle that would have been out of his financial grasp. Take the time to fully research your character and period, considering where your  persona  lives, his age, his  occupation, and his social status, before purchasing items which may or may not be authentic or appropriate. If you have the time, it can even be fun to learn to make some of your clothing or items yourself, just as it was done in the past. Final Tips   Most reenactment groups have extra clothing, uniforms,  costumes, and props that they are willing to loan to newcomers. By joining such a society, youll have time to try out your persona before committing to any major purchases for your own kit.