what is re-enactment

What is re-enactment.

  How to Get Started With ReeenactingYou've probably thought to yourself that reenacting sounds like fun, but you're just not sure about committing yourself due to time, money, and lack of know-how. Don't 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 aquire your own kit. In ...other words, you can try it out and see how you like it. Just so you understand a bit of what you're getting into with reenacting, here are some basics of becoming a reenactor: Choose a Time Period & 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, ww1 and ww2. Find a Reenactment Group Time and place generally work together, so while you're 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 day's drive. Reenactment groups and societies can be found all over the world, although they are especially active in the Netherlands, Belgium, 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 reenactment, a persona is the 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 Personage. Once you've 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 you've chosen. Assemble Your Kit Reenactors refer to their clothing and equipment as their kit. Whether you've 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 you're portraying a poor farmer during the Revolutionary War, then don't 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. Tip! Most reenactment groups have extra clothing, uniforms, costumes and props that they are willing to loan to newcomers. By joining such a society, you'll have time to try out your persona before committing to any major purchases for your own kit.