The arms of the Barony were designed by Lady Theodora who based them on the Yahara river that flows through the land, known as “Catfish Creek” by early settlers.

The original blazon, registered November 1981:

Azure, on a fess between two catfish counter-naiant Or a laurel wreath vert.

This was emblazoned:

On July 17, 1993, the barony was awarded an augmentation of arms from the Midrealm for service.

Thus, the blazon became (registered February 1995):

Azure, on a fess between two catfish counternaiant Or a laurel wreath vert, as an augmentation on a canton argent a pale gules overall a dragon passant vert.

and was emblazoned:

Over the years, the barony has gravitated toward a more true to life catfish and the eyes are painted red to represent our nickname in battle as the “vicious fishes.”

Save

by Mistress Theodora von Igelheim

Sung to the tune of “On Wisconsin“. Usually followed by “We’ve got spirit, we’ve got bounce. We’ve got the name you can’t pronounce!”

Jararvellir, Jararvellir,
Break through that shield wall,
We’re your loyal sons and daughters,
Spawnéd in your catfish waters,
Jararvellir, Jararvellir,
Fighters true and brave,
Banner of our barony
Forever wave!

by Paul Wickenden of Thanet, published in the June 2008 Skein

There are at least two ways to approach history: by looking at important events (wars, leadership successions, births and deaths, etc.) or by trying to uncover the more mundane day-to-day activities of the people who lived in those days. The SCA, while paying some attention to the former, dedicates itself to the latter, seeking the less-told stories of the common past. It is thus a bit ironic that attempts to write the history of the SCA itself are overwhelmingly focused on the important events (who was crowned, elevated, won the tourney, etc.). It begs the question: how much will you learn of the Barony’s history by a recounting of who got what award at what event? Or who won crown tourney that Spring? If a group of 14th century gentles wanted to form a Society for Creative Prochronism (Motto: “the future not as it will be but as it should be”), would it be the Crown Tourneys and Coronations they would reenact? Probably not. I would wager it would be social practice!

Social Practice (or “drinking practice,” as it is sometimes known) is held on Wednesday nights at a local establishment that offers both food and drink late into the night. Many of the attendees come after their activities at the Stock Pavilion are completed for the night, but others involved in non-martial interest groups also attend for the purposes of mingling and socializing. In addition to its social and gustatory aspects, social practice also often includes a variety of craft activities and opportunities for discussing issues related to local activities, events past and present, and even modern topics of importance. However, unlike most of the guilds and activities in the Barony, there is no explicit purpose to Social Practice other than to enjoy the company of the other attendees.

Social practice has formed an integral part of the fabric of the Barony for nearly three decades, but is strangely undocumented. The first official announcement of its meeting place and time did not even appear until the March 2002 Skein (and then, mostly because we were in our awkward phase where we were exiled from the Stock Pavilion). Yet, the minutes of General Meeting make frequent reference to it throughout the 1980s, so it was no secret.

What do we know about the origins of social practice? It is very likely that SCAdians have long gathered for post-practice imbibing within Jararvellir. In fact, since the SCA began as a party, it would be very difficult to separate the two activities. But the most concrete information we have is that social practice (as a weekly post-Wednesday-night-fighter-practice happening) probably started around 1980. Shava recalls that “I was one of a few people, including Giles, who thought it odd to just go to Fighting Practice and then go home without being social. Obviously we needed practice being social, so it started up.”

From the start, it was a challenge to find suitable accommodations. The first place that folks tried (McNamara’s) closed within a month so the gathering had to be relocated down the street to Clancy’s (located on King and Mifflin). As the gathering was mostly centered around drinking (our younger members may need to be reminded that in those days the legal age was still 18!), it was also called “drinking practice” in jest.

For reasons diverse and political (and which we will skip over), a second faction formed in those days that chose to meet at Ella’s Deli (at the nowdefunct State Street location). As Ella’s did not provide alcohol, the second group became known as “ice cream practice,” although collectively, both extracurricular gatherings were known as “social practice.” A small number of folks (like Giles and Shava) attended both groups, but for the most part, people kept to their own.

The ice cream practice group eventually died down, Clancy’s closed, and (after a number of other drinking practice sites were attempted) the gathering consolidated to the Brat und Brau on Regent (currently, the location of Lucky’s Bar and Grill), where it stayed for some time. It also happily provided a site where 18-21 year-olds could go, as the liquor laws of the modern world were in flux. As a result, Brat und Brau served as a catalyst to unite the two factions, as Josceline notes, “It was classified as a restaurant, although it had a full bar, so it wasn’t limited to folks 21 and over. It also had ice cream, so gradually the ice cream practice group started going there as well. We still called it ‘drinking practice’ for a number of years. The Brat und Brau probably had the highest regular attendance of any Wednesday night social practice we ever had. That was a period of great interaction between different interest groups in the Barony, which helped foster political harmony and baronial pride.”

After the Brat und Brau closed in the mid 90s, the gatherings wandered from one location to another, never quite able to find a suitable location. The Come Back In was too noisy, Bullfeather’s didn’t work out, and The Living Room began closing their kitchen too early. A relatively long-ish tenure at La Hacienda provided a private dining room and good food (including a social practice favorite queso fundido con chorizo, also known as “heart attack in a bowl”), but the private room (located in the basement) was musty and people with mold allergies complained. Others said that they were tired of Mexican food.

In the Fall of 2001, the Barony lost use of the Stock Pavilion for Wednesday night practices and as fighter practice moved from one site to another, so did social practice. When fighter practice was held at Turner Hall on South Stoughton Road, social practice was at the Country Kitchen on Milwaukee St. When fighting practice was held at an old hangar at Morey Airport, social practice started out at Claddagh in Greenway Station. Claddagh had ambience (“a cool turret room with a big round table that they let us use” recalls Josceline) but was expensive. The gathering moved to Perkins on University, but the lack of alcohol made that an unpopular choice. So, the group moved down a block to Irish Waters on Whitney Way, where it stayed until Irish Waters went out of business in 2005. While Irish Waters was popular, it presented its own challenges, as Josceline recalls, “After the smoking ban took effect in Madison in July of 2005, Irish Waters scaled back their operating hours and began closing their kitchen at 10 pm rather than 11:00. We still made it work. I used to take food orders from the fighters and fencers who planned to arrive later and send those orders to the kitchen just before 10, so the food was ready when people arrived.”

In the aftermath, social practice has again wandered from one location to another. The basic issue with finding an ideal location has been roughly the same from its beginnings: finding a place where people can get both food and drink; where underage attendees are welcome; where the kitchen (and the establishment) stays open late enough that folks can get served after 10pm on a Wednesday; where the noise level is manageable, but conversations across the table will not be frowned upon; and where folks can gather affordably and conveniently to unwind.

[Credits: My thanks to Mistress Elashava, Mistress Josceline Levesque, and Mistress Eithni for their assistance in my research.]

by Paul Wickenden of Thanet, published in the April 2008 Skein

While no longer honored as regularly (or as fervently) as he once was, most of us have heard of Jararvellir’s favorite (if not patron) martyr, Saint Bunstable. Maybe you remember that the Barony used to hold an event every Fall called “Bunstables” or perhaps you are even aware of the miracles that Bunstable performed (and why he was honored here in Jara), but a lot gets lost to rumor and conjecture.

No history of the Barony would be complete without some mention of the Saint. So what is the legend of Bunstable and how did it come to the Barony? How was Bunstable honored? Why has the legend passed from our traditions and where else is it honored still?

Who was Bunstable?

For those not familiar with the story of Bunstable’s miracles, you can find the complete “official” text online at http://students.washington.edu/sca/ bunstable.html, but the rough Cliffs Notes version runs something like this:

An English monk “in distant Lechbury” named Bunstable was charged with the responsibility of guarding the monastery’s stocks of brandy and as a good obedient man, “he bent with humble heart unto his task.” His responsibility was dear, though, because in those days the Vikings frequently raided the lands. It was only a matter of time before the fierce Bjorn the Terrible descended and the inhabitants of Bunstable’s undefended monastery fled (all except Bunstable, who slept “in well-besotted slumber/and dreamed of casks of brandy without number,” oblivious to the raiding party).

Bjorn, who apparently delighted in burning his victims alive, was greatly distressed that everyone had left without proper combustion. In retribution, he ordered the monastery burned to the ground. But one of his men pointed out that the monastery might contain riches that were worth pillaging first [ed: remember, Vikings – pillage and then burn!]. Bjorn agreed and, grabbing a torch, he descended into the cellar where the unconscious Bunstable slumbered. However, the great quantity of brandy stored in the cellar created a unique safety hazard as the chronicle recounts:

“Bjorn brought a torch to light the darkness vast/to flames did light the brandy-fumes. A blast/much like the trump of doom on Judgment Day/did shake the Earth, and even Bjorn did pray,/ for he was covered o’er by strange blue flame./When it died down, he found out, to his shame/that he’d become completely egglike – bald./’Bjorn the Hairless,’ he was thenceforth called.”

“The casks had burst, and Bunstable, who’s tended/them faithfully, to heaven ascended./He was declared a martyr, in due time/and long did Bjorn the Hairless rue his crime.”

But all did not go well for Bunstable. In heaven, he did not fit in. The robe he wore was cold, the clouds were too soft. Harp playing did not really suit him (and all of the songs that he knew had dirty words). He was, in fact, absolutely bored. There were no parties in Heaven and Bunstable missed revelry. So the angels took pity on him and granted him leave to return to the earth. But, as he left, they warned him that many years had passed and that he might not recognize the place anymore.

Returning to earth (in the present day), he was indeed astounded by what he saw, but moreover greatly saddened by the lack of revelry he found. That is, until he traveled across the seas and found a group of good folk at an SCA event who were honoring his sacrifice with good drinking and good cheer. And he appeared before them, illuminated by a flickering blue halo.

This is only one of several versions of the story. As befits any period saint, there are many versions of the story in existence and a quick perusal of the internet will reveal variants of the story (including the idea that Bunstable got Bjorn and his men drunk instead of flambéing them). However, this is the version that we know best.

Bunstable and the SCA

The legend of Bunstable is one of those homegrown SCAisms that can be traced back to the early days of the Society and which spread like wildfire because of its amusement value. As such, it finds its way into many corners of the Known World and its origins are a matter of some dispute.

The West Kingdom’s online history provides the most reliable origin for Bunstable, attributing it to a lord by the name of Geoffrey of Speraunce, who first told the story in July AS VII (1972). Expansions and embellishments quickly followed. By the following year, the story inspired the residents of a group house called Lechbury Abbey in the Barony of Madrone (Seattle WA) to hold a party to celebrate the saint on November 17, AS VIII (1973). The Page provided a chronicle of the event/party in its January issue:

“Festivities proceeded in the tradition of St. Bunstable, with all performing their devotions in the proper spirit. The reveling, feasting, and free-form wenching … continued well into the next morning, with a hardy group on the porch singing bawdy ballads in competition with the dragons on the nearby Seattle Freeway. The dragons won.”

This first “feast of St Bunstable” was so popular that plans for future events to honor the saint were planned and Bunstable was proclaimed the patron saint of Madrone (with November 17th recorded as his official day). The story of Bunstable (as recounted above) was written down by Dierdre Muldomnhaigh, founding baroness of Madrone, in the year that followed to provide a script to support the festivities.

How did the legend come to Jara?

The connection with Jararvellir can be traced to a happy confluence of events and the efforts of Mistress Ealasaid nic Phearsoinn. She was herself introduced to the SCA by Baron Liam and Baroness Dierdre, who also convinced her to attend that infamous house party at Lechbury Abbey as her first event.

Because of (or in spite of) the Bunstable feast, she was hooked and became active in Madrone, but only for a short while before departing for the Midrealm where she had a rude shock arriving in Jararvellir: “when I left fair Madrone early in AS IX, I thought the Feast of St Bunstable was celebrated throughout the known world and when I discovered to my dismay that the Blessed Bunstable was unknown in Jararvellir, I decided to become his missionary.”

How was it celebrated in the Barony?

The first Feast of St. Bunstable in Jararvellir was held in November AS X, as a potluck feast autocrated by Ealasaid. Starting a tradition that was to be carried down through subsequent years, Ealasaid created a subtlety that was ritually flambéed. Mistress Deirdre’s version of the story of Bunstable (sent by Deirdre to Jara as a gift to our Baroness Asdis) was also read aloud to remind everyone of the reason for the revel. In addition, various activities were organized that were evocative of the Saint.

For the first five years, Ealasaid and her lord Guttorm (then known as Egil) ran the event each November until they left Jararvellir in AS XV. The traditions begun at the first feast were generally followed in subsequent years (except for one year when the site was dry and no one wanted to waste the sole alcohol in the feast by setting the subtlety – and some very well brandied oranges that were served with it – alight).

In its early days, Bunstable was more like a moot than what we would recognize today as an actual event, following the more informal qualities of that original gathering at Lechbury Abbey. At the gathering, people were encouraged to bring things that symbolized decadence (at the second Bunstable, there was chocolate fondue) and the entire event had a moderately scandalous tone. To get a flavor of that, consider the account of the third event: “Beginning with Blind Man’s Buff [sic], the games became progressively more immoderate as practically everyone joined in dancing Prinkum-Prankum, and finally in a hard fought game of clench-a-wench.” A year later, the event featured Bunstable-themed events including Vikings vs the Irish tug-of-war (won by the Vikings) and a tourney between unarmed Irish and blindfolded Vikings (with pillow swords) (won by the Irish).

As the years went by, Bunstables gradually became the premier event of the season, usually hosted right before Thanksgiving as close to November 17th as was feasible. Attendance swelled and the potluck feast was replaced by five-remove feasts. Opulence and decadence, however, continued to be the theme. Bawdiness prevailed.

By chance rather than by design, the last Feast of St Bunstable in Jararvellir was held in AS XXVIII (1994). The following year, planning for the event fell through when the site turned out to have no parking available (the parking lot had been rented out to accommodate attendees of the Badgers game which was running the same weekend). With no affordable alternative available in Madison, the event (and the tradition) came to an end. Since that time, there has been no successful attempt to resuscitate the event. But from time to time, old timers will knowingly mention the event or its patron with knowing nods and winks. The Barony still owns two banners that depict Bunstable and Bjorn that are tacked up to the wall at most events. However, the tradition is now largely defunct.

Bunstable lives on!

Ealasaid sadly notes that her attempts to continue her “missionary work” after leaving Jararvellir did not meet success. Yet, while the celebration in Jararvellir is now largely lost to the mists of history and the Bunstable tradition has largely faded in the Midrealm and Northshield, Bunstable (and an annual feast honoring him) lives on back in Madrone. Madrone’s College of St Bunstable (the other UW) name checks him. Various bards write songs about him (“Ballad of St Bunstable,” “Hymn to St. Bunstable,” etc.). Perhaps some day the honoring of Bunstable will return to Jara as well.

[Credits: In addition to the various websites I consulted, I am indebted to Mistress Josceline Levesque, Derian le Breton (Seneschal of the College of Saint Bunstable), Baroness Asdis, and Mistress Ealasaid nic Phearsoinn for their assistance in my research.]

Save

by Paul Wickenden of Thanet, published in the February 2008 Skein

Back in the Winter of AS XVII, when we had to walk to events (uphill both ways!)…err, well, maybe not, but it was a different age! The rather new-ish Principality of Calontir was making rumblings about wanting to become a full-fledged kingdom (although old timers sagely opined that there would never be more than nine kingdoms in the Known World). Here in the region of Northshield, any thought of becoming a Principality was far off.

In that year, the Barony of Jararvellir was just over ten years old, having celebrated its Decennial at Olin Park the previous Mayday. In those days, event announcements and local news were disseminated in a regional newsletter (the Northwatch) which contained the happenings of any group in the region that wished to contribute. Not every group did so, but Nordskogen and Jararvellir usually filled a page with officer listings, local event announcements, and news. Nordskogen called their page the “Nordskogen Snowdrifts” while Jararvellir had the “Jararvellir Jarns.”

The idea of having a Jararvellir newsletter in its own right was hardly a new idea, but it was not common back in those days. Contributing to a regional newsletter was a bit more communal than having a dedicated newsletter for locals only. Nordskogen also experimented with the idea of having its own newsletter, but both groups continued to support the region. Even after the Skein took off, local Jara news continued to appear in the Northwatch.

The first issue appeared in March AS XVII (1983) with the following notice:

Emperors and Kings, Dukes, and Marquises, Counts, Knights, and townsfolk, and all people who wish to know the various occurances [sic] within this Barony of Jararvellir, the rendered accountings of those who serve in high office, the undertakings of the several guilds, and the freely expounded opinion of the gentles who dwell hither, take this letter and have it read to you. Here you will find all the great wonders and curiosities of the Viking city on the Jahara, and its environs, and of no other territories (well, perhaps occaisonally [sic], in passing). Our letter will relate them plainly in due order, as accounted by those who have seen them with their own eyes (or wrought them with their own hands), people of credit and veracity. We will set down things seen as seen, things heard as heard, opinion as opinion (and signed) so that our letter may be accurate and free from any fabrication. And all who read the letter or hear it may do so with confidence because it contains nothing but the truth. I would have you know that this letter is, and shall be, called THE SKEIN Wherein Are Wound Jararvellir Jarns, being the official publication of happenings of and in the Barony of Jararvellir.

THE SKEIN shall be assembled, published and posted by the Chronicler of this Barony, monthly. During its first six months it shall be subscribed entirely by his Worship, the Vicar [Peregen – ed.] (from his privy purse) and House Athelas as service to the Barony and shall be sent, at no charge, one copy to each ADDRESS in the most recent Baronial Directory. Beginning with the third issue, by which time costs should have been ascertained, solicitation of individual subscriptions will be forthcoming to make THE SKEIN self-supporting. It is proves not to be of sufficient value to the local populace by the end of the six-month introductory period, it will be allowed to lapse (with refund of collected monies, of course).

During the next year, not all went according to plan. The initial 11×17” format proved too cumbersome to assemble (keep in mind that, in the pre-word processor age, everything had to be re-typed) and it was quickly replaced with a 8.5 x 11” format which allowed officers to contribute entire pages that they typed (or wrote in long-hand) and were simply inserted into the newsletter. The first editor (Renard des Terres Hautes) was quickly succeeded by Madeleine du Pres de la Fontaine (she was living on Fontaine Circle in those days). And the original plan to make the Skein completely self-supporting within six months was scaled back. It was not until March AS XVIII (1984) that subscriptions became formally required ($6 for mailed issues, $1.50 for pick-up at the Stock Pavilion). However, even then, Madeleine expressed concern that the Skein might have to cease publication from lack of interest.

[Credits: My thanks to Mistress Josceline Levesque for lending me copies of the Northwatch from this era and helping me connect the dots. I was not a witness to these events, but was serving as Chronicler in the East in those days, so remember not-so-fondly the days of cut-and-paste local newsletters. My apologies to those who were here if I got my facts wrong.]

Save

The Order of the Golden Tate was created January 27, 1979 as our first baronial order. In the first fifteen years of Jaravellir this served as the only baronial honor, given for service to the group. This order was followed by the Order of the Brising Stone and the Order of the Curia’s Catfish.

When Asdis closed her solo stint on the High Seat she closed her personal Baronial awards as well. She and Rathlin began replacing those recognitions by offering Baronial tabards or baldrics to any authorized fighter who wished them and a length of rattan to all who fought with us at Pennsic. Believing the Kingdom awards to be the worthy goal in those designated areas, they sought local awards to more personally reflect the accomplishments of the populace. Thus was created the Orders of the Embattled Catfish, the Pisces, the Gilded Shell, and the Golden Scales.

When Asdis stepped down and Elspeth joined Rathlin on the High Seat, the Orders of Liason Poisson and Alistair’s Lamp were created.

Shortly after becoming Baroness, Eithni felt that, while Jararvellir had many orders for specific things, we had no good way of recognizing merit that fell outside those closely defined orders or for continued merit in those who had already received entry into an order. Therefore, she instituted the Award of the Wellspring to appropriately recognize these gentles.

The Barony of Jararvellir was founded in A.S. VI (C.E. May 10, 1971).

From HE Asdis Stefansdottir, First Baroness Jararvellir:

The first Baron, Tomas Tolftungr, and I met in the West Kingdom and had occasion to attend a Crown Tourney as the guests of a Knight of the realm. We sat in borrowed garb, enjoying the hospitality of the event. ‘Twas but one day, yet the memory of it remained in our hearts. Circumstances brought us away from the West, and we shortly settled in Madison. Before much time had passed, we found the address of the Seat of the West Kingdom and Thomas wrote, requesting information on the establishment of a Barony in the SCA. (Recall, fair Gentles – there were but four Kingdoms, of which we had but little knowledge.)

We received by return a post declaring ourselves Baron and Baroness! We decided mutually upon Viking personas, as such was the Baron’s own background – and as far from my own as possible. There began for me a passion for all things Viking, and to this day I retain a respectable library on the subject.

The name of the Barony was developed by the Baron: “Jarar,” an “Icelandicized” version of Yahara, the river upon which the Barony rests; and “-vellir,” authentic Icelandic for “plains”. Hence “Jararvellir,” the Plains of the Yahara River. (It should be noted, “Yahara” is a contrived Indian name for what had been called by early settlers “Catfish Creek”) Therefrom the arms of the Barony were designed, if memory serves, by Lady Theodora, whose artistry (and comic renderings) were without equal.

The first event was a feast held at Nottingham Co-op on May 5, AS VIII (1973). The fare included applemoy, an applesauce made with almonds by St Aubrey Evenstar, the first Baronial chef. He had, by his own request, auditioned by preparing a supper for the Baron and myself, which included dishes of such delicacy that we were delighted.

Shortly after, the Baron and I traveled to an event in Kalamazoo, Michigan, bearing with us a modest retinue including our Knight Marshall and Herald. We were simply clad and plain, yet were greeted with all courtesy by His Majesty King Andrew of Seldom Rest. The event that stands forth most in my mind of that event was the sight of the royal pavilion (made from a huge silk parachute) and the presentation at Court by Her Majesty of her son Sean, a lad but two days old.

Time passed; we were given a proper Investiture held at Hoyt Park. Our foster son, Lars the Fierce, was in attendance, as were all the folk of the newly-born Barony. From thence did time fly by and we learned by doing.

We are nothing if not fun loving in the SCA. Our barony was lucky enough to participate in an article written by the Onion in 1999, presenting a bit of history that never actually happened:

Society For Creative Anachronism Seizes Control Of Russia

How This Story Came To Be

The Onion’s graphics editor emailed Paul at work and asked him if he knew of anyone near Madison that would be willing to pose for some pics for an article about Medievalists taking over Russia. He wanted people who “looked like” they were in the SCA. Paul replied that he could do him one better and get him the real SCA. The Onion had also gotten in touch with the Barony of Jararvellir’s (Madison, Wisconsin) seneschal and the Baron and received more info. With one day’s notice the Barony members came to the weekly fighter/archery/dance/social practice in proper dress and posed. The Onion reps explained what the pic was for and what the Onion was (apparently they encounter many subjects who don’t understand what the photos/interviews will eventually be used for) and pictures were taken.

The Onion contacted many people in the area. I don’t know exactly why they contacted Paul, but I think that probably The Onion did a web search for “SCA”, “Russia” and “politics” and got Paul’s home page with his professional credits (political science professor with Russian emphasis) and his SCA persona pic and info. Of course it helps that he also runs the Slavic Interest Group! Needless to say, the photo went up on his office door with the caption of “What I Did On My Summer Vacation”.

—Yana/Jenn

Save