The Society for Creative Anachronism consists of a group of people who congregate to live out their favorite aspects life in Medieval Europe before 1700. Some exist mainly to bash and clash with each other in public melees; others might embrace some aspect of medieval life as specific as the arts of illumination or medieval dance.

The Society first occurred as a backyard party of costumed participants in Berkeley, California, protesting 'against the 20th century'. It has grown into an international living history organization with chapters erupting sporadically. A Wikipedia article notes there has even been a group on the nuclear-powered Naval aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz, which is a rather striking juxtaposition of past and modern existence.