| | All too often people who are new to the Society or new to a Kingdom or region are given incorrect information regarding customs, traditions, and requirements for participation. It is not uncommon for someone to be told "this is how it is" and years later still believe it to be true. This page is an effort to provide the correct information. - False ~ "Only peers can sit on the King's side (during Court), all others must sit over there (pointing)."
- Fact ~ You may sit on either side of aisle during Court. Often when Court is held out doors more people will sit on the side that will keep their back to the sun.
- False ~ "You can't go to Court if you don't have an Award of Arms."
- Fact ~ Anyone may attend Court, but please make an attempt to dress in pre-seventeenth (1600) century clothing.
- False ~ "You can't register a device if you are not a member."
- Fact ~ The College of Arms does not require that you purchase a membership from the SCA, Inc before you register a name or device. You can find out what other questions related to the College of Arms are frequently answered incorrectly here.
- False ~ "You can't form a household unless you first get a charter."
- Fact ~ The SCA doesn't administer households. From the Index of Corpora, one of the governing documents of the organization: "Households no reference in the governing documents, as households are left completely to the discretion of their members."
- False ~ "You can't have a pavilion unless you are the head of a household or have an Award of Arms."
- Fact ~ Anyone may own a pavilion.
- False ~ "You can't camp in your period pavilion on the Eric until you have more than an Award of Arms."
- Fact ~ With the exception of space on the Eric that is reserved for the Royal Pavilions and the pavilions of certain Kingdom Offices, Eric space is first come - first served.
- False ~ "You can't wear a metal circlet unless you have a certain award." (Award of Arms, Grant of Arms, etc.)
- Fact ~ In the West you may wear a simple metal circlet regardless of what awards you have or may not have. There are restrictions that apply to coronets with embattlements and strawberry leaves - and it would be best to avoid decorations on your circlet that could be mistaken them, but a simple circlet for holding your veil on or your hair back is fine. There are Kingdoms with different traditions regarding circlets so it's always a good idea to find out what they are if you are going to be traveling.
- False ~ "You can't wear those colors. They are reserved for ."
- Fact ~ There are no reserved colors in the West Kingdom.
- False ~ "Red belts are only for squires."
- Fact ~ Red belts are not reserved for squires. There are; however, some items that are reserved such as white belts and open link, unadorned chains for Knights and white baldrics for Masters of Arms.
- Other statements that have been heard and are incorrect are:
- "You can't wear gold before 5 pm."
- "You must always wear a hat/veil if you are a married lady."
- "You must always wear a hat/veil if you are a lady over 25."
- "You can't make presentations in Court unless you are a head of a chartered household or have your Award of Arms."
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