im·mer·sion

/iˈmərZHən,iˈmərSHən

noun

deep mental involvement

An immersion event is something special. Something that should stay with you. Something that you experience once and relive all of it each time you encounter something related to the event. The atmosphere, the performances, the music, the food.

A Day of the Decameron is going to be such an event (if I have anything to say about it!) Taking a leaf from the talented hands of others who have created immersion events, the team I have put together is working to create a small portion of the late 14th century in northern Italy, Florence to be exact.

Picture a simple country estate in the spring, with new flowers and new leaves blooming. An invitation from the local rulers, to come and spend a day in the country, to hear music and stories, to partake of good foods, now that winter has passed. To enjoy laughter and merriment, to gasp and shed a few tears.

Going to a literary immersion event should be a special thing, and for me, helping create the performances for this event is something I treasure. The performers who have signed on to bring the stories from the Decameron to life are from all walks of the SCA. New and seasoned, and everything in between. These performers will be creating a good framework for the day, showcasing stories as they might have been told in period, in a setting that will resemble a Florentine country villa.

When you go to an SCA event you expect a few things – people in garb, some banners, maybe some tourneys and a few dishes from period sources in a dayboard or feast. An immersion event goes steps further. All the performers will be in garb appropriate to the time period and place. All the food will be period, sourced from the as close to the setting of the event as possible. The site will be decorated to mimic as close to the time and place as possible, shutting out 99% of the modern world. Event attendees are allowed to dress as they would for any other SCA event, but dressing in the styles of the time and place can also help one immerse into it.

Day of the Decameron is going to allow attendees to immerse themselves in late 14th century Florentine culture. Do you want to fall back in time with us? I hope you do!