How should one regard the activities of those who call themselves historical reenactors? What is it - a hobby or a profession? What role in modern society playing reconstruction historical events Is it just entertainment or something else? In this article we have tried to answer these and other questions related to historical reconstruction.

For some reason, it is generally accepted that historical reconstruction is a fairly recent hobby. They say that the first clubs and communities of people who call themselves reenactors began to emerge in Western Europe and the United States only after the Second World War. In fact, this, of course, is not so - the roots of this hobby go back to the depths of centuries, or more precisely, in ancient times. Although, of course, then it was not a hobby at all, but rather a profession.

However, in order to delve into the history of this hobby, first of all, you should understand - and who are historical reenactors? Usually this is the name of people who are trying to accurately reproduce the life, entertainment, battles or material (however, sometimes spiritual) culture of some bygone era. They are traditionally divided into domestic and military reenactors, although this division is arbitrary - the same people can be engaged in both areas of this activity.

So, if a reenactor is a person who recreates the events of the past, then it should be recognized that they were still engaged in historical reconstruction ... in ancient Rome. As we remember, the Romans were extremely fond of gladiator fights. So, from time to time these competitions took the form of battles of the past. For example, one group of gladiators was dressed as a soldier of Alexander the Great, the other - as the Persians of Darius III Kodoman, and after that they played out some episode from the battle of Gaugamela.

Read also:Super Hobby: 1:1 scale tanks

At the same time, the fighters tried to follow the historical truth in every detail - the detachments maneuvered in the same way as the troops participating in this battle, the leaders of the detachments called themselves the names of the Macedonian and Persian generals, etc. So such an action can be considered a military reconstruction. It differed from modern analogues only in that during this battle the fighters died for real.

So, it must be recognized that first appeared military reconstruction, which functioned as an element of the show (for gladiator fights were more like ancient Roman shows than sports competitions). Later, in the Middle Ages, it ceased to be so bloody, but still survived. During various holidays at the courts of monarchs and the aristocracy, fragments from the battles of the past were often played out, for example, the same episodes of the battles of Alexander the Great.

Later, from the 17th-18th centuries, clubs of lovers of antiquity began to emerge, which became the prototypes of associations of modern reenactors. For example, in England, shooting from a medieval "long" bow was a very popular hobby. The secretary of the great German poet Goethe, Johann Peter Eckermann, wrote that: "There (that is, in England. — Ed.) everyone who is not lazy shoots from a bow. Even in the most seedy town there is a "society of archers". As the Germans go to the bowling alley, so they gather in some tavern - usually this happens already in the evening - and shoot with a bow; It was with great pleasure that I watched them exercise. They were all tall people, and pulling the string, they took surprisingly picturesque poses.

In parallel with this, everyday reconstruction was also developing, which at first was an element of city carnivals. During these holidays, the participants not only dressed in costumes of bygone eras, but also tried to reproduce the dances, games and other entertainments of the past. And since the beginning of the 19th century, a fashion for the manufacture of antiques has spread in Europe, and by no means for a commercial purpose.

The pioneers of this movement should be considered two Swedes, Henrik and Hjalmar Lingi, who, being carried away by the Viking Age, sought to accurately recreate not only the weapons and armor of these fearless warriors, but also the household utensils of that era. They focused on information obtained from the Scandinavian sagas. Later, the example of a talented father and son inspired other lovers of antiquity from Western Europe, and products of past eras of their own manufacture for some time became almost an ordinary piece of furniture.

At the end of the 19th century, the first attempt was made to carry out reconstruction at the state level. It happened in Germany. By special order of the Kaiser government, when entire military companies were allocated in order to restore the events of past eras. someone restored appearance and fighting techniques of soldiers ancient rome, someone - the barbarians competing with them, someone depicted knights, landsknechts, etc. Such reconstructions were no longer only elements of the show of those times - their participants helped historians to conduct some research. So, for example, it was the reconstruction of the Battle of Grunewald that helped clarify some of the mysteries of this outstanding battle.

Military historical reenactment has become extremely popular in Russia and abroad in the last two decades. At the same time, it is known that initially it had deeper roots. First reconstructions important events and great battles were fought back in Ancient Greece and Rome. Now this tradition has been revived.

Event History

Military-historical reconstruction was also carried out in Ancient Egypt. The organizers staged costumed performances. The public could see with their own eyes how key battles unfolded. Sometimes special arenas were even built for such events.

This type of performance experienced the next wave of popularity in the 17th century. This time, England became the country where military-historical reconstructions began to be massively carried out. Here, in the years 1620-1630, units of the London militia performed in front of the public with demonstrative drill exercises.

In second place in popularity were the battles of the times Patriotic War 1812.

Battle for Berlin

One of the most popular military history festivals last years- "Battle for Berlin". The reconstruction is dedicated to the assault on the German capital by Soviet troops in 1945.

The event takes place in Moscow at the end of April. In the culture and recreation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation "Patriot" reenactors recreate the main moments of one of the most important battles of the Great Patriotic War.

In the very center of the battles are the guests of the "Battle for Berlin" festival. Reconstruction allows you to plunge headlong into this operation Soviet troops. The streets of real Berlin are recreated in the park, along which tank units and motor troops pass. A real artillery cannonade sounds, and uncompromising air battles unfold in the sky. You can feel on your own "skin" what the storming of Berlin was like. Not only history buffs take part in the reconstruction, but also professional stuntmen and pyrotechnicians, who carefully prepare a performance in memory of the heroes of that war.

It is worth noting that the storming of Berlin played an important role in the history of the war. Reconstruction allows you to imagine how it really was.

"Fire Arc"

The Moscow region is generally famous for the fact that it regularly holds festivals of military historical reconstruction. "Arc of Fire" takes place in the town of Stupino in late April - early May.

This is a very spectacular military-historical festival, in which not only a large number of reenactors take part, but also a variety of equipment. These are German Messerschmitt aircraft, and the legendary soviet tank T-34, and the famous Katyusha gun, which terrified the German troops.

About four thousand guests take part in the military-historical festival every year. The organizers take care of the organized delivery of guests to the holiday and the equipment of parking spaces for those who decide to come by private car.

About 400 people take part in the reconstruction of the battle itself, as well as at least ten units military equipment during the Great Patriotic War, produced in the 40s of the last century. A large number of Tourists are also attracted by the places where the festival takes place. These are fields and meadows near

A large-scale performance is being prepared for the guests of the action, and after the reconstruction of the battle is over, they can chat with its participants and take unforgettable pictures.

The last time about 550 people took part in the reconstruction of the "Prague operation". 57 clubs from 19 Russian regions sent their representatives. There were about 100 Germans among them. It should be noted that this is one of the largest military-historical festivals in the Moscow region.

Spectators become witnesses last operation Soviet troops in the Great Patriotic War. held from 6 to 11 May 1945.

Published: 11.01.2018 Category: Author's essay

At the moment, the Russian government has not decided what to devote the coming year of the Yellow (Earth) Dog to. And why not coincide with such a wonderful thing as "revived history". After all, the next 12 months will shock the Fatherland not only with a phenomenon called "World Cup 2018", but also with another one - under the name "historical reenactment 2018". Role-playing events for many Russians have long become synonymous with a successful vacation. Of course, this refers not only to war, but also to peaceful pursuits. Rather, a whole historical complex. Yes, history can come alive. Everything is within our power. In the article you will learn more about the CIS festivals.

What is military-historical reconstruction

Since 1979, the described hobby has been an activity of a narrow circle of people who are passionate about the romance of medieval battles, the Civil and Great Patriotic Wars.

A full-scale historical reconstruction became part of Russia only in the 1990s. It concerns the restoration (reconstruction) of a historical complex associated with a specific time, specific place and specific event. In the 90s, it all started not with historical battles, but with ... fantasy ones. The fact is that the main contingent in organizing such an action as a festival of historical reconstruction was the Tolkienists, who are fanatic about the world created by the English writer D. Tolkien. Some of them still live exclusively in Middle-earth, often speaking to each other in the language of hobbits or elves. Although most of their ideological followers switched to Westeros, created by the minds of the Game of Thrones writers. "Role players" already had the experience of "reviving" events, although not historical ones. They created costumes, weapons, fortresses and palisades, wrote staged scripts.

It remains to be added that abroad the "resurrection of history" (as well as all the amusements associated with it) entered the everyday life of significant masses of the population much earlier. The fact is that this process was firmly connected with the social movement living history (“living history”), which was born in the middle of the last century. At the moment, the trend has “reborn” into some kind of school lessons, medieval festivals (in the Middle Ages, many Western cities were separate states - now the population takes their coats of arms to the streets), as well as the work of skansens - open-air museums. Their workers completely restore the historical complex of a certain era and the traditions of a certain ethnic group associated with it (costume, tools, architecture, life, weapons and rituals). In fact, the ancient life appears before the viewer (the student of the history lesson) in all its details.

So, we also have such a thing as a club of historical reconstruction (KIR). And the joint activity of these associations of enthusiasts (from different parts of the state), respectively, "gave birth" to a global interactive performance, which is commonly called the Festival of Historical Reconstruction (FIR). Now this is something more than what the Tolkienists of the 90s called "making a toy." The festival, as a rule, attracts several organizations of "historical role players" at once. Moreover, they try to recreate a certain event in the location where it took place.

The largest festivals of historical reconstruction in 2018

In the expanses of the CIS (in hundreds of its cities and rural settlements), spectacles are regularly held within the framework of various FIRs. However, not every one of them gathers thousands of participants and spectators, as well as dozens of journalists. The nomination "the largest festival of historical reconstruction" included "" - a global action that takes place annually in different parts of Greater Moscow. It originated back in 2011 - in the Kolomenskoye park, with the aim of presenting the events in Russia in the 9th-11th centuries to the general public. However, in the following years, it turned to the later pages of the biography of our Fatherland, and not only ours. This year the event will come under the name “Times and Epochs. Meeting". Moscow is going to surprise Russians and World Cup guests from other countries with a kind of time machine. From 12 to 23 June, the population will gather at different venues different countries and centuries, surprising onlookers with their vestments, crafts, dishes, dances and songs! With "Times" competes (in terms of fame and involvement of people) only "Day of Borodin" (we will talk about it below).

The so-called medieval festivals are especially popular. Part of the events (including the episode of the regatta of historical ships) will be held within the framework of the already mentioned spectacle “Times and Epochs. Meeting". We will talk about the rest below.

Ancient Russia and the Viking Age

Medieval festivals in the Russian Federation have a chronological frame of restored events starting from the 9th century. The fact is that this century became a fateful one in the history of the East Slavic peoples. There has been an attempt to combine them into single state. At the same time, this century was the heyday of Viking campaigns.

IN different areas Russia, the 9th century has become the main theme of the activities of historical clubs. This year, such associations have a new reason to meet - "Rusborg 2018" (it will bring together admirers of the first Russians in May, the place is still unknown). "Rusborg" "gets" from the darkness of centuries military campaigns that took place on the territory of the present North-Western Federal District Russian Federation- in the 9th-11th centuries.

“Rook Field” and “Abalak Field” are FIRs that have their own “zest”. Their participants are forced to move on large wooden boats - rooks, knorrs or drakkars. In the new year, the Volga near Yaroslavl will be chosen as the place of action at Ladeynoye Pole. Rafting is planned (in some places with parking) to Kazan itself. Siberian "Abalak" invites everyone to Tobolsk for the second time on July 7-8. The next plot of these "Fields" is sea battles with the participation of Russians, Vikings, Finnish and Baltic archers, as well as military competitions.

The last event worth mentioning in this regard is the “Epic Coast”. At this "gathering" a specific event is not taken into account. This is a series of buhurts (field team fights) illustrating a difficult relationship Kievan Rus with Scandinavia and other neighbors. The brand of the festival (besides sword tournaments and archery competitions common for such events) is the competition of sulichniks (the sulica is a swing weapon that resembles a mace, differs from it in the design of the nozzle). The new epic coast on July 27-29 will be the bank of the Volga near the village of Toporok ( rural settlement Fedorovka, Kimrsky district of the Tver region).

Medieval Festivals 2018

We are always predisposed to something most impressive - to frightening iron armor, to great swords or axes clanging against them, to a lady's handkerchief sentimentally tied on a knight's spear ... In a few months, all this will be repeated again in different Russian cities! Medieval festivals 2018 are:

• "Field of Kulikovo" (will be held on September 13-16 near the Tula village of Tatinka);
• "The Knight's Tournament of St. George" (thunder from April 30 to May 2 in Moscow);
• "Heritage of centuries" (end of June, Belarus);
• "Knight's Fest of Mstislavl" (July, Belarus);
• “Battle of Four Epochs” (July, Sula Park, Belarus);
• "Genoese helmet" (Sudak, August).

Let's start with "Field Kulikov". This is a fairly popular historical reconstruction. 2018 on Red Hill again promises us grand skirmishes and archery competitions. The bank of the Don at Tatinka is the place where the troops of D. Donskoy crossed before the battle.

Sword fights, whistling arrows - this is what medieval festivals intrigue tourists. 2018 will be the year of several “interactive performances related to Western Europe. And most of them will be dedicated not to court balls, but to jousting tournaments that people of our planet love, as well as field battles in full gear. Among the participants themselves, the last idiom is more used in the form of the French original - the “new birth” of a large-scale battle is called the word “buhurt”. Buhurts will be held both at the Kulikovo Field and at the Knights Tournament of St. George (in the Kolomenskoye park). Come early.

Medieval festivals "Heritage of the Ages", "Knight's Fest of Mstislavl" and "Battle of Four Epochs" - bright embodiment collective projects of historical clubs in Russia and Belarus. As always, the events will be held on the territory of the last of these states. IN last days June castle complex Mir (Grodno region) will become a meeting place for medieval musicians, equestrian daring and all sorts of knights ("Heritage of the Ages"). Fans of medieval culture will gather in Mstislavl (Grodno region) and in the Sula park in July. Three actions in all their glory will show knights-gentry, "winged" hussars of the Commonwealth, zhalmers, musketeers from Western Europe, archers and Cossacks. Ancient castles will serve as a backdrop for the festival.

Another show with knocking the enemy out of the saddle with a huge spear, sword fighting and archery competition is preparing the summer Crimea for us. Traditionally, in August, in the Genoese fortress (the one located in one of the coastal quarters of Sudak), the townspeople and guests of the city are gathered by the “Genoese Helmet” - a festival that is one of the five best knightly spectacles in Europe! Medieval reenactors from all countries come here.

Napoleonic Wars

Unlike the concept of "medieval festivals", the concept of other role-playing spectacles does not involve tournaments. Here, assaults on defensive structures, attacks, and the restoration of some circumstances of a positional war are more involved.

Historical reconstruction of a later time traditionally (for obvious reasons) has a more extended composition of participants. A prime example such is the "Day of Borodin" - the reconstruction of the decisive stages of the Patriotic War in the territory of the present Kaluga, Moscow and Smolensk regions in 1812. In September, compatriots from all over the Russian Federation flock to the Borodino Field Reserve.

However, in the coming year, the battle of Krasnin will also be in the center of attention of reenactors. At today's village of Krasny, the Russians fought the French for 4 days and defeated the enemy. Everything will happen again - at the Losmina River (on the Smolensk-Krasny road). By the way, in addition to the Russians, clubs from Belarus will take part in the battle.

In Belarus itself, the war of 1812 is traditionally honored with a large-scale action "Berezina". Near the city of Borisov, near the Strakhov Forest (where the pommel of the banner of one of the Russian regiments and a soldier's fold were found), costumed memorial ceremonies will be held, as well as a reconstruction of one of the episodes of the persecution of the retreating Napoleonic units. The event will take place at the end of November - to the very date.

WWII reconstructions

A major festival of historical reconstruction, connected, among other things, with the Great Patriotic War, as always, will be held in Sevastopol. This time - September 15-16. The action, within the framework of which several episodes of the city's defense will be restored, is called the "Crimean military-historical festival". Its opening will take place on the Historical Boulevard, which is laid on the territory of the defensive structures of the 1st Defense. By the way, the festival will also resurrect the events of previous eras associated with this place.

On February 2, the whole country will once again celebrate the Stalingrad Victory. On this day, in addition to the ceremony of laying wreaths and flowers at the Eternal Flame, the hero-city of Volgograd will also host a military-historical reconstruction. One of the battles Battle of Stalingrad(the breakthrough of the Soviet 64th Army has already been reconstructed in the Kirovsky district of the city - October 21).

On December 9, on the embankment of the Bystraya Sosna River (the city of Yelets), the troops of the Southwestern Front will again “come to life” in order to carry out the offensive in the first half of December 1941. The inhabitants of this city were completely liberated from the Nazi invaders.

A vibrant historical reenactment is planned for the south Voronezh region. On January 14, under the town of Rossosh, details of the liberation of this locality from the Nazis. Fights will flare up in the floodplain of Black Kalitva. They will be attended by residents of the Voronezh, Belgorod, Rostov, Volgograd and Moscow regions, as well as historical reenactors from Italy (in the "role" of compatriots buried here who fought on the side of the Third Reich). Spectators will communicate with participants in the reconstruction, local historians, historians, and see old equipment. main feature- large-scale use of pyrotechnics.

Clubs of historical reconstruction of Russia

Usually, the leaders of creative associations that “revive history” are people who are somehow connected with history (employed in excavations in the summer, and at other times - professional activity in universities). But there are many exceptions. After all, knowledge of the past (not only Russian) is now in vogue. Members of the KIR gather in the premises allocated to them for the manufacture (or collection) of household items or costumes authentic to "their" era. They attend lessons in historical fencing or shooting (if the organization reconstructs the complex of the New or Newest Times). Reconstruction participants even have the opportunity to earn money. They are able to decorate the celebration associated with “their” theme with a “combat” or “ceremonial”. Reenactors are often filmed in documentaries (and today more often in fiction) films dedicated to "the affairs of bygone years." KIRs bring together people of all ages and professions.

Now you know what else you can devote to the year 2018. The historical reconstruction is waiting for you both as a spectator and (optionally) as a participant. Leading CIRs, as a rule, have their own online resource, where the amount of the contribution, patterns of historical costumes and the place of collection are indicated. There you can also get a lot of other useful information for a novice reenactor. We will be very flattered if, after reading this review, at least one of the readers personally enrolls in the club of historical reconstruction. Look around and you will understand: it is not too late to do this at any age.

1

The actors recreate the battle of Austerlitz, which was an outstanding example of military art.
All this military-historical reconstruction of the events of the past took place in the Moscow region, or rather in Khimki, where now there is a unique opportunity to buy an apartment without intermediaries. Moreover, in addition to the already equipped housing, there are schools nearby, and kindergartens, and medical centers, and a yacht club with its own pier, and a stadium, and a swimming pool, and a fitness club, and much more that is necessary for a comfortable stay.

Actors in military uniform Hungarian and Austrian Habsburg dynasty reenact the first stage of the 1849 battle in Isaszeg, Hungary. The battle was part of the spring campaign of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 between the Austrian Empire and the Hungarian Revolutionary Army.

An 18th-century Maltese militiaman fires a musket at an enemy near the Verdala Palace near Valletta.
In the Middle Ages, militia was called auxiliary military formations of military monastic orders (Order of the Temple, Order of Malta, etc.), staffed not by knights, but by junior members of the order in status or, in general, by warriors temporarily serving the order.

A man dressed as a samurai warrior runs screaming at his opponent during a reenactment of the mid-16th century battle of Kawanakajima in Fuefuki, Yamanashi Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, Japan. A reenactment of a brutal battle between two famous warlords, Kenshin Uesugi and Takeda Shingen.

The samurai finished off the enemy during a reenactment of the battle of Kawanakajima (a field famous for having hosted five battles between the Takeda and Uesugi clans).

Matchlock shooting during Kawanakajima in Fuefuki (a city in Japan located in Yamanashi Prefecture).

A man takes part in a historical re-enactment of the Roman Games in Nimes, southern France. The priests of the imperial cult held a ceremony in honor of Emperor Hadrian. Publius Aelius Trajan Hadrian - Roman emperor from 117 to 138.

Girls in costumes near the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus and the Roman Forum during Christmas celebrations in Italy. Legend has it that Rome was founded by Romulus in 753 BC surrounded by seven hills.
(cm. )

The actors, dressed in armor, staged medieval jousting in Eltham, England.

A man dressed as a soldier walks with a bicycle in the town of Courseul-sur-Mer. The picture was taken on June 6, 2013 during the celebration of the 69th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

Reenactment of the events when Washington crossed the Delaware River to attack the British camp on the night of December 25-26, 1776. Photo taken in Pennsylvania on December 25, 2012.

A burning plane of the Air Force of the Kuomintang - a conservative political party of the Republic of China. The Kuomintang waged an armed struggle against the generals of the Beiyang group and the Communist Party of China for the right to govern the country up to defeat in civil war in 1949, when the Communists completely took control of the country, and the Kuomintang government had to flee to Taiwan. Military-historical reconstruction in Shaanxi province in China, October 19, 2012.

Actor in the military Japanese form jumps and kicks an actor dressed as a villager. A reconstruction takes place at a cultural theme park in Shanxi province, China, on October 20, 2012. Chinese soldiers torment a villager in the scenario. The 8th Army is one of the formations of the National Revolutionary Army of China, controlled by the Chinese Communists.

Actors in military uniforms from the Hungarian and Austrian Habsburg dynasty reenact the first stage of the 1849 battle. The picture was taken in Isaszeg, Hungary on April 6, 2013.

Masked actors take part in the Cavalhadas Festival in Brazil on May 19, 2013. This three day dedicated to victory medieval knights over the Moors, is a tradition introduced in the 1800s by a Portuguese priest on the occasion of the ascension of Christ.

The actors are preparing for the reenactment of the battles for Berlin in 1945. The picture was taken in Germany on April 29, 2013.

Reconstruction of the famous battle of Napoleon at Austerlitz in 1805, near the southern Moravian town of Slavkov.
The decisive battle of the Napoleonic army against the armies of the third anti-Napoleonic coalition went down in history as the “battle of the three emperors”, since the armies of the emperors of Austrian Franz II and Russian Alexander I fought against the army of Emperor Napoleon I.

Actors from the theater Iere Productions play the roles of Indian laborers and British police during the reenactment of the Indian coming to Trinidad and Tobago. The country celebrates this holiday on May 30 every year.

A man dressed as a samurai on horseback shoots a target with a bow. The picture was taken at Sumida Park in Tokyo on April 20, 2013. An archer takes part in a yabusame during a samurai martial arts demonstration.
Yabusame is a type of archery in Japan where archers using special turnip-tipped arrows shoot directly from the saddle. This type of archery originated at the beginning of the Kamakura period (1192-1334), when Minamoto no Yoritomo became alarmed after noticing the lack of archery skills among his samurai and began to teach among them.

Reconstructions of the battle in the First World War. Bucharest, 15 June 2013.

Military-historical reconstruction of the famous Battle of Austerlitz in 1805. The picture was taken in a tent during a break from the actors.

Children take part in a military parade held at an amusement park in Pyongyang on the occasion of international day Child Protection on June 1, 2013.

British soldiers. Military-historical reconstruction of the Second World War.

The actors take part in the historical reconstruction of the Way of the Cross. Bucharest, 3 May 2013.

Pictured is Satan. Reenactment of the Passion of Christ in Mexico City.

Historical reconstruction of the Crucifixion. Manila, Philippines.

Fort Rinell - building Victorian era. The British built the fort between 1878 and 1886 so that only one gun could fire from it - the 100-ton Armstrong cannon! A 450 mm caliber cannon, more than 9 meters long and weighing more than 100 tons, easily destroyed ships at a distance of 2 kilometers, and its firing range was about 6 km. Valletta, Malta.

Military-historical reenactment of the Battle of Karbala, which took place between the detachment of the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad Hussein ibn Ali and the forces of Caliph Yazid I on 10 Muharram 61 AH (10 October 680) in Karbala on the territory of modern Iraq.

Shia Muslims reenact the Battle of Karbala during the Ashura festival in the Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq.

Cambodian students celebrated May 20 "Day of Wrath" - a day of remembrance for the victims of the genocide that took place there in the seventies of the last century.

Military-historical staging of the battle of 1812 on the Berezina, in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the battle, near the village of Bryli, about 115 km east of Minsk. Fights between the French corps and the Russian armies of Chichagov and Wittgenstein on both banks of the Berezina River during Napoleon's crossing during the Patriotic War of 1812.

Civilians fight back against Red Army soldiers during a re-enactment of the Battle of Berlin in 1945.

Military-historical reconstruction of the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The battle took place between the Anglo-Saxon army of King Harold Godwinson and the troops of the Norman Duke William. The battle lasted over ten hours. The army of King Harold was completely defeated: several thousand selected English soldiers remained on the battlefield, the king himself was killed, as well as his two brothers. England, 14 October 2012.

The actors walk past a row of portable toilets.

The depth of reconstruction can be different. Beginning amateurs tend to be limited general view costume, without caring especially about its historical accuracy, the authenticity of the fabrics used and the appropriateness of the color combination. Those for whom historical reconstruction has become a real hobby, they take equipment much more seriously. As a rule, a costume is made according to a “passport”, where each of its elements is carefully described: the fabric, the method of dyeing it, the source of the pattern (based on materials from archaeological finds, museum collections and works of art), the types of hand or machine seams used, the approximate time period for which clothes match. "Passports" are checked by a special commission, and if the sources are reliable enough, the applicant is allowed to festival of historical reconstruction as a participant, not a spectator.

If, as a rule, each reenactor can sew clothes himself, then it is difficult to cope with more complex products made of metal, leather, fur without special skills and equipment. Shoes, weapons and armor, belts and fasteners are bought by many in special workshops or at festivals.

The most enthusiastic reenactors practically reach the professional level: not only the appearance of the product is important for them, but also the thorough adherence to the historical traditional technology. They spin and weave on their own, dye the fabric with natural dyes, use historically reliable needles and thimbles. At their events, they recreate not only the costume, but also the everyday life of the chosen era: tents and tents, dishes, musical instruments.

From antiquity to the recent past: eras of reconstruction

The era chosen for reconstruction may be different. If ancient world and antiquity in the CIS are represented by a very small number of clubs, then there are a lot of lovers of the early and late Middle Ages. Moreover, approaches to the reconstruction of the early Middle Ages, as a rule, are quite strict and gravitate towards a “deep” reconstruction. However, after the 13th and especially the 15th century, the costumes become too complex to require the majority of festival participants to fully correspond to the era. It is precisely because of the complexity of technologies and the inaccessibility of materials that so few are engaged in the reconstruction of the life of the 16th-18th centuries. Some enthusiasts almost professionally recreate the era Napoleonic Wars and the events of the Great Patriotic War, and here the requirements for historical authenticity are again greatly tightened.

However, the suit naturally moves historical reconstruction not limited to: hobby it would just be boring. Great amount clubs is divided not only by era and depth of reconstruction, but also by specialization within the movement. Military historical clubs pay much attention to physical training and military history- it is their representatives who play historical battles or arrange jousting tournaments. Many groups perform medieval music or study dance. Among the reenactors, various kinds of artisans working on historical technologies: gunsmiths using, embroiderers, furriers. Some study ancient sources in search of authentic recipes for food, drinks or cosmetics.

Often this hobby becomes a profession. Reenactors are invited to the extras to shoot historical films, commercials, they arrange tourist attractions.

Where and when are historical reenactment festivals held?

Large festivals of historical reconstruction, gathering more than a thousand participants, are held annually in Vyborg (end of July), in the Crimean Sudak (first half of August), Ukrainian Khotyn (late April - early May), Belarusian Novogrudok (end of June). Famous battles are reconstructed in Borodino in early September, in the village of Samolva near Pskov (mid-April), in Dubrovno in Poland (the Battle of Grunwald in July). Smaller festivals are held almost every weekend of the season: in Izborsk, Mstislavl, Mamonovo near Kaliningrad, Drakino near Moscow.