A Page is a youth who is a member of the Page Fellowship.
A page was an attendant to a nobleman, a knight, a governor or a castellan. Upon reaching seven years of age, a youth would be sent to the castle, great house or other estate of another noble family.
A youth would serve as a page for about seven years, running messages, serving, cleaning clothing and weapons, and learning the basics of combat. They might be required to arm or dress the lord to whom they had been sent by their own family. Personal service of this nature was seen as a form of education in return for labour. While a page did not receive reimbursement other than clothing, accommodation and food, they could be rewarded for an exceptional act of service. In return for his work, the page would receive training in horse-riding, hunting, hawking and combat – the essential skills required of adult men of rank in medieval society.
Pages are marked by the wearing of a purple belt. Once a Page completes and logs at least one hour of volunteer work, they join the Fellowship and can receive their belt.
Every Page is encouraged to celebrate their joining the Fellowship with a Belting Ceremony, coordinated between the Page, their parent(s) or guardian(s), and the Kingdom Youth Minister. Belting ceremonies typically will occur at SCA events in court, shortly after their first activity is logged, but private or semi-private Belting Ceremonies can occur if the Page would prefer it.
At the ceremony, the new Page will receive a purple belt. The youth are then welcomed into the Page Fellowship. Pages are encouraged to write their name on the back of the belt, and if they choose to return it to the Fellowship, the lineage of the belt given will be read when a new page receives that belt.
Every new Page will also receive a Way Book to explain the Page Fellowship to them, and let them track their activities to help their parent(s) or guardian(s) log the activity when they can on the Google Form. If a Way Book gets misplaced, the Kingdom Youth Minister can be asked for a replacement.