Largess

Largess (sometimes spelled largesse) is the noble practice of giving to the less fortunate, usually with food, money or clothing. In period, largess was seen as a duty of the upper classes, especially on feast days or special occasions, such as weddings or tournaments. It has a basis both in Christian charity and the somewhat more selfish need to demonstrate one's social standing.

Largess in the SCA

Largess, in the sense of giving alms to the poor, is not generally practiced in the SCA, likely owing to the dearth of peasant and beggar personas. Instead, the word "largess" tends to refer to the selfless practice of bringing free food to events and distributing it to attendees. Small pastries, baking, and especially fudge and other sweets are generally used for this purpose.