Ansteorran Chili Night

The Origins

His Grace, Kein MacEwan remembers:
"I lived in the East Kingdom in 1986 and 1987. In 1988, I went to Pennsic and I camped with the people that I knew in the East instead of the Ansteorrans. On Wednesday night I made chili for my household and any guests they might invite. It was about 40 people.

In 1989, I camped with Ansteorra. On Wednesday night, I made chili for the Ansteorran encampment and invited my old Eastern household, the Von Halsterns, to join us. Some other people joined as well. Maybe 75 people.

In 1990, I made chili and we started inviting everyone. My recipe that year was for 150 people.

I made chili every Wednesday night at Pennsic (and at TFYC) until I was King in 1993. By then we were feeding 500. When I was king, William the Bear and Finn Kelly took on the job for me. I think I made chili at least once more between my reigns, but by then the tradition was firmly established. I only made chili once at Gulf Wars. But the tradition was taken up by others and I am very pleased to have started this particular Ansteorran tradition."