2024 Culture Fest: Day 2 - Customs

Þe Markomanas

Markomanshidu

Þe Markomanas hold a culture and religion that are inseperable from one another. Most aspects of daily life are tied in some way to the religion, and this general way of life is referred to as Markomanshidu (meaning Markoman-Way). The general worldview is animistic and polytheistic, with a belief in 3 worlds: Hefonraik, the world where the gods and their race live; Manahaim (also called Medlraik), where mankind and most other things live; and Helyo, the underworld where the dead reside. The expression “9 worlds” is not literal, referring to the entirety of existence, as 9 is the foremost sacred number of all Germanic tribes and their faiths, also including 3 and any multiples of 3 and 9.

Irmihnsul, the World-Pillar, is the axis mundi of Markomanshidu; it supports the 3 worlds, and is connected to the beginning and end of the current creation. The world is cyclical, to a believer of Markomanshidu, and this is only the first cycle; there will be more, ever and onwards, for as many times as there can be.

There are many gods, but chief amongst them is Tiwa, who reigns as their kunihg. He is the son of Eisten, who did not wish to rule, for he sang his brother’s willingly sacrificed flesh into existence so others could enjoy it and find meaning. Tiwa and his brothers, Woden and Valþen, are 3 of the most often called upon gods.

Honor is among the foremost goods one can have, as are the virtues the sexes are expected to uphold. Masculine virtue is seen to have been handed down by the goddess Werkusti, who stated the utmost good men are those who follow her guidance; the virtues of women are seen as inherited from the example of Ansu women and their actions. Individuality is highly and fiercely important, with families and their interior beliefs meshing into and forming local practice with other families in a tribe. Shared culture and belief are important, but only if done as individuals and never as an obedient whole.

Worship and prayer is best done outdoors, in sacred groves or near sacred waterways and bogs; worship indoors is typically for housewights, whereas that done outdoors is for landwights and the gods themselves. Most worship is given to wights (spelled wait in Romanized Markomanihsh), a word meaning “living thing” or “critter”, who are most involved in people’s likes from day to day. They tend to have greater sway over the world, and therefore better magic, than the gods because they directly came from Yumu’s flesh as it was sang into the world; the gods, despite having weaker magic, are generally seen as their rulers due to existence being their uncle.

The Kingdom of Amorlenter

Holidays:
Amorlenter has many religions, mostly Christian religions like Lent, Christmas, and Easter. But we do have holidays other than those such as New Hill day, for the Grand Hill offensive, and le jour du mariage, day of the wed. On le jour du mariage, all married couples don’t have work and are free to enjoy life (so long as it doesn’t cause strife to others).

Customs:
Amorlenti people have a few notable customs, one of which is, on the top of the entry door frame of your home, you have a symbol of your religion (Christians have crosses, Muslims a Star and Crescent, etc etc). The Amorlenti people also tend to keep their weapons close to their doors in case of emergency.

Beliefs:
Despite having religion, Amorlenter had mythology before it. Two of which are that, in seasons of drought, you’d make an offering to God and say a prayer in French known as la prière de salut rapide. Another belief is that people, when born, are at their highest potential to find their passion. So in order to find it, Amorlenter has a system where families bring their newborn to a facility (With the parents involved of course) and the newborn would be tested to find what caused increased dopamine and serotonin production for the child.

Aspects of Life & Principles:
People in Amorlenter operate socially under a corporatist caste, in which a child at birth would be assigned to their passion group. In which they’d stay there till adulthood, when they can apply to change groups or apply for promotions. Amorlenter also, as a whole, has a high respect for the religious elders, be them monks, rabbis, or imam. Along with that, sexualization or attempted sexual conduct with female figures meant to be abstinent and celibate will be forced to pay a fine and forced to be in jail for a month. If a person r*pes a celibate figure, they will be put to death by chemical castration till they cannot move.

Symbols:
Symbols of Amorlenter are few in between, but we have a few unique ones. The first is the Latin cross with a gold wreath, symbolizing Amorlenter’s Christian populace and the fertility and youth of our church.
Another symbol of Amorlenter is the virgin Mary. Despite not being native to Amorlenter, we hold her dear to us and the young women of Amorlenter’s churches, mosques, and synagogues.

Principality of Sancratosia

Customs
Holidays
Sancratosia is a secular state and although it follows a “Western” calendar where holidays are usually related to Christian holidays, they are usually renamed or changed into fixed days to ensure certain “stability” in the calendar. For instance, Easter is replaced by two distinct holidays, Elefen Language Day (21 March), celebrating the official language of Sancratosia and 1Duchess Maria I Day (15 April), celebrating the honorific founder of Sancratosia. Most holidays exist to celebrate cultural elements such as Chives Day (10 June), Independence Day (1 December), George Boeree Day (15 January). Most months have holidays, only July and August have none. Other days, called notable days, highlight elements of Sancratosian culture or humankind achievements but are not days where people take a day off.

Greetings
Sancratosia’s official language is the Lingua Franca Nova (LFN), an auxiliary language that most people, even citizens, speak. But, as a defining element of Sancratosian culture and a mark of identity, it is customary to use the LFN greetings in conversations amongst citizens. The widespread use of “Saluta”, or “Alo” as the usual greetings and the use of “Adio”, “Asta revide” or “Txau” as the send-offs fosters the sense of community in the Principality’s places of discussion.

Cuisine
Sancratosian cuisine is a fusion cuisine influenced by Quebecois, French, and American culinary traditions. It also incorporates representative dishes of global cuisines, like Japanese, Italian, etc.

Beliefs
Principles
The Sancratosian core values and principles are what guides the policies and the general administration of the Principality, such as Diversity, Respect, Peace, Creativity, Knowledge, Communication, Collegiality, Democracy and Justice. Citizens have to adhere to these principles to be naturalized. Human rights are considered to be at the heart of the motivation for the foundation of the Principality.

Lifestyle
Sancratosians should be able to relate to each other even if not living next to each other. Apart from the official language, which is a defining element of Sancratosian culture and lifestyle, lifestyle that is adopted in Sancratosia must be replicated, to a certain degree, in more than one place in the world. For instance, it would not be acceptable to have a tradition to play ice hockey once a year for it would be difficult for certain people to participate in that tradition, it is however acceptable to have the tradition of eating chicken/turkey/duck on Goose Day. This is always subject to appreciation and interpretation but, efforts must be made to make it as accessible as possible. There is some exception for certain traditions which can be found on the ceremonial territory (ie, in Québec) for, should control of the territory be gained, Quebecois culture would likely remain. All these considerations is the reason why Chives were chosen as the national flower, since it can grow almost anywhere, most Sancratosian citizens would be able to make it grow at home and enjoy the national flower at home.

Religion
As a secular state, there is no official religion in Sancratosia. Freedom of cults is guaranteed in the Constitution and discrimination based on religious beliefs is forbidden. Religious demographics roughly mirrors global trends. There are some talks on establishing an official church in Sancratosia based on the principles of Unitarian Universalism or, at the very least, an official center of worship.

Forunesian traditional beliefs and customs
Furunesværsk tru og skikk

According to professor in archaeology Kalle Sogness, grave mounds from the bronze age are in high numbers placed over hills that overlook both the sun and fjord, Sogness argues hence of a «cult» of the Sun. Within Forunes, or as it was called back then in reconstructed Proto Germanic: “Furhōnasją” there exist two offical documented grave barrows dating from the Bronze age, including several theorized. The first «sacred groves» within Forunes are also believed to stem from this faith.

Right after the Migration period, the Norse faith «Åsatru» thrived in and around Forunes. It is the mythical ruler «Alawih» (who’s name means «all holy») from 500-600 AD conquered several territories. According to professor Magnus Olsen there was a deification of Alawih after his death and even a Norse temple (hof) present right by his grave mound, due to the near proximity from Forunes to his main «hof» it is believed this cult also was present here.

The belief of spirits continued in the Norse faith, it was believed that if you slept over a grave mound you could communicate with the deceased, therefore it is percieved that the grave mounds in Forunes from the Bronze age was still frequently visited to «communicate with the dead» either for advice or for remembering one’s ancestors.

With several wages of Christianity, the Trønders (the area) were usually stubborn against this, that until after St Olaf died against the Trønders at the battle of Stiklestad, where rumours spread of him being a holy person. Though St Olaf lost the battle, he won the «spiritual war» as his martyrdom quickly spread Christianity in Trøndelag.

Forunes’ location is situated between both the maritime route of Trondheimsfjord to the west, and the main pilgrim road to the right, both of these lead to two important pilgrim destinations: St Olaf’s martyr death location and his shrine at Nidaros Cathedral.

Faith
Christianity as said earlier, got her footprints on Forunesian soil after Saint Olaf’s death (1030) some sacred water sources was changed in honour of saints, local or not. The former popular hof dedicated to the deified (in a Norse pagan sense) Alawih later turned into a local pilgrim spot to see what some percieved to be St Peter’s keys instead.

In 1537, Lutheranism was forced down the throat with the threat of a sword blade by Danes to Trønders, though venerating saints and icons still played an role long after. Some Lutherans in or around Forunes wasn’t historically as strict when it comes to saints nor icons. Today most Forunesians are either atheist or Christian (lutheran), with a minority of Roman Catholic Christiansz

Customs

Hospitality
Hospitality is and was looked upon in Forunesian culture, stretching already from the first pilgrims who crossed maritime or on land by Forunes. Olaus Magnus in his book «history about the Nordic people» (1555) wrote a whole chapter on the hospitability by Scandinavians. People of the North (including Forunes) used to have a pole with a piece of cloth attached to it to tell bypassers that the house is welcome to guests.

Language
The Trønder dialect is the one spoken in Forunes, already documented first in a local cadastre from 1200. One letter from 1301 records words such as ospellat (unhurt) olagliga (illegal) and so forth. An example of the Trønder dialect is the third attachment, recording the trønder dialect words for different local berries. Most Trønders write today either in dialect or bokmål, though before it was common in alot of areas to write in Nynorsk, which Forunes still uses today.

Cuisine
Forunes has access to several food sources, fresh fish by the fjord, meat from farm animals or hunted in the large forest, naturally also great access to vegetables, situated on the Frostan peninsula often referred as “Trøndelags kitchen garden.”

Kingdom of Pibocip Customs:

The Kingdom of Pibocip, being rooted in in the social contract theory, Catholic Social Teaching, and practiced using the principle of subsidiarity, has a very Catholic culture, especially amongst the senior members of the Royal Family. The Pillin and Cipriano members of the Royal Family, along with Prime Minister Ziobert and Chief Justice Falasca, are members of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica - Saint Anthony of Padua, which is a traditional Italian - American Catholic parish in Northeast, Ohio.

Italian-American Catholic culture, particularly that of the Molise Region of Italy, is very important to many Pibocians, especially the customs of Northeast Ohio. Some of these customs include homemade Wedding Soup, Italian Festivals, and Cookie Tables at weddings. Queen Mary Rita, Crown Prince Phillip, Princess Kim, and Prince Phillip all make their own pasta sauce. Pasta and Pizza are some favorite dishes in Pibocip. Easter and Christmas are particularly important holidays for all Pibocians, along with American Thanksgiving and Pibocip’s Foundation Day.

Foundation Day cake:
Pasta sauce:
Queen Mary Rita makes blanket in the colors of the Italian Flag:
Haluski:
The Brauer members of the Royal Family are traditionally Lutheran with some German and Slovak American Traditions, mainly food. Haluski, chocolate cake, and chocolate chip cookies are among other Pibocian favorites.
Christmas cookies: