oo2.

[kantikoy]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Adrasteia
RECIPIENT: All of Riftwatch
NOTES: nuffin

Tell me, Riftwatch, what is your favorite holiday and what does it celebrate?

Comments

[ipseite]

I suppose the only holiday I am particularly familiar with is Satinalia — but forgive me, I've never been wholly certain what it celebrates. Do you know?

[kantikoy]

I believe it was originally a celebration of the God of chaos, whose name escapes me for the moment.

[ipseite]

Well, that will account for some of the revels. It's always a pleasant time, though I was caught quite off-guard by it last year.

[kantikoy]

Oh? What happened last year?

[ipseite]

( rueful, ) I simply lost track of the time — I was quite busy. I'd not remembered anyone's gift.

[kantikoy]

Ah, well. Perhaps I can help with that, this year?

[coquettish_trees]

[ With helpful cheer: ]

Zazikel.

[ipseite]

Tevene, I think, Mme d'Asgard?

[coquettish_trees]

Just so! The Tevene Old God of Freedom, as well as the Dragon of Chaos.

[ipseite]

My study of Tevene has been more in the earthly realm — the language of shipping manifests and troop movements.

[kantikoy]

Yes, exactly. Thank you!

[heirring]

Do you wish to hear only of holidays native to Thedas, or those which take place in other worlds as well?

[kantikoy]

Oh both, definitely!

[heirring]

Well then here, I believe my favorite holiday is Satinalia because the parties are always so lovely and there is something very amusing about the costuming. And I would have said so even before this most recent passing where I was crowned queen.

[Wysteria, don't brag about being named the Fool.]

But in Kalvad there is a lovely holiday called St. Margaret's Day in which there is usually a parade and a game where all the unmarried gentlemen wear red scarves in their breast pockets and it is the occupation of all the unmarried young ladies to contrive to steal the scarf of the gentleman who they most admire. And then afterward there is usually a great deal of music and dancing and so on.

[kantikoy]

Satinalia is a great holiday.

[ And if Adrasteia sounds amused, well. She can picture Wysteria being the perfect queen of Satinalia.

There's the scratch of ink nib to paper. Someone's taking notes. ]

We would possibly need to retool the name of the holiday since no one would know who St. Margaret is. Also what of the gentlemen who don't particular like ladies?

[heirring]

Oh, they are not obligated to stand still and be robbed if they do not wish to be. It is very much a matter of pursuit. I have seen young men climb very high into trees and stay there for hours on end to avoid the very persistent ladies. But usually the woman in question grows tired and prefers any dance partner to one in a tree and seeks out more willing prey.

Will you be putting on holidays?

[youwonscience]

Thedas could totally benefit from Halloween. Two-tiered holiday. Little kids dress up in costumes and go door-to-door and adults give them candy. Adults without kids dress up and have, you know, a regular party with music and alcohol and stuff. There's also a spooky component where people get really into ghost stories for a few weeks. And you carve a particular kind of gourd and put candles in it to light up the design. Quality holiday, strong recommend.

[kantikoy]

Is there a specific theme to the costuming? When in the year does this Halloween occur?

[youwonscience]

It's in the autumn. Days getting shorter and all that. The traditional costumes are usually ghosts or monsters, but honestly people dress up as all kinds of things. Fictional characters, historical figures, you name it.

[She'll skip trying to explain "sexy pizza rat" for everyone's sanity.]

[kantikoy]

Hm. A pity there aren't more children here at Riftwatch but I understand why that is true, but a holiday in which there's an exchange of sweets isn't a terrible idea by any stretch.

Not everyone is going to enjoy ghost stories for weeks on end, but you can't win them all.

[youwonscience]

Yeah, arguably also true at home. Technically the holiday's only one day, but there aren't any other big ones leading up to it, so the people who are the most enthusiastic tend to take over the preceding month.

[truthtied]

I don't believe I've experienced any of the holidays of this world as of yet. There is one in mine that I always thought was rather sweet, it was about expressing love and affection for those around you.

[kantikoy]

The next holiday is on the first of the upcoming month of Bloomintide, called Summerday. There will be an event I can't discuss yet, but people usually get married. Kirkwall might have a procession of the children coming of age, but I've never been here for it so I don't know how different it'll be than back home.

Oh that does sound sweet! I like it already. What do people usually do for one another for this holiday?

[truthtied]

That itself sounds very charming.

From my understanding, there is usually exchanges of small gifts, particularly little cards and candies. Flowers are common for romantic gestures, I believe. I imagine Summerday isn't dissimilar, though I don't believe getting married on Valentine's Day is traditional.

[kantikoy]

Oh, interesting! I could definitely do something with that. Is Valentine a person or a concept?