Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on Aug 29, 2022 20:22:00 GMT
Festivals of Divinum
Of all the festivals of the Imperium Divinium, few are as beloved as Veneralia. Held on April 1st every year, this ancient festival celebrates love in its many forms. Originally a day of devotion to the goddess Venus, it has since been recognized as a day on which Divinians may express their deeply held passions.
On the morning of Veneralia, crowds will gather in a common area (typically the forum) where a dais had been constructed and decorated with garlands and two seats, acting as thrones. From among the crowd, men and women will step forward to be crowned the champions of Veneralia. The reactions of the crowd will decide the winner, with men selecting the male winner, and women the female winner. There is no set metric to judge the winner on, though general physical attractiveness is often the deciding factor.
When the winners are chosen, the crowd will carry them off to the public baths, where attendants will bathe and anoint them with oils. This likely derives from a practice of the ancient Latins, which involved washing and enrobing a statue of Venus on this day. The champions are traditionally dressed in pink and purple and paraded back through the streets to take their place of honor at the festival. There, they are presented with gifts, which people consider good luck. In the past, people would ask for the blessings of these two, though the rise of Catholicism put an end to such practice in most urban areas. The female champion receives the civilian honorific “verticordia”, or “changer of hearts”, where the male claims “virilis” or “Virile”. This continues long standing gender roles in Divinium. Though both titles are specific to one gender, neither is considered to be valued over the other, and Divinians have generally given little thought to any social implications that this may demonstrate.
Aside from the concept of emotional love, passion in general is celebrated during this day. Salons and parlors will open up space for artists, musicians, and poets who are not under patronage to present their works. Hidden talents and interests are also encouraged. This is considered both practical and amusing, as new talent may be discovered from among the populace. In many places, especially more rural locations, one common practice is the Running of the Hares. Rabbits, a traditional symbol of fertility, are released into the village or town. People may place bets on which ones they believe will escape, and caught specimens are allowed to be kept for breeding. This festival is also considered one of the few days where male and female interactions are far less rigidly enforced, in the name of love. Couples that get together on Veneralia are believed to be blessed with a long and fruitful future together.
~Festival POV~
April 1st, 1899
St Helena, Imperium Divinium
Dawn
Cassandra Spurius was roused from her sleep by the clambor of her siblings, who were excitedly pounding on the door of her room. She yawned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, trying to pry herself out of bed. It was a rare day when she didn’t have to work, and the prospect of being awoken at dawn wasn’t a thrilling one. But she’d promised to take Marcus and Maria to see the Veneralia Festival, and so begrudgingly swung her feet out of the bed and trotted over to open the door. By the time she reached it, the two had already run into the kitchen, and were visibly wolfing down porridge. Her mother turned, and rushed forward, smiling despite the tiredness in her eyes.
“Cas, I stayed up a bit late to finish mending your tunic. This is your year, I’m sure of it!” She simply patted her mother on the arm, laughing lightly as she took the clothing in hand.
Returning to the bedroom, Cassandra unstoppered a jar of oil, and rubbed it down her bare skin. A strigil ensured the excess wouldn’t stain her clothing, and she then washed herself with a damp cloth, trying in vain to get the smell of the factory’s garum vats off her hands.
Though her mother was no seamstress, it was evident she had taken great pains to alter Cassandra’s gown to accommodate the updated silhouette. With a discerning glance over the pale blue dress, she made note of the tucks in the back which had once allowed room for the bustle pad beneath. A frayed hem had been patched with a length of yellow ribbon, which was an effect she found rather creative. Maria finally entered the room, rolling her eyes as Cas attempted to fix her hair. Without a word, she grabbed the auburn tresses toward the front of her sister's head, and twisted them masterfully into a plait, which she pulled tightly toward the back of her head. Pins secured the final look with a veil, at which point the youth stepped back and gave her sister a discerning once over.
“Looks good Cas! Can we go now PLEEEEASE? Marcus is already outside waiting and I know he’s gonna pull down the garlands!”
Slipping on sandals and gathering her palla, the two girls stepped outside onto the streets where their brother was already running about, tossing small stones to see if he could reach the top of their apartment. With a snap of her fingers he fell in at their sides as they ambled toward the forum. Along the way, they admired the decorations, each picking a favorite. The simple decorations around their street were nice, but they all knew that the prize money would go to one of the shop owners closer to the two hills. It always did.
Indeed, the shops lining the forum were resplendent. Frescoes and statues of beautiful women and men, garlands and streamers all painted the forum in a wash of rosy colors. The stalls were packed too, with libation of all sorts. With a few lire in her pocket, Cassandra allowed the children to pick out a treat. She paid for four servings of dates, which were rolled in honey and coconut, and stuffed with roasted nuts. The two children munched happily, holding onto the extra paper cones. Maria reached for the second cone, then stopped, looking wide eyed at her sister. “I don’t think the champion will miss one date, will she?” Cas responded with a grin, popping a date into her mouth. Most of the rest of the morning was spent watching street performers, with the three even joining in on a group of dancers in the street.
Just before noon, they headed toward the dais by the center of the market. Roses spiraled up the left side of the raised platform, and violets the right. Two marble thrones with cushions were held in the center, draped with fabric. Cassandra eyed the selection as they pushed through the crowd. “Ehh. It’s alright. That green isn’t so lovely though.”, she noted, pointing at a cotton bolt peeking out of the pile. Atop the makeshift stage, some of the more prominent members of St Helena society stood, already sizing up the crowd.
“Welcome, my comrades, to the opening of this years crowning of the champions of Veneralia!“ boomed a rather portly looking merchant, whom Cassandra happened to know was one member of the DOC Board. “As you all well know, my compatriots here and I are merely here to observe, keep order, and of course dole out the prizes. But you, citizens, will choose the fairest among you as champions of your own! With whom shall we start?” People clambered to be recognized, shouting out among the crowd. When a woman stepped forward, Cas whooped
along with the crowd when someone she knew was recognized.
“Oh over here!” Maria cried, hopping from one foot to the other and pointing at her sister. Doing his best impression of an old lady, Marcus yelled out “Oh yes! This lovely little thing!” With little input on her part, Cassandra was pushed to the front of the throng, smiling awkwardly at the people there. On the Dias, it seemed the male champion had already been chosen. He stared down, flashing a smile in her direction. Did she know him?
Maria, clinging to her sister, tried to project her voice over the crowd. “My sister Cas should be champion. She’s super pretty and she works really really hard. Even when papa died, she took a job to help take care of us. And she agreed to bring us to the festival, just like papa did when he was alive. And even though she isn’t married, she likes to help out the kids in our neighborhood. When our neighbor was stealing, she started giving him money so he wouldn’t have to do it anymore. Yeah!”
The fat merchant pretended to wipe a tear from his eye, causing a few chuckles to erupt from the crowd. “Carrying on your fathers legacy and bringing your sister to Veneralia in his stead. If that’s not passion, then what is?” Cheers erupted from the crowd at such a volume that Cassandra had to look away. “A clear winner! Up you come!” She was hoisted onto the stage, now able to get a better look at her fellow champion. A fishmonger. How fitting. The crowd clapped one final time, before the pair was hoisted upon their shoulders and carried off toward the baths.
She stepped into the room, where a handful of volunteer attendants had gathered, offering her a polite courtesy as she entered. Then, like a pack of primping wolves they descended, stripping and scrubbing her down. She only caught bits and pieces of their chatter (something about rose or mint? Probably trying to figure out the best method of washing off the smell of fermented fish.) The young woman, however, was more than content to enjoy the surroundings. How few common civilians got to enjoy the baths normally reserved for nobles. When at last the time was up, Cassandra rose reluctantly from the cool water. The attendants had replaced her old tunic with a new one of pink silk, embroidered with roses. The cloth alone would have been worth more than a month's wages. Perhaps she could barter it off at some point.
Exiting the building, Cassandra was once again joined by her fellow champion, who looked quite dapper in his purple clothes. They clasped hands, before stepping off down the street with their attendants in tow. Coins were tossed to the crowd, in their names (and the name of their benefactors, of course) until the couple made their final ascent to their seats in the forum.
“Who will come to crown our champions of love and beauty?” From the crowd, an answer appeared. “I believe the honor is ours.”
The Empress Catherine was sitting on the cobbles, with a little girl in her lap. She deftly finished up the braid she was working on, before scooting the girl off of her. Like a shadow, the young Duke Estrana stood rigidly behind her, all stoicism in contrast. “It is a good thing I have such eagle eyed subjects. I fear beauty is often lost on me!” She waved a hand in front of her eyes, trying to make a joke of her own ailment. Though it seemed lighthearted enough, she did stumble up the stairs. Whether it was an intentional show for comedic sake, or a genuine misstep was anyone’s guess.
Still, she took the wreath of roses, and placed it upon Cassandra’s brow, along with a kiss. “You are, until this day next year, Cassandra Verticordia, changer of hearts. May you and those you love be victorious in affairs of the heart.” Christoph followed suit with the male champion saying “And you, Julian Virilis. May you have strength and vigor in the face of adversity.”
For the rest of the day, people would gather, offering the two gifts in exchange for good luck. Cloth, food, and coins piled up in baskets at their feet. Even the empress herself returned, presenting Cassandra with a small hairpin fashioned after a dolphin and topped with a pearl, asking for her prayers in her upcoming wedding plans. As evening fell, her siblings returned, sharing stories about the salons and all the new art, as well as the baker, who evidently had a secret talent for juggling. “Good”, she quipped, “perhaps he can help me bring all these gifts home” With a smile, Julian hopped off his seat and grabbed a handful of parcels from the pile. “Allow me! I’ll put my new title to good use.” As they strolled back down the darkening streets he continued. “We’ve met before, you know. At the factory. I deliver there. Perhaps sometime, I can call on you…”
Of all the festivals of the Imperium Divinium, few are as beloved as Veneralia. Held on April 1st every year, this ancient festival celebrates love in its many forms. Originally a day of devotion to the goddess Venus, it has since been recognized as a day on which Divinians may express their deeply held passions.
On the morning of Veneralia, crowds will gather in a common area (typically the forum) where a dais had been constructed and decorated with garlands and two seats, acting as thrones. From among the crowd, men and women will step forward to be crowned the champions of Veneralia. The reactions of the crowd will decide the winner, with men selecting the male winner, and women the female winner. There is no set metric to judge the winner on, though general physical attractiveness is often the deciding factor.
When the winners are chosen, the crowd will carry them off to the public baths, where attendants will bathe and anoint them with oils. This likely derives from a practice of the ancient Latins, which involved washing and enrobing a statue of Venus on this day. The champions are traditionally dressed in pink and purple and paraded back through the streets to take their place of honor at the festival. There, they are presented with gifts, which people consider good luck. In the past, people would ask for the blessings of these two, though the rise of Catholicism put an end to such practice in most urban areas. The female champion receives the civilian honorific “verticordia”, or “changer of hearts”, where the male claims “virilis” or “Virile”. This continues long standing gender roles in Divinium. Though both titles are specific to one gender, neither is considered to be valued over the other, and Divinians have generally given little thought to any social implications that this may demonstrate.
Aside from the concept of emotional love, passion in general is celebrated during this day. Salons and parlors will open up space for artists, musicians, and poets who are not under patronage to present their works. Hidden talents and interests are also encouraged. This is considered both practical and amusing, as new talent may be discovered from among the populace. In many places, especially more rural locations, one common practice is the Running of the Hares. Rabbits, a traditional symbol of fertility, are released into the village or town. People may place bets on which ones they believe will escape, and caught specimens are allowed to be kept for breeding. This festival is also considered one of the few days where male and female interactions are far less rigidly enforced, in the name of love. Couples that get together on Veneralia are believed to be blessed with a long and fruitful future together.
~Festival POV~
April 1st, 1899
St Helena, Imperium Divinium
Dawn
Cassandra Spurius was roused from her sleep by the clambor of her siblings, who were excitedly pounding on the door of her room. She yawned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, trying to pry herself out of bed. It was a rare day when she didn’t have to work, and the prospect of being awoken at dawn wasn’t a thrilling one. But she’d promised to take Marcus and Maria to see the Veneralia Festival, and so begrudgingly swung her feet out of the bed and trotted over to open the door. By the time she reached it, the two had already run into the kitchen, and were visibly wolfing down porridge. Her mother turned, and rushed forward, smiling despite the tiredness in her eyes.
“Cas, I stayed up a bit late to finish mending your tunic. This is your year, I’m sure of it!” She simply patted her mother on the arm, laughing lightly as she took the clothing in hand.
Returning to the bedroom, Cassandra unstoppered a jar of oil, and rubbed it down her bare skin. A strigil ensured the excess wouldn’t stain her clothing, and she then washed herself with a damp cloth, trying in vain to get the smell of the factory’s garum vats off her hands.
Though her mother was no seamstress, it was evident she had taken great pains to alter Cassandra’s gown to accommodate the updated silhouette. With a discerning glance over the pale blue dress, she made note of the tucks in the back which had once allowed room for the bustle pad beneath. A frayed hem had been patched with a length of yellow ribbon, which was an effect she found rather creative. Maria finally entered the room, rolling her eyes as Cas attempted to fix her hair. Without a word, she grabbed the auburn tresses toward the front of her sister's head, and twisted them masterfully into a plait, which she pulled tightly toward the back of her head. Pins secured the final look with a veil, at which point the youth stepped back and gave her sister a discerning once over.
“Looks good Cas! Can we go now PLEEEEASE? Marcus is already outside waiting and I know he’s gonna pull down the garlands!”
Slipping on sandals and gathering her palla, the two girls stepped outside onto the streets where their brother was already running about, tossing small stones to see if he could reach the top of their apartment. With a snap of her fingers he fell in at their sides as they ambled toward the forum. Along the way, they admired the decorations, each picking a favorite. The simple decorations around their street were nice, but they all knew that the prize money would go to one of the shop owners closer to the two hills. It always did.
Indeed, the shops lining the forum were resplendent. Frescoes and statues of beautiful women and men, garlands and streamers all painted the forum in a wash of rosy colors. The stalls were packed too, with libation of all sorts. With a few lire in her pocket, Cassandra allowed the children to pick out a treat. She paid for four servings of dates, which were rolled in honey and coconut, and stuffed with roasted nuts. The two children munched happily, holding onto the extra paper cones. Maria reached for the second cone, then stopped, looking wide eyed at her sister. “I don’t think the champion will miss one date, will she?” Cas responded with a grin, popping a date into her mouth. Most of the rest of the morning was spent watching street performers, with the three even joining in on a group of dancers in the street.
Just before noon, they headed toward the dais by the center of the market. Roses spiraled up the left side of the raised platform, and violets the right. Two marble thrones with cushions were held in the center, draped with fabric. Cassandra eyed the selection as they pushed through the crowd. “Ehh. It’s alright. That green isn’t so lovely though.”, she noted, pointing at a cotton bolt peeking out of the pile. Atop the makeshift stage, some of the more prominent members of St Helena society stood, already sizing up the crowd.
“Welcome, my comrades, to the opening of this years crowning of the champions of Veneralia!“ boomed a rather portly looking merchant, whom Cassandra happened to know was one member of the DOC Board. “As you all well know, my compatriots here and I are merely here to observe, keep order, and of course dole out the prizes. But you, citizens, will choose the fairest among you as champions of your own! With whom shall we start?” People clambered to be recognized, shouting out among the crowd. When a woman stepped forward, Cas whooped
along with the crowd when someone she knew was recognized.
“Oh over here!” Maria cried, hopping from one foot to the other and pointing at her sister. Doing his best impression of an old lady, Marcus yelled out “Oh yes! This lovely little thing!” With little input on her part, Cassandra was pushed to the front of the throng, smiling awkwardly at the people there. On the Dias, it seemed the male champion had already been chosen. He stared down, flashing a smile in her direction. Did she know him?
Maria, clinging to her sister, tried to project her voice over the crowd. “My sister Cas should be champion. She’s super pretty and she works really really hard. Even when papa died, she took a job to help take care of us. And she agreed to bring us to the festival, just like papa did when he was alive. And even though she isn’t married, she likes to help out the kids in our neighborhood. When our neighbor was stealing, she started giving him money so he wouldn’t have to do it anymore. Yeah!”
The fat merchant pretended to wipe a tear from his eye, causing a few chuckles to erupt from the crowd. “Carrying on your fathers legacy and bringing your sister to Veneralia in his stead. If that’s not passion, then what is?” Cheers erupted from the crowd at such a volume that Cassandra had to look away. “A clear winner! Up you come!” She was hoisted onto the stage, now able to get a better look at her fellow champion. A fishmonger. How fitting. The crowd clapped one final time, before the pair was hoisted upon their shoulders and carried off toward the baths.
She stepped into the room, where a handful of volunteer attendants had gathered, offering her a polite courtesy as she entered. Then, like a pack of primping wolves they descended, stripping and scrubbing her down. She only caught bits and pieces of their chatter (something about rose or mint? Probably trying to figure out the best method of washing off the smell of fermented fish.) The young woman, however, was more than content to enjoy the surroundings. How few common civilians got to enjoy the baths normally reserved for nobles. When at last the time was up, Cassandra rose reluctantly from the cool water. The attendants had replaced her old tunic with a new one of pink silk, embroidered with roses. The cloth alone would have been worth more than a month's wages. Perhaps she could barter it off at some point.
Exiting the building, Cassandra was once again joined by her fellow champion, who looked quite dapper in his purple clothes. They clasped hands, before stepping off down the street with their attendants in tow. Coins were tossed to the crowd, in their names (and the name of their benefactors, of course) until the couple made their final ascent to their seats in the forum.
“Who will come to crown our champions of love and beauty?” From the crowd, an answer appeared. “I believe the honor is ours.”
The Empress Catherine was sitting on the cobbles, with a little girl in her lap. She deftly finished up the braid she was working on, before scooting the girl off of her. Like a shadow, the young Duke Estrana stood rigidly behind her, all stoicism in contrast. “It is a good thing I have such eagle eyed subjects. I fear beauty is often lost on me!” She waved a hand in front of her eyes, trying to make a joke of her own ailment. Though it seemed lighthearted enough, she did stumble up the stairs. Whether it was an intentional show for comedic sake, or a genuine misstep was anyone’s guess.
Still, she took the wreath of roses, and placed it upon Cassandra’s brow, along with a kiss. “You are, until this day next year, Cassandra Verticordia, changer of hearts. May you and those you love be victorious in affairs of the heart.” Christoph followed suit with the male champion saying “And you, Julian Virilis. May you have strength and vigor in the face of adversity.”
For the rest of the day, people would gather, offering the two gifts in exchange for good luck. Cloth, food, and coins piled up in baskets at their feet. Even the empress herself returned, presenting Cassandra with a small hairpin fashioned after a dolphin and topped with a pearl, asking for her prayers in her upcoming wedding plans. As evening fell, her siblings returned, sharing stories about the salons and all the new art, as well as the baker, who evidently had a secret talent for juggling. “Good”, she quipped, “perhaps he can help me bring all these gifts home” With a smile, Julian hopped off his seat and grabbed a handful of parcels from the pile. “Allow me! I’ll put my new title to good use.” As they strolled back down the darkening streets he continued. “We’ve met before, you know. At the factory. I deliver there. Perhaps sometime, I can call on you…”