Verdean Culture
This article discusses several aspects of the culture found in the Republic of Isla Verde, and to a lesser extent that of other culturally Verdean nations.
Identity
The common identity of the Verdean people stems from a long, several thousand year history tying the people of the modern Republic to the ancient city-states of the Early Classical Period, through to the Empire, the First Republic, and the disastrous post-Republican period. Through this time, the national identity of the Verdean people began to weaken, especially as the impact of the liberal Enlightenment reformation, and the decline of religious faith, which had been a major part of holding communities together. During the Capisarian occupation, however, there was a growing national identity and religious revival that carried the Verdean people through the DI 191 Revolution. After the conclusion of the revolution, national identity was tied to community, community service (which was legislated by the Verdean National Service Program), and to a lesser extent, the development of a reawakened Pan-Verdean project. Sacrifice for community has since become a major pillar of Verdean National Identity.
Regional
Though there were, historically, substantial differences in regional culture, the restructuring of national identity after the Imperial Era slowly eroded these more regionalized cultures in many core respects. Most noteworthily, the modern period saw the virtual extinction of significant regional dialects of the Verdean language on Isla Verde, and the erosion of distinctive cultural values, and heretical interpretations of Regio dela Verde that existed in certain far corners of Isla Verde. Some cultural relics have remained, with many regions of Isla Verde having distinctive food cultures, different regional dances and music styles, and other similar elements, have been maintained in spite of the homogenization of culture in the Modern Era.
Society
Verdean society has largely been dictated by the reformation from the DI 191 Revolution. Social order was largely reconstructed around the value expressions of the Revolutionary movement, and away from the liberal reformations that were deemed by many to be the cause of the downfall, invasion, and occupation of the Verdean nations by the Capisarians. Strong emphasis is placed not only on socialist, democratic societal organization, but on the notion of service to society, and sacrifice for society. As a result, Verdean society generally appears a relatively horizontal society where value is placed upon on's value to their local or national community. On a more basic level, societal organization also is highly supportive of the notion of the extended family, with multi-generational households being extraordinarily common, and multiple generations of families living in extremely close proximity, if not actually in the same household virtually universal.
Structure
Verdean society historically was quite stratified with the divine right of the nobility enforced by the Old Regio concept of the Divine Mandate. As a result, society was structured in such a fashion as to support the rule of the Emperor or Empress with the Dukes and Duchesses of each individual island of the Old Empire being underneath them, and then a series of Counts, Barons Reeves, and other nobles to enforce order over a peasantry. After the AdI 1300 revolution, formal class structure was abolished, and replaced instead with an informal bourgeois and proletarian capitalist class structure. After the DI 191 Revolution, the social structure was entirely reorganized with the class structure being instead informed by one's level of service to the community, with active public servants, certain religious officials, and others of their ilk being deemed more important, this is followed by most citizens, who have completed or are not yet eligible for National Service who are treated as the, more or less default social class and people are generally assumed to be of this class. The lowest class in post-revolutionary Verdean society are the "Shirkers" who have not completed their National Service, and to a lesser extent persons who continually fail to meet the needs of their society, and do not have the rights of a full citizen.
Values
The central values of Verdean society have largely been formed as a result of the buildup to, and execution of the DI 191 Revolution. Post-Revolutionary Verdean culture places a very strong emphasis on community service, and fostering a stronger, more well knit communities. Positive actions include assisting in the construction of community centers, community organizing, and participating in communal events. Additionally producing great works of art, and great works of craft are also considered a good thing. Similarly demonstrating great respect for others and participating in the Verdean act of Manoboco, is a considered a sign of a good person, and is especially considered a good way for a foreigner to ingratiate themselves in a culturally Verdean area. Major cultural faux pas include desecrating religious sites, graffiti, shirking, or other "antisocial" activities, and active disdain for Manoboco falls along similar veins. While it is considered odd, and to some, slightly gauche, it is not offensive to engage in open expressions of individuality; for example, Northern Meridonian notions of "me-time" or similar individualistic activities are inoffensive, but alien to Verdeans.
Language
The characteristic language of the Republic of Verde is Classical Verdean which has its roots in the Late Classical Period of Verdean History. Classicla Verdean is the official language of the Verdean Republic, and is by far the most commonly spoken language as well. Verdean is the predominant language of the Verdeao-Isarléan languages, being the most widely, and commonly spoken language of the group, and Classical Verdean is the predominant language of this group. Many also speak Vulgar Verdean which is a simplified, psuedo-creole trade language that borrows from Especian, and Ghirali influences.
Mythology
The centralizing myths of Verdean culture are mostly focused on the half forgotten Late Classical Era, where many of the first attempts to unify the Verdean Archipelago were made. Persons involved in this time period are very frequently treated as mythological heroes, and for some archaeologists, finding, or attempting to find the historical roots of these persons have been an obsession. Myths such as these typically glorify the attempt, and the one who makes it, with the exception of the recently proven conquests of the Alexias Parisus which are used as a cautionary tale against great hubris. In many foundational myths, there is the presence of the religious, with Regio dela Verde, the home religion of the Archipelago, and the state religion of the Republic of Isla Verde, is quite strong, and many of the founding myths are referred to as Miracles by the Septonate. In the more modern period there are several mythologized historical events that are generally used to ascribe to certain persons the highest qualities of what it means to be a citizen, with the Les Ultimes Caballeros, and many of the actions of Mariana Parisa, being exemplars of this modern foundational myth.
Literature
The Verdean literary canon can be argued to have begun with the inception of the printing press during the Early Imperial Period. The earliest literary works were primarily religious texts describing various miracles performed by holy figures in Regio theology. As time progressed however, more civilly minded writings began to be penned by citizens. The Literary Golden Age for the Verdean people can be traced to the Late Imperial period with early enlightenment works such as Don Cervantes, Cientos Viajes a los países Capisarianos, and Paradiso. During the Republican and Carlosian eras, the constant instability led to a brief lapse in literature, though more political works such as La Ceniza, Somos Constriuiremos un Mundo Nuevo and Porque nos Rebelamos. Enlightenment works, and more revolutionary ones of the early Post-Imperial Period would form the foundation of Literary thought in Verde, and set the stage for deeply political works, such as those penned by Mariana Ortega. In the modern era, most works follow this pattern of revolutionary sentiment in the context of rebuilding Verdean society, some more fictitious works exist as well, with romantic works such as Corazón al Mar, and dramatic works such as El Avispa y El Unicornio are becoming popular with the burgeoning class of somewhat wealthier workers.
Music and Dance
Verdean music is orientated heavily around community events,and is seen as a way for the community to come together for a shared experience. Though it was, until recently, extremely unusual, if outright distasteful, for a person to engage in a private listening experience, many younger citizens, embracing some cultural aspects of Meridon have begun to listen to music individually. Most Verdean music is meant to be danced to, often in large group settings. Most notable dances in the Republic of Verde are based around the tradition of Estilo dela Culebra, with more modern interpretations being Estilo Castillano, Estilo Corazóno (as well as its extremely modern variant Corazóno Nuevo), and particularly among Especian heritage communities Estilo Especiano.
In the years since the revolution, Capisarian electronic music has begun to surge in popularity with Darkwave, Deep House, and Progressive House being the popular imports; and a local homegrown variant, Bastille beat becoming prominent in the Verdean music scene. Northern Meridonian genres, such as Hadradic Metal, Speed Metal, and other similar genres have a substantial following, if somewhat smaller than more traditionally Verdean music genres, or those imported from the more influential Capisarian state. Since the revolution, individual listening has become discouraged, and as a result, music is almost entirely listened to in concert format, or as part of a community event, and quieter, more contemplative forms of music are somewhat unheard of in the Republic.
Architecture
Much of the artistic and architectural traditions of Verde have remained relatively unchanged since the earliest days of the Empire. This is especially reflected in architecture, as most buildings in Verde are legacy structures from the early DI 100s or earlier. For the most part, the architectural styling reflects Classical, and Neoclassical styles, though there are a significant number of structures, constructed during the Capisarian occupation that follow Minimalist traditions. Since the revolution, the Verdean people, in an attempt to appear more modern have adopted, foreign, Post-Modernist architectural style. Generally however, Verdeans favor large open spaces in their buildings, with good ventilation, open air access, and natural light being almost mandatory in Verdean architecture, and vaulted ceilings, central courtyards, and central reflecting pools being common, especially in older, or nicer buildings.
Visual Arts
In the world of visual art, the Verdeans have a long pedigree of classical painting, and was one of the early adopters of Realism, with the first examples of Verdean Realist art appearing in the final years of the First Verdean Empire. As social order began to break down in the waning years of the First Republic, artists reflected this change with a shift away from staunchly realistic depictions towards Neo-Classicism and the lionization of earlier Verdean figures. As the Second Empire formed, Pre-Absurdist artists became more prominent gradually pushing further away from realistic depictions of life towards a more surreal aesthetic, evolving into Absurdist art in the DI 120s. Art has strictly regulated by the Capisarians during their occupation, and pushed underground as the art world evolved in the middle of the century, and the nationalist revival movement in the later half of the century has rejected Absurdism, in favor of Ortegan Realism, which has remained the dominant art form in the Republic.
Cuisine
Cuisine in the Republic of Verde is regionally based, with the specifics of diet relegated to the regional tastes of the people. Several things remain common however. Rice and bean dishes are without a doubt the most common basis for Verdean cuisine. Lastly, there is a strong emphasis on the family meal, with Festín and Cena almost always a family affair. Generally speaking, the largest change location has on the meal is in the selection of meats, vegetables, and fruits available for consumption and regional favorites are as follows:
Northern Verde favors light meals consisting of seafood and fruits especially for the early and evening meals.
East Verde favors dry meals consisting of largely drought resistant vegetables, with sheep and goat meat as the animal protein with occasional fish being common in coastal regions.
West Verde favors watery vegetables, noodles, and soups with less focus on meats and more on grains and vegetables.
Southern Verde is known for its heavy use of meat, particularly beef, in its cuisine, meals here are often hot, meat based, and commonly stews.
Central Verde is renowned for its bakeries, and its high cuisine with more intricate dishes being common among the wealthier peoples, and meat pies being more common among the working class.
Verdeans typically eat three meals a day; Albamaizena, Festín, and Cena. Albamaizena is the morning meal, which is often relatively light, intended to get the eater up and ready for the day. It is usually served cold, though in southern reaches it can be served hot. Festín is the largest meal of the day, intend as the main family meal of the day wherein people return home for family time whilst having the meal, and for the, traditionally, two hour siesta afterwards. Cena is also a large meal, though usually not so much as the Festín, and generally also a family experience as people return home for the day.
Theater
Theater is an ancient artform in Verdean culture with works of theater being older than most works of Verdean literature. Ancient Verdean theater was often of a pseudo-religious nature with many playwrights also being Septons of the Regio dela Verde. Several early works, such as the Alexiad, the Eliad, and the Mandtu Divinu were pseudo-biographic in nature depicting the lives and great deeds of several of the foundational figures of the Verdean Empire. As literature became a more prominent medium in the Early Imperial Period, the art of theater went into decline, a process which accelerated in the later Imperial Period as literacy became far more common. In the Republican Period, and after the Carlosian War, there was a revival of theater, particularly as a result of cultural interchange with Isarlé, and the resulting popularization of the Isarléan theatrical tradition. This became doubly so when during the end of the Post-Carlosian era, Vanessa Parisa-Dreyfus an Isarléan-Verdean theatrical performer restarted her career on the Verdean Archipelago. In more recent years, the Republic has rejected the popular musical tradition, preferring instead to stick to earlier, non-musical theatrical traditions.
Film and Television
The Verdean Archipelago was home to many of the early pioneers in photography and cinematography, and is also a result considered the home of film. As a result, the Verdean film industry is the pride of the Republic of Verde, and is perhaps the most significant cultural outreach Verdeans have when dealing with the rest of Greater Meridon. The Verdean film industry is regulated and supported by the Verdean Ministry of Film, which funds significant and culturally valuable works, as well as in some cases, acting as a censor to prevent the production of works that are deemed offensive, or damaging. As the film industry has become more organized and stabilized however, the Ministry of Film has taken a less active role in the industry. This has allowed for a greater variety of films to be produced under the likes of Pedro Ruíz Garza, Inés Belen Robles, and Radaman Fisk dela Culebra. Culturally significant films that the Republic of Verde has produced include Los Caballeros Finales, Paloma Enjaulada, Eschuché Sobre Sus Madres, Milagros y Tragedias, and Le Triunfo de Fe. Verdean filmmakers seemingly prefer works of historical fiction, or contemporary commentary. Though not as prominent as other forms of film, Verdean documentarians have made several films with the most prominent being El Día de Occupación: La historia de Soldados en Dorado.
Television as a medium is less popular in the Verdean Republic than is film, but has seen a bit of a growth in popularity in recent years, with the Televe family of television networks being by far the dominant source of television in the Republic of Verde. Televe also broadcasts to the entire Verdean Archipelago, and particularly in the Confederacy of Lesser Verdean Islands, hosts a number of studios outside the Republic. In the Verdean Archipelago, the art of the Soap Opera has become quite common, as a genre emulation of similar programming from Northwest Meridon, Dramatic programming has also proven quite popular. Somewhat uniquely Verdean however, are television broadcasts of theatrical performances, which has become a growing art, and means to bring ancient works of Verdean theater to a mass audience.
Games and Sport
Sport has long played a major role in Verdean culture with the ritual of physical exercise taking on an almost religious aspect. This is most notable with the traditional sport of the Bull Fight, wherein, the bull and a human counterpart engage in ritual combat, usually to the death. This ceremony, though originally, strictly religious, and a major part of the Regio, has become more of a civil, spectator sport in the modern era, though the rules of the fight are still drawn along very strict religious lines. Another major sport that has gained traction in Verde as well as Meridon more generally, is association football, which includes the international known as the Meridonian Cup. Other sports include Lacrosse, and cross country sport. The Republic of Verde has very little in the way of a professional sporting infrastructure, managing only barely to assemble a national team to compete in the Meridonian Cup, and other international events, relaying mostly on amateur or semi-professional leagues instead of professional ones.
Outside of sport, the Republic of Verde has a number of games that are frequently played by Verdeans with Chess being by far the oldest and most well recognized of these. Historically board games were quite uncommon among the working class, and remained largely the sphere of the elite. During the process of industrialization, especially in its later stages board games became far more common, resulting in a boom in the creation of games. This period came to an end with the Capisarian occupation, as working conditions and pay declined dramatically as working hours increased at a commensurate rate. Since the DI 191 Revolution, this trend has reversed with games, particularly multiplayer games becoming far more common in Revolutionary Verde. Though video games as a medium have become increasingly common, Verde is almost unique among the developed nations where board games remain far more common than video games.
Public Holidays
The Verdean government has instituted several state Holidays which are expected to be nonworking days. This means that those who are not considered essential employees (emergency services, active military, government officials) are not expected to be at work, and those who are working are expected to receive double pay. Often during these days (many are religious in nature), one can find most Verdean citizens participating in religious rituals and ceremonies. Days are plotted on the Verdean Calander; they are as follows:
| Date | Name (Verdean) | Public holiday | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 de Mesjula | New Year's Day (Dia del Año Nuevo) |
 |
First day of the year in the Verdean Calendar (coincides with New Years Day in the International Calendar). |
| 26 de Mesjula | Feast of the Jade Queen (Banquete dela Verde) |
|
A religious feast celebrating the head of the Verdean Pantheon, the Jade Queen. |
| 23 de Mesorge | Champion's Feast (Banquete dele Plato) |
|
A religious holiday celebrating the Verdean divine Champion. |
| 47 de Mesorge | Liberation Day (Dia de Liberación) |
|
Commemorates the liberation of Isla Verde from the Capisarian occupation of the Archipelago. |
| 18 de Mesjandra | Mariana Parisa Day (El Cumpleaño de Mariana Parisa) |
 |
Commemorates the birthday of Revolutionary Herione and first Chancellor of the liberated Verdean Republic, Marina Parisa. |
| 27 de Mesjandra | Day of the Caballeros Finales (Dia deles Caballeros Finales) |
|
Commemorates the Last Stand of the Caballeros Finales in the Carlosian War. |
| 30 de Mesjandra | Maester's Festival (Banquete dela Dorada) |
|
A religious feast celebrating the Verdean deity known as the Golden Maester. |
| 31 de Mesjandra | Constitution Day (Dia de la Constitución) |
|
Commemorates the ratification of the Verdean constitution. |
| 46 de Mestor | Feast of the Diamond Priest (Banquete dele Diamante) |
|
A religious feast celebrating a deity of the Verdean pantheon, the Diamond Priest. |
| 47 de Mestor | Feast of the Saints (Banquete delos Sanctos) |
|
A religious feast celebrating the sanctified persons of Regio dela Verde. |
| 1 de Meseva | Verdean Worker's Day (Dia delos Trabajadores Verdistas) |
|
A civil holiday celebrating the achievements of the Verdean worker and promoting further labor action. |
| 15 de Meseva | Festival of the Seneshal (Banqueta dela Rubí) |
|
A religious feast celebrating a deity of the Verdean Pantheon, the Ruby Seneshal. |
| 8 de Mesisa | Republic Day (Dia dela Republica) |
|
Commemorates the establishment of the First Verdean Republic. Also known as Unification Day (Commemorating the unification of the Archipelago at the end of the Classical Period). Also used as election day in the Republic of Verde. |
| 45 de Mesisa | Festival of the Cupbearer (Banquete dela Zafira) |
|
A religious feast celebrating a deity of the Verdean pantheon, the Sapphire Cup-bearer. |
| 1 de Mesvacío | Independence Day (Dia de Independencía) |
|
Commemorates the Verdean formal Declaration of Independence from Capisaria. |
| 14 de Mesvacío | Festival of the Jester (Banquete del Bufón) |
|
A religious feast celebrating a deity of the Verdean pantheon, the Lapis Jester. |
| Last three days of year | The Year's End El Fin del Año |
|
A three day, religious and civil festival broken into three parts. The first day, a feast to celebrate a year gone by. The second, a Day of atonement and reflection to pay penance for the year's past misdeeds. The third, a day celebrating the granting of mercy, and the granting of a clean slate to begin the coming new year. |
Export of Culture
The Republic of Verde is by far the dominant cultural power in the Verdean Archipelago, and has become such largely through the export of its views of Verdean culture to other culturally Verdean nations. This has had a homogenizing effect on these nations with Verdean cultural values becoming somewhat universal among these nations to a point where their regional cultural values, artifacts, and their societal structures are slowly being abandoned by the other nations. Similarly the Republic of Verde has been exporting its culture to other nations in Greater Meridon, and has been somewhat successful in raising awareness of, and popularizing Verdean culture, and Verdean values.