Hello, OGF community.
I hope everyone is having a good autumn so far. I apologize for being largely absent of late. Now that I’ve finished with a conference I put on every year, I finally have some free time.
This month’s challenge is in some ways a mini-challenge: special days. What are the special dates in your country’s history? Are there fun religious, civil, or social holidays? How are these commemorated? For example, are there gathering places for military parades, oversized Christmas trees, or annual religious pilgrimage? Are streets or buildings named after events or the crucial people in those events?
I can’t wait to see what people do this month! Say hello to your neighbor, and happy mapping. :)
Comment from Romhfvir on 17 November 2018 at 18:04
Even though I don’t have a wiki account (yet) I’d like to think that the important cities of my islands (Liria) have some holidays like Holy Week in southern Spain at Easter. I think it fits so well with my country… Streets full of people, the incense’s smell in every corner, lots of gold and silver, music bands playing typical marches…
Comment from Luciano on 17 November 2018 at 18:05
The Ardisphere’s holidays are listed here:
https://wiki.opengeofiction.net/wiki/index.php/Ardispheric_Federation#Festivals_and_Holidays
One unique Ardispheric holiday is “Justo Espantoso” - a bit of a cross between Halloween and Korean Thanksgiving (추석 [秋夕] AKA 한가위). I have a brief write-up on my other wiki, here:
http://wiki.geofictician.net/wiki/index.php/FA:Justo_Espantoso
Comment from Alessa on 17 November 2018 at 23:45
@Romhfvir: I think that’s a great idea. How might you incorporate that into the mapping? Are there squares that are common sites for certain events? Are there famous churches that have things like passion plays, reenactments, or small shops that cater to visitors?
@Luciano: That’s a cool holiday. I like the folk tradition of it, with the locals burning scarecrows. It’s an interesting fusional take on the holidays. I’m curious: who’s Gautama?
Comment from zhenkang on 18 November 2018 at 00:02
Antigo celebrates Liberation Day on 9 August every year, the day in fact an armistice was signed between Pretany and Antigo. There is a news article I wrote about it: https://antigocentralnews.wordpress.com/2018/08/17/antigo-celebrates-79th-liberation-day-celebrations/
I should update the article abit; now there is a larger square (Square of Justice) which I want to imitate the red square in Moscow: https://opengeofiction.net/#map=15/52.3076/63.0990
Plans are underway for celebrations on 3rd December - The Birth of the Sun (John Briarmack’s birthday). I should do some cleanups at the square and the surrounding area.
Comment from whateversusan on 18 November 2018 at 03:35
This was a fun challenge! I made a bunch of new stuff for it.
Suya Ahn celebrates two important days: February 5 and March 1. February 5, 1982, was the signing of a truce that led to the end of the civil war, and March 1, 1983, was the ratification of the Treaty of Aŭstraĉefurbo, which is what created the new nation of Suya Ahn out of the old Mer Khara Republic and its former subject peoples. February 5th is Peace Day, and March 1 is Suya Ahn’s National Day.
This is seen on the map in a couple of different ways. One is the farmhouse just outside of the ruined village of Buj Shyz Kor Dam where the truce was signed between Mer Khara and Coalition forces. It’s now part of the Battle of Shyz Kor Dam National Historic Park, which has preserved the ruined village and the battlefield surrounding it. The nearby town of Kor Dam has a street named Ka 5. Feb Ra Ry (February 5th Street).
The national capital of Dura Ahn has a monument to the signing of the Treaty of Aŭstraĉefurbo, and a major avenue named after the date. The highway connecting Dura Ahn and the former Mer Khara capital of Ynn is named the Dafer Aŭstraĉefurbo Trat (Aŭstraĉefurbo Treaty Highway).
The civil war still looms large in Suya Ahn’s collective consciousness, which is why both of the bigger national holidays have to do with it. A secondary holiday is the birthday of national hero Lag Draa Hal, who both founded the Mer Khara Republic and, 30 years later, wrested control of it back to end the civil war. He was the first president of the new nation of Suya Ahn from 1983 to his death in 1987. There are monuments to him everywhere, and most towns have a street named after him.
Comment from Alessa on 24 November 2018 at 01:29
@zk: I thought of Antigo in particular when making this challenge. I figured what better place to try and promulgate a national identity through these types of things. I like what you have done there.
@whateversusan: Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it. I think your idea of a battlefield and historic farmhouse is exceptional. The backstory is awesome, and I think it really fits well. Good job.
