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Does anyone have any holidays that they celebrate around this time of year back home? I feel that, after what we have experienced, spreading a bit of cheer might help take the edge off things. I would also like to know if there are any similarities between our worlds. Perhaps if we find a common correlation, we may be able to understand why we were brought here.

I can start us off. Where I am from, we celebrate the Harrowing. People from all over Valoran dress in costumes, to confuse the evil spirits that rise from the depths of the Shadow Isles. Most of it is superstition, but I have heard of cases where sailors who were lost at sea suddenly appear once more during this time.

Does anyone have a similar tradition where they're from? I would like to hear about it. Maybe we can take a few of these ideas and celebrate here. It might be good to have something for the people here to look forward to, rather than focusing on recent events.

- Lux

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back home, this would be about time for dreadfall. it takes place around the harvest when the daylight hours are nearly nonexistent, and some years, you can see aurvandil's fire in the north sky. it used to be when the flightmare would migrate through berk after its food source, freezing anybody who went after it with a paralyzing mist. after we redirected it, we turned that time of year into a holiday, to remember that fear of the flightmare, but also to remember how things aren't always what they seem.

we usually decorate with gourds, and sometimes put on face paint or costumes, and watch the northern lights together. it's not a very big holiday, not compared to bork week or stump day, but it still feels strange to be missing it.

not that, uh, much of this could really apply to aefenglom, so i guess this isn't really helpful, sorry.

There is Halloween in my world. The bulk of it is that people, mostly children, dress up in horror-themed costumes and travel from door to door to request candies. "Trick or Treat" is the more common phrase to use during such activity. It's more celebrated in certain countries than in others, but it's still a globally acknowledged festivity.

I never did something like that before, so I'm not sure about the accuracy of my words.

It sounds similar in some ways to the origins of the Harrowing. I suppose it isn't surprising, even if it sounds like the reason for celebrating is different where you are from.

Taking from that list, we might be able to decorate gourds, but I'm not sure how well costumes would go over, considering the last few days. Face painting might be fun!

Bork week? Stump day? I'm not sure I've heard of these before. What are they like?

That sounds delightful! I wonder if we could convince the people here to pass out candies and treats. Maybe we could do that here in Haven, and invite the people here to participate?

I've never done anything like this either, but isn't that part of the fun? We can all learn and experience it together.

That's really interesting! We don't have anything like that in the Empire. But I think it's a great idea. This world has it's own forms of lively celebration and it's nice, but-- I think it's important that we can make time for ourselves to celebrate the things that mean something to us.

Considering what had occurred days before, I for one would like to help contribute to some kind of event that might lift the spirits of those who were affected.

Halloween is meant to be something that can be enjoyed, even despite its themes.

maybe this time of year just lends itself well to having a holiday like that. people aren't that different from each other when you really think about it.

yeah, costumes... costumes seem like a bad idea. maybe face paint, though! face paint is usually pretty festive and safe.

oh, those are a much bigger deal than dreadfall back home. bork week celebrates bork the bold, who was one of the first vikings to study dragons rather than just... kill them on sight... and stump day is for all the vikings who have lost limbs defending the village. everybody loves stump day.

[He comes from a really weird place.]

Really. We have enough celebrations here as is.

I agree, wholeheartedly. More than that, I think it is important to have something of our own; a holiday for the Mirrorbound, rather than a celebration from this world. It's hard to say how long we will be here, but it may not be as temporary as some would like.

Celebrations are a good way to boost morale. In times like these, the frequency makes sense.

That's true. It's so easy to forget that sometimes. There are some worlds that sound very different from mine, but finding commonalities in spite of that is comforting.

I assumed that stump day had something to do with trees! I can see why they might like it, being able to celebrate the heroes that defend your home is important. Still, I can't say that we have anything like that where I am from.

Are dragons common in your world?

Let's figure out something together! Even if it isn't quite like Halloween, if it is something that at least a few people are familiar with, I think it would be a welcome surprise for them. They may even wish to help out.

Could you tell me more about Halloween? Is that most of it, or is there more to it than passing out treats to children?

Yes, yes. I've been lectured on it before.

[ he was kinda hoping he could get away with saying that, anyway. ]

There must be a more productive way to celebrate. Fairs, festivals where the main activity is something other than drinking and eating, etc.

[ Why is he talking about them like they're some kind of business deal? ]

What would you propose, then? I take it you have something in mind already.

Is there a way to trick people into productivity, here? I feel like any hint towards work during designated festival times would be met with mass rioting.

[ okay, mr. bitter betty, he knows he can tone that down. ]

[ because yeah, still worth the effort. ]

Incorporating a charity aspect to it? A festival, but with books? [ holy shit, what a festival. ] Celebrating when there has actually been an accomplishment worth celebrating?

Edited (sry for double-edit, i got self-conscious j;oiJS) 2019-10-29 02:43 (UTC)

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THIS TIME OF YEAR IS, COMPARED TO BACK HOME. WE DIDN'T REALLY USE THE FULL MOONS, OR THESE SEASONAL TEMPERATURE CHANGES. IT'S ALL SO NEW AND UNFAMILIAR!

BUT COSTUME PARTIES ARE FAMILIAR. WE HAVE THOSE, AS FUN GET-TOGETHERS. I DON'T THINK THEY'RE FOR CONFUSING SPIRITS... BUT A CONFUSED GHOST DID ATTEND THE LAST ONE, SO MAYBE THEY ARE?

a lot of worlds are pretty different than mine, but some things always seem to remain a constant. good and bad things.

well you... probably have a lot fewer people missing limbs than back in my home. which is good! the fact that we have stump day at all is probably a little crazy.

really common. there are hundreds just on berk. they're pretty incredible.

I'm afraid that's all I know about Halloween. It's not much, but still should be enough to have people enjoy it.

Also, I was thinking we could especially involve the orphans into this.

I suppose you might be right, although I believe lost limbs might be more common in Bilgewater. I can't say for certain, since I haven't been there myself, and I don't have a reason to visit the harbor back home. Perhaps one day!

Hundreds? That does sound incredible. I know that they exist in my world, but I haven't met one myself. There are rumors that one of our Prince's royal guards is one, but that has never been proven. She's... intense, for lack of a better word. But I would love to visit a place where dragons are common. I couldn't begin to imagine what living there must be like.

I agree. There should be enough wiggle room for people to make it their own as well.

That's a lovely idea! I'm sure they would enjoy something like that. We could find a few people who might be willing to do face painting, and have the children visit houses for treats.

[ Is that the C word? ]

Most holidays here seem to have a root in myths or previous traditions, so we can't fault the people for that. But incorporating a charity into the celebration isn't a bad idea. But what would be given away? Who would be benefiting from this? Perhaps something for those beyond the Wall? Or the Dorchacht refugees?

I wonder if we could get members of the Coven to participate. This seems like something that Miss Nerissa might endorse, if we bring it to her attention.

[ You might have started something, Viren. ]

[ Ah, he's a desert skeleton! ]

What do you use to mark time, then? Does the weather not change depending on the month? I imagine it must be either very hot or very cold where you come from.

I'm sorry if this is a strange question, are hauntings at social gatherings common where you come from? Can people see or sense that there is a spirit there? How does that not cause some sort of mass panic from the guests?

They also need a guardian of sorts that guides them around and watches out for them. One guardian for each group, if we decide to split them up. Those children can be a quite rowdy bunch... but I wouldn't blame them.

We could designate someone for every five or six children. Or do you think the groups should be smaller? I will admit, I don't have as much experience with children.

[ of course it's not a bad idea, viren thinks. he came up with it!!!! ]

Unfortunately, there are a number of potential outlets... I would think money, warmer clothing for cold weather, or some sort of food drive, would be welcome. Something that is actually of use. [ and that's not just his personal preference; he can't think of any real good some pretty trinkets would do for people, beyond perhaps feeling acknowledged. ] Likely, entirely donation-based.

But yes, there are those beyond the Wall, those that suffer from Cwyld... [ mm. even more resources being poured into the issue of the cwyld may not be completely different, though, even if he does favor that as being of most importance. ] Something for those of that Western Residential District in general. It's hard not to notice that they tend to be... particularly neglected.

If the Coven would involve themselves, then all the better. It would certainly be a show of goodwill on their part.

I LIVED IN SNOWDIN, NAMED FOR THE CONSTANT SNOW. SO THE DATE SEEMED PRETTY ARBITRARY TO ME! WE HAD CALENDARS FROM THE HUMAN WORLD... AND MAYBE PEOPLE IN THE CAPITAL COULD TELL.

[New Home and the Ruins were the two ends of the caves, after all, and they could tell if it was sunny by how bright that last flowery room got. But sunlight reflecting off a cave's ceiling isn't the same as living with weather.]

HUH? WELL, THEY WEREN'T HAUNTING, SO MUCH AS PASSING THROUGH... I THINK THAT GHOST LIVED NEARBY, AT THE SNAIL FARM.

I see! That would make sense, then, why you wouldn't know the relationship between the weather and time of year. I wonder if those from your human world experience seasons. I would love to find out.

A ghost, at a snail farm? Why would they need to farm snails if they don't need to eat?

[ Why else would anyone farm snails??? ]

I believe that amount is alright. Plus, I think there are plenty people who are experienced with children and might be willing to help along.

[ So modest!!! ]

Warm clothing or similar items might be difficult to get together in a short amount of time, especially with winter quickly approaching . My experience has been that people are more willing to gift a warm meal. It might not have as much of a lasting impact, but of all of these options, it's likely the one that would gain the most traction.

I agree, the Western district would be a good place to start. It might be a good idea to tie it to a pre-existing holiday; something celebrated in Aefenglom already, or from one of our worlds. Hypothetically speaking, of course.

This could be fun! And if it is successful enough, it might encourage others to want to celebrate their own holidays here as well. One can only hope.

THEY PROBABLY DO! THEY LIVE ON THE SURFACE. AND THAT'S WHERE THE WEATHER IS.

[He could ask Alphys, with her being both an expert on humans and from an alternate universe where the barrier somehow got broken... But would they have the same surface??? It's a mystery. And so are snail farms.]

BUT, I THINK IT'S JUST THEIR JOB. THEY SELL SNAILS TO MONSTERS WHO WANT PIES. AND WHATEVER ELSE YOU USE SNAILS FOR.

SOMEONE TOLD ME THE FARM BELONGED TO WHOLE FAMILY ONCE, BUT THE OTHERS... LEFT. SO NOW IT'S JUST ONE GHOST. AND EVEN GHOSTS HAVE TO PAY THEIR BILLS!

You live underground? Why? Does that mean that the humans live on the surface? That doesn't seem fair, especially when it seems like you have no intention on hurting them.

I guess I never thought about ghosts having bills and responsibilities. I will admit, my experience with spirits hasn't been very pleasant.

The culture here might use a bit of a shake-up, honestly. Besides, it would be quite healing if people could feel more at home here.

UHHHH... WELL, IT'S COMPLICATED. THE HUMANS THOUGHT WE HAD A LITTLE INTENTION TO HURT THEM. AND NOW... SOME MONSTERS WANT REVENGE, WITH A BIG INTENTION TO HURT THEM. A LOT OF MONSTERS. MAYBE MOST MONSTERS?

I THINK EVERYONE CAN AGREE, TRAPPING PEOPLE UNDERGROUND DOESN'T MAKE THEM FRIENDLIER.

AND GHOSTS ARE A LITTLE BIT SPOOKY, RIGHT? GOING INVISIBLE... FLOATING THROUGH WALLS... PLAYING MUSIC THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN HEAR...

[ winter is comin' ]

Of course, hypothetically speaking.

Donation driven as it may be, it would be wise to offer some other incentive, beyond the usual of a celebration. Something that wouldn't diminish anyone's sense of doing good. Otherwise, yes; perhaps the charitable cause being tied to a holiday would suffice.

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text, un: CoolSkeleton95

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text, un: luminouslady

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#cursedcontent

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snail farm has nothing on snail racing tho

I'll admit that my knowledge of Undertale is from random LPs

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that's fine, my knowledge of League is very minimal meme osmosis - canonblind makes fun cr sometimes

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