Barovian
The Barovian ethnicity is the most prominent cultural group within the County of Barovia, and is made up of the descendants of the original Zarossian settlers, as well as the intermingling of Mistborn who have arrived over the years.
Barovians are typically dour, close-minded, fearful, and superstitious, though also hard working and enduring.
Naming Traditions
Family names
Barovian family names are descended from previous Zarossian naming conventions, where a child would take their parent's name as a surname. However, these surnames were "frozen" when the Mists set in by decree of Strahd von Zarovich, resulting in family names reflecting what they were at that time. Now, sons inherit the family name of their fathers, daughters their mothers, and nonbinary children typically choose.
The exception to this is titles of nobility. Typically, if a non-noble marries into a noble house, they will take on the House name as their surname. Furthermore, a noble who has married into another House may adopt the new name in certain circumstances, such as if they have become the House head in lieu as a widow (as in the case of Fiona Wachter).
Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
Given the high rate of mortality among Barovians, it is considered bad luck — upon the child and their parents — to name children before their 6th birthday. Before this time, children are typically referred to simply as "Mathais's Second Son," "Bonnie's Fifth Daughter," etc. A child who perishes before their sixth birthday is believed to be "not ready for the world" and will thus be reborn again elsewhere.
Upon a child's 6th birthday, they are officially named. Some Barovians — especially those who have roots with the Vistani, though the tradition has gained favour among others as well — will take their children to have their first Tarokka reading at this age.
Children, upon reaching their 16th birthday, are considered full adults and typically either choose a new name for themselves, or cement the name given to them on their 6th birthday. This is also the age at which Barovians are said to truly adopt their gender roles, so transgender individuals typically shed the last vestiges of their assigned gender at this point.
Common Etiquette rules
Barovians use gendered titles of address, which are subdivided by marital status, which descend from contact and intermarriage with Aussenseiter settlers, resulting in them using Kaltsprache loanwords. Men and non-binary people (typically) are referred to as "Herr" regardless of marital status, whilst woman are referred to as "Frau" when married or widowed, and "Fraulein" when unmarried.
Additionally, noble Barovians are typically denoted as a "Boyar" (m. & nb.) or "Boyarina" (f.), with their children are known as "Boyarinyi" (m. & nb.) and "Boyarinya" (f.), so long as it is presumed they will inherit land (or be married off to one who will inherit land). Additional scions are known simply as "Herr" or "Frau(lein)" respectively, depending on marital status as usual.
Barovians who hold some additional title tend to use that as a mode of address over the previous two statuses, such as Burgomeister, Doktor, or Isnaf.
Common Dress code
Barovians favour darker, muted tones in their clothing; blacks, dark greens, navies, browns, and off-whites. Their clothing tends to be slimmer-cut around the bodice, with straight-legged pants and dresses, accentuated with slashes and lace. Many Barovians wear head coverings — whether hats or scarves — at almost all times outside the home. Barovians typically dress in heavier leather boots to protect their feet from the poor quality, and often water-logged roads of the County. When damaged, Barovians favour invisible mends.
Art & Architecture
Barovian architecture tends towards Gothic architecture for larger buildings — including temples, courthouses, castles, and the like — and more towards Second Empire architecture for homes and smaller buildings, with a heavy use of tiled Mansard roofs. Stone and wood are common construction methods, with stucko and wood-panelled walls being the norm for exteriors, with wallpapered interiors. Lower class Barovian architecture tends towards simple wattle-and-daub timber-framed houses with thatched or shingled roofs.
Foods & Cuisine
Barovian cuisine tends towards bland flavours — typically a porrige or bread staple — with added preserved meats and stewed vegetables. Spices — including salt and pepper — are expensive in the County of Barovia, as they must be imported via Vistani Fetchers. Meat — including pork, beef, chicken, and venison — is surprisingly bountiful, and with the rarity of salt for curing, most meats are smoked if not eaten fresh. This curing process results in a lot of off-cut fat, which tends to be rendered into tallow and lard, which is used to give flavour to meals. As such, most Barovian meals are heavy and hearty, but also very greasy.
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