Constellans
"The desert has been our home for hundreds of years. We are hardy enough to survive there, and our magic flows into the very Earth to protect us. We will not be uprooted. Foreign powers colonized us, took our culture and tore it into bits nearly too small to recover. We drank the poison of being conquered and assimilated for the sake of our children. But I won't drink it anymore. I spit it back out by speaking my own tongue. Everything I did was to bring our people back to our roots. If I can only pass my knowledge to these two children, so be it. That's two more children who know where they came from." -Aris Portokalos, healer and head of the Sixth Resistance Medic and Scientific Reconfiguration Division
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
The letter K is common in both male and female names. Female names often end with the letter I.
Both genders are often given names whose meanings embody a virtue or trait the parents hope the child will have. Examples include "protector," "knowing," "observant," "ambitious, " and "nurturing."
Masculine names
The letter K is common in both male and female names. There are fewer definable trends among male names than female names.
Both genders are often given names whose meanings embody a virtue or trait the parents hope the child will have. Examples include "protector," "knowing," "observant," "ambitious, " and "nurturing."
Unisex names
There are few truly unisex names in the Constellan culture, and the most common reason for seeking one is having a nonbinary identity. Nonbinary people often adopt names from other nearby countries which are unisex, or use nature or word names.
Family names
Constellan heritage is traced through the mother, and men typically take their wife's last name upon marriage. (In the case of same-sex couples, it can go either way.)
Other names
Over years of mistreatment colonization, and often forced assimilation, unusual attitudes have formed in regards to traditional Constellan names.
Divides can often be seen along class lines. The highest class, along with those who hope to be upwardly-mobile in the future, frequently will give their children names from the English and French dialects of Romatia, a wide array of Falharan langauages, or the Nordic dialects in Asweau as a first name, and a Constellan name in the middle. (Some upwardly-mobile parents get around this by giving their children Constellan names at birth, but calling them names from one of the other languages with a similar meaning at home.)
Middle-class people often have a Constellan first name, and middle names of various foreign origins.
Others see Constellan names as marks of pride and cultural resilience, an example of all their people have overcome. Religious families and those from traditionalist communities, which are often poorer and more isolated, will give their children Constellan first and middle names.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Constellan is the official language, but it has been slowly dying for decades. As other nations attempted to force them to accept subjection by assimilating them to the "dominant culture," aspects of previous life began to fade away, or be practiced in secret. These days, some determined countrymen, particularly those gifted with the relatively rare magic of the bakshi ("knowers of all tongues") are trying to bring the language back from the brink. One of the most effective strategies so far has been integrating the study of Constellan language into the school curriculum.
It is extremely uncommon for a non-native to learn the Constellan language, as most people who live there feel doing so is a sign of extreme disrespect, as they are the reason the language began to die in the first place.
Today, many people speak an English dialect as their first language, or sometimes French. The traditionalist communities of the far south are more likely than any other to raise the children from birth to have at least some understanding of Constellan.
Shared customary codes and values
Above all else, Constellans value community. They keep close family ties and usually have extended family networks-being related by blood is not a perquisite for being considered family. Children in particular are raised with the "it takes a village" mentality, and grow up knowing they are loved and cared for by many. In fact, it is very common for children to call adults they are close to "aunt" and "uncle," even if they are of no relation.
Magic is a cornerstone of cultural identity, and someone who is gifted in their magic will always be highly respected.
Being strong, perseverant, and able to make "something from nothing" are character traits every person should aspire to, or so the people believe. In order to thrive in the desert, they must adapt and overcome hardship rather than be defeated by it.
Storytelling, particularly the oral tradition, is a skill to be honed.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Contellans can be a bit standoffish at first, particularly with non-native people, but among their own, they are warm and hospitable. One of the ways they show this is through food, and people love to gather together for food and chat. The more people invited and food served, the better the event! These lunches can go on all afternoon.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
Water is an important part of cultural life, and religious people consider it holy. Therefore, it is common a week or so after the baby is born for their family to take them to the one of the hydrokinetic priestesses kept on hand at any Marnesh temple. She will produce a beautiful spectacle, often called the "Water Welcome Dance" to demonstrate her and the family's wish for a prosperous and happy life for the newborn.
Coming of Age Rites
When a girl reaches nineteen, considered the age of maturity, it is tradition for them to receive a fine box in which she will store the fine jewelry she can now wear as a sign of her adulthood. A special first jewel is given as a gift, along with the box. It is referred to as "dir hiyas" in the Constellan language, roughly translating to "the first and most precious." The first jewel can be a necklace, bracelet, or ring, and is the beginning of a girl's collection. The idea is that the girls will grow as strong and beautiful as the jewels. Traditional stones for this rite are agate, obsidian, and turquoise.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Funerals are often large affairs, as Contellans pride themselves on keeping large social circles and staying connected to their communities. Many wear blue, as it is deemed holy. The funeral itself is one of the few instances in Constellan culture in which crying can be done in public rather than at home among family. The family themselves, particularly female relatives, are often heard to wail loudly and sing mourning songs. After the funeral, women will often cut their hair short as a display of mourning. (In modern times, though, just because a woman has short hair does not necessarily mean she is in mourning-some just prefer to wear it that way.)
Constellans do not bury their dead in the ground. as it is considered unclean. Instead. people are cremated. A portion of the ashes is given to the family, and the rest is placed into a lantern and released into the sky the night following the funeral service. This practice is said to help the person's soul transition to the afterlife. Shrines are built for the deceased, either near their loved one's homes or in special plots of land set aside for this purpose beside religious temples. These shrines serve as a place for the deceased's loved ones to visit in order to feel closer to those they lost. People commonly leave offerings of flowers, favored foods, or handmade crafts. Outsiders erroneously believe that the natives do this out of worry that the afterlife will not have enough resources for the newest souls. In reality, people do this as a display of affection and fondness for the dead, and to let them know that they are still remembered and thought about on Earth.
Common Taboos
Respect for elders is of the upmost importance. For a young person to purposely assert themselves over an elder or claim to know better than they do is exceedingly rude.
Since they rely on each other to survive, it is considered the height of dishonor and shame to abandon one's family.
A common saying here is "When everyone has nothing, everyone can spare a bit." As such, people should never be stingy or greedy if they are at all able to share with another.
Common Myths and Legends
Many myths detail specifics of how the Constellan people were given their magic, as well as particularly gifted magic users. The desert itself, the stars, and the Kutsal Range, believed to be the first thing the gods created, are also prominent.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Most women wear their hair long to allow for the traditional intricate braid work worn on holidays and festival days. The longer and thicker the hair, the more skilled a woman is presumed to be in braiding. As such, hair is a very important part of the culture, and long, thick hair is seen as a hallmark of a beautiful person. Dark colors are considered more attractive.
Strong, sturdy, and/or curvy body types are more sought after, as people believe that someone who is sturdy in body is also sturdy in heart and spirit, meaning they are able to work hard and continue on despite many difficulties.
Gender Ideals
Constellan society is matriarchal, and a family with many daughters is said to be exceptionally blessed. Divine magical ability dictates people's roles more than gender roles, so most fields are roughly equal in terms of women to men, except in government.
Women do hold more sway in certain areas of cultural life: their coming-of-age rites are more elaborate, they typically have final say in family matters, and religious leaders are almost always women.
Relationship Ideals
The Marnesh religion is more open than many others on the continent in regards to non-traditional relationships. Their holy texts make no reference that would lead people to believe the gender of one's spouse is important, so same-sex relationships are much less stigmatized here. In addition, it was a cultural touchstone for hundreds of years for romantic relationships to include more than one person, which is to say, polyamory. There is even a formal written wedding ceremony specifically for marrying more than two people. (The most common number for these relationships is three, with five being seen as the upmost limit.)
Unfortunately, as the country was split, colonized, and forcibly assimilated, those from the north, particularly Romatians, found the practice immoral and more or less outlawed it. When the country became independent and re-unified, the ban was lifted, but today, polyamory is not often seen openly outside traditionalist strongholds.
Major organizations
Marnesh (roughly translating as "the path") is the most common religion. Any sizeable settlement will have at least one temple, which serves not only as a place of worship, but a place for the wider community to gather together.
Related Organizations
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