Vincaran (Vin-CAR-un)
The black-haired Vincarans originated in the southern hemisphere of Kavrillia, on the continent of Vancorra. They had a thriving civilization with thousands of years of history before Lanarian explorers arrived in their lands in 3933 (6709 by the Vincaran calendar). Within only a few years, war and disease had decimated their population and they were subjugated under the Lanarian Empire.
Three hundred years later, Vincarans still struggle to hold onto the shattered pieces of their culture while facing racism from the people who conquered them. A common slur used by rude Lanarians to refer to Vincarans is "Vanks."
Note that prior to the fall of their civilization in 3936, "Vancorran" is the proper term. "Vincaran" is used to describe them afterward; it arose as a consequence of Lanarians mispronouncing the original name.
Naming Traditions
Family names
Unlike Lanarians, Vincarans have surnames that follow their given names. Unfortunately, the imperial government only recognizes names in the Lanarian format that translates to Son/Daughter of, Spouse of, parent (or not), givenname. (Follow the link to the Lanarian page to see a full explanation.) Thus Vincarans within the Lanarian Empire have to know how to give their name in both ways. In the Vincaran Federation, they use their own "firstname lastname" format.
Some Vincarans in the Lanarian Empire give their names using both formats (e.g. Jhea'Tenoliani Zalani Janetha) both to avoid confusion and to honor their cultural heritage.
Traditionally, a woman takes her husband's surname after marriage. In recent years a few progressives have been advocating for women to use their maiden names instead of, or in addition to, their husband's. This has yet to catch on.
Other names
Palindromes are considered lucky and/or sacred.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Due to pressure from the dominant Lanarian culture, nearly all Vincarans today speak the Lanarish language. The Vancor language is a pidgin tongue incorporating several original dialects that is used mainly in ceremonial and religious contexts. Vancor is also the official language of the Vincaran Federation.
Average technological level
Although they had not developed the crucial sonar technology that allowed Lanarians to explore the globe, the pre-contact Vancorran civilization wasn't far behind. Their architecture, shipbuilding, medicine, plumbing and infrastructure were all approximately equal to the Lanarians', and their knowledge of astronomy was more advanced. They had harnessed electricity on a smaller scale than the Lanarians had, but they were familiar enough to quickly catch up once they were able to study the invaders' sonar and other devices.
Common Dress code
Most Vincarans living in the Lanarian Empire dress according to Lanarian standards, but some (especially priests and priestesses) still wear the layered robes, wraps, scarves, and ponchos of their ancestors. This traditional attire is much more common within the Vincaran Federation.
Decorative scarves are popular among Vincaran women to hold back the hair from their faces.
by Katie Sullivan
Foods & Cuisine
Vincaran food tends to be spicier than Lanarians are used to.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Troh Mar Anzhat is the greatest holiday of the Vincaran year. It marks the appearance of the brightest star in the southern sky as a sign that spring is coming soon.
Some Vincaran holidays stem from their beliefs about the eternally-arguing deities, Kalak and Ainia, who are associated with the sun and moons, respectively.
The spring and fall equinoxes are the only two days of the year when Kalak and Ainia are balanced and call a truce, so those dates are considered auspicious times for betrothals and marriages.
The summer solstice is when Kalak is at His strongest, so Vincarans lavish extra attention on Ainia to help her turn the tide and keep the world from being scorched. Conversely, at the winter solstice they show special devotion to Kalak so He can keep Ainia from freezing the world permanently.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
A new baby is taken to one of the gods' shrines for a blessing. The deity is chosen by the parent(s) based on what they hope their child's life will be like. For example, parents hoping their son will grow up to be a strong warrior would take him to the shrine of Telik, while a child whose parents have faced war, sickness, and poverty would be taken to the shrine of the Goddess of Renewal, Irokori, to spark a new, better life.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Brown is the Vincaran color of mourning. A widow is expected to wear brown for an entire year after the death of her husband. Due to the culture's misogyny, widowers are considered especially devoted if they wear brown for more than a month.
It is customary to give dead, dried up flowers as a gesture of condolence when someone dies.
Common Myths and Legends
Deities:
Historical figures
Ideals
Gender Ideals
Vincaran culture is patriarchal with strict gender roles. Women may not join the military. They cannot own property in their own names unless they are widowed and have no close, living male relatives, or are a high-ranking priestess of one of the goddesses. Marrying well or joining a temple are the only paths to power for women in Vincaran society.
This is starting to change, albeit very slowly. Notably, the leading volcanologist in the Vincaran Federation is a woman, one of the country's first prominent female scientists.
Courtship Ideals
Although less common in modern times, arranged marriages are not unheard of.
Relationship Ideals
While tolerance is slowly growing for other sexualities, Vincaran culture is heteronormative. Male homosexuality is usually tolerated as long as it is discreet, while female homosexuality is even more stigmatized. Anyone found to be involved in such relationships faces social ostracization and damage to their professional reputation. In ancient times, exile was common.
Any two adults may legally marry within the Lanarian Empire, regardless of their sex or gender. However, only heterosexual marriages are recognized by Vincaran religious authorities and the Vincaran Federation's government.
Major organizations
Encompassed species
Related Organizations
Languages spoken
Comments