Ocarran - Ethnicity

Ocarrans are the people from Ocarro and the cultures and traditions that stem from the Ocarran people.
Currently, there is some conflict between traditionalists and modernists about the culture and what counts as what, with many traditionalists often seeing more modern and urban development as an affront to Ocarran history. The traditional culture of Ocarro is semi-nomadic, although the majority have become sedentary in modern times, and historically they moved from place to place through the year.

Culture

Fashion

For more info see: Ocarran Traditional Fashion
The traditional clothing of Ocarro has a lot of long clothing, to keep the skin safe from the sun, along with jackets and robes to protect from the wind and cold nights. Veils and head coverings are worn to protect from the sun and dust.
More modern fashions tend to take more inspiration from other planets and cultures with different colors and patterns used than those in traditional clothing.

Architecture

On Ocarro most people live in settlements with permanent architecture like apartment buildings or houses. They tend to have an overarching theme for domed roofs. Ocarran architecture is typically made of a metal or wooden frame covered by plaster, more expensive buildings in big cities may have better longer-lasting materials.
In rural areas the buildings are smaller and are often pit houses, meaning the floor is below the ground level, they are shaped like domed nomadic tents only bigger and more permanent. They may be two stories, with stairs or ladders going up to the second floor; they may also be made up of numerous buildings with the kitchen often being separate from the rest of the house due to fire hazards. A good example of traditional architecture can be found in the rural village of Tel Kidi.
In big cities, the buildings are much bigger and are normally multi-storied, they have elevators and stairs more than ladders. They still tend to keep some of the domed architecture even if it is just a homage to more traditional styles. They are not normally pit houses and tend to be made of better materials than those in rural buildings. Cantaro is full of buildings built in this architectural style.

Food & Meals

Ocarran cuisine has Vegetables, Dairy, and Meat as staple ingredients. Crocela meat and Feathered Lizard meat are the most popular kinds of meat used. Ardo corms and Preka seedpods are the staple ingredients in most traditional dishes.
However, Ocarran food has also been influenced heavily by ingredients from other planets such as Iagus Grain, with the most popular ingredients coming from Epra due to the planet's flora and fauna being suitable for growing on Ocarro. This has led to many meals and cooking styles from Epra becoming popular on Ocarro.

Notable Dishes Include

Flatbread - a thin bread made from Preka dough or Iagus Flour, cooked over coals or in a hot pan. Often used to pinch up food and eat it.
Preka Bean Porridge - a porridge made of roasted Preka Bean flour, also may contain spices and other ingredients like sliced ardo or pieces of meat.
Cooked Ardo - An ardo corm taken and roasted over coals, or more modernly baked in an oven. They may have butter on them or other added toppings. May be served whole or sliced up into pieces.
Meat Wrap - roasted meat, cooked vegetables, cheese, and spices wrapped in a thin flatbread.
Ocarran Braided Cheese - a briny elastic cheese made from the fermented milk from Crocelas, using the stretched curd technique. Often stretched into large ropes which are then braided together to make loaves of cheese.
Sun Dried Cheese - a creamy cheese made from salted strained yogurt, shaped into balls, and left to dry in the sun. It can be eaten in its dried form or soaked in water to be softened up and used for cooking. When fully dried it can be preserved for many months if they are kept in a dry environment.
Meals are traditionally served in large vessels and then split into each person's bowl where food is eaten using the hands and bread, with spoons being used for more soupy dishes. Each person is expected to serve themselves, with the exception of young children. Offering someone food is a sign of thanks, welcome, and respect.

Arts & Crafts

For more info see: Ocarran Traditional Arts
Ocarrans have a wide variety of artistic and craft traditions, many of which have their roots in their historical ways of life. Most of these traditions survive as rural crafts and are uncommonly performed in urban areas, and in most areas, they have been changed and influenced by modern technology and materials.

Music

For more info see: Ocarran Traditional Music
The ocarrans have a rich musical tradition, which is very important in traditional ocarran culture. The traditional styles of music are still often played, especially at weddings and other important events, as well as on holidays and festivals celebrating traditional culture.

Society

Naming System

Last names originate from people referring to others as the son of so-and-so or the daughter of so-and-so, with the prefix of the surname often meaning son or daughter and the second part of the name being a person's name.
Originally every generation the surname would change, but as Ocarro became more influenced by the wider galactic culture surnames became more concrete.
Surnames may also be related to the region or town the person is from, and the name may even mean from a place and include a prefix. Surnames of country families are more likely to have a prefix, whereas urban families have often dropped these prefixes.
Surname Examples: al-Sani , el-Edris, Hazni, Habazi

Spirituality

For more info see: Ocarran Spirituality
While modern Ocarran Society has mostly shifted to a more scientific outlook many Ocarrans are still very spiritual people and the culture has lots of traditions and superstitions that have survived to this day. They tend to believe in spirits and some types of higher forces, although the specifics depend on the region, the background, and the person's personal beliefs.

Farming & Pastoralism

For more info see: Ocarran Farming & Pastoralism
Many Rural Ocarrans make a living by growing crops and or by raising livestock. Many of these farmers are sedentary farmers, with established homesteads and ranches. Most rural ocarran households will have gardens where vegetables and fruits are grown for household use.
These farmers use most of the food and products that they produce for household use, with the family selling any surplus goods to be able to save money for emergencies and upkeep.

Gender Roles

Traditional Ocarran culture had a system of gender roles in which people of the binary genders were expected to take part. Modernly and even traditionally there has been some leeway and elasticity to the gender roles.
Men traditionally took care of the herds and the plowing of fields while the women took care of the house, the children, and the small animals. Everyone would take part in the planting. Young men would also be responsible for herding and caring for the herds during the summer when they were moved uphill to greener pastures. Women also would take care of the herds and fields when their husbands were gone.
Women tend to be associated with spirituality and religion and most religious positions are held by women. Modernly this is still the norm even if the teachings have become more egalitarian.
While traditional inheritance did favor a male hierarchy, women could inherit from their fathers or brothers if there were no other heirs. This system is still often followed in more rural traditional communities, but there has also been a rise in equal inheritance disbursement between the heirs regardless of gender.

Weddings

For more info see: Ocarran Weddings
Traditional Ocarran Weddings -and the courtship leading up to them- are made up of a variety of rituals and customs that are still often followed today, even if they have been adapted for the more modern era. Most of these traditions are simple, regarding the clothing worn, the words spoken, and the after party but some, like the meeting of the parents -which is not always done modernly, especially in urban areas- are more complex and ritualistic.

Planet of Origin 
Ocarro

Related Articles
Cantaro Races
Ocarran Spirituality
Ocarran Marriage
Ocarran Farming & Pastoralism
Ocarran Traditional Arts
Ocarran Traditional Fashion
Ocarran Traditional Music