the cycle of holidays
there was a sickness & many people died
BUT
a lot of people were too sick
to deal with their dead
SO
AFTER the sickness
the town had a communal funeral
it's modelled after day of the dead
because there was someone
from Mexico who explained their traditions
& it was about that time of year
& the city modified it
& they celebrate it every year
BUT
then immediately after
they decided to take stock of their lives
in some more formal way
they had stuff to PROCESS
SO
they practiced
a month of thinking about
remaining alive when others died
gratitude for life
some form of
FASTING
or abstaining from something
CONSCIOUSLY
spiritual betterment
& making amends with others
the month is finished out with a FEAST
people who aren't fasting or whatever
are in charge of arranging the feast
BUT
ALSO
it is a time of
NOT GIFTING but NEED fulfillment
the krewe in charge of the FEAST
collects and monitors the NEEDS of people in the city
it's a time of making sure
if you need
resources or training or whatever
you get those things
it's NOT gratuitous GIFTS
it's the community responding to
redistribution and fulfillment
then there's the winter solstice
which is about the longest night and the return of the sun & BRIGHTER days
which is celebrated by staying up all night
with bonfires and whatnot
& then watching
the sunrise over the mountain together as a group
then there's a variant of holi
with the colored pigments
which commemorates
an event in the city near founding time
PAINTING the city day
because
it was discovered when a group of Indian people
who came with the architect to build the clock tower were engaged in it with their children
& it reminded them of the spirit of
the painting the city event
the colored pigments festival is celebrated in early march
there's a fire festival
the carnival started in the depression
to BOTH
draw more customers
& to encourage the city folk
to cut loose
be a little
WILD
over time the other districts
contribute their own
FIRE elements
& it becomes a whole city festival
it's celebrated in early may
there's a holiday commemorating the beginning of the operation of the lighthouse
which happened to be july fourth
they spend the day
playing baseball
WAITING for the lighthouse
to light it's first light
& the sea watch was so excited
about the first light
from the lighthouse
that they set off flares/fireworks
to commemorate
SO
it's a summer celebration
of civic pride and such
AND
there's a weekly one too
most people live in communal living situations
the "apartments" in the city
have communal areas for living and eating
& then private rooms
for sleep and
STUFF
there's a person who runs the kitchen
which is mostly
a giant pot of
oatmeal or stew
& staples like bread and cheese
there's a lot of street vendors
& cafes & whatever
it's more about grabbing something to eat
when you're hungry than
three squares
BUT
friday dinner is semi-mandatory
it's a commitment to
COMMUNITY
if you can't make it
CUSTOM
is to have your place filled by someone you know
by way of introducing your house mates to
new people and spreading community
the power of the shared celebration of home
this is specifically for the communal homes
& it is the practice because the very first
of the women who ran the kitchens
was a follower of Shabbat
& it became the custom
in honor of her
CARE
this is a quick- ish sketch
& it is kinda more heavily weighted
at the end of the year
BUT
I feel like
psychological needs are met
& of course
a new one might come along if there's a need
goodnight sweetheart
I LOVE you VERY much
