#Chinese Fairy Tale Feasts

[thegirlwiththelantern]

Chinese Fairy Tale Feasts: A Literary Cookbook

Chinese Fairy Tale Feasts is a collection of fairytales for young readers. With bright, colourful illustrations by Shaoli Wang, it’s a joy to flick through. The stories by Paul Yee are for the most part fun. The choice to set some of these stories sometime around the last century is one that I appreciate. Fairy tales tend to feel less magical the more modern they are, but not here. As someone who…

[princesssarisa]

Sleeping Beauty Spring: Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child – Sleeping Beauty" (1995 animated series episode)

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child was like an animated musical counterpart to Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre for children of the '90s. Each episode, narrated by Robert Guillaume, adapts a classic fairy tale or fantasy story with a star-studded voice cast, blending irreverent humor with sincerity. But what sets this series apart from any similar series is that each story takes place in a different culture. Highlight episodes include a Chinese Little Red Riding Hood, a Caribbean Goldilocks and the Three Bears, a Native American Snow White, African versions of Jack and the Beanstalk, The Frog Prince, and Beauty and the Beast, and Latin American versions of Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella... and Sleeping Beauty.

This retelling of the tale takes place in an imaginary Latin American seaside kingdom. The dialogue is peppered with Spanish words and phrases, and the voice cast consists entirely of Latino and part-Latino celebrities: Marie Barrientos as Princess Rosita, Ricardo Montalbán as King Carlos, Lucie Arnaz as Queen Maria, Paul Rodriguez as Jesse the Jester, Jacob Vargas as Prince Luis, Carlos Mencia as his squire Poncho, Carmen Zapata as the Seventh Fairy, Vanessa Marquez as all of the other six fairies, and musical theatre/opera singer Julia Migenes as the villainous fairy Evelina.

Apart from the Latin American setting, the plot faithfully follows the traditional story. King Carlos and Queen Maria yearn for a child, comforted only by the slapstick comedy of their clumsy jester, Jesse. But at last, Princess Rosita is born. To her grand christening – a fiesta with flamenco dancing, salsa music, and a feast of arroz con pollo and ropa vieja – the king and queen invite seven good fairies, portrayed as middle aged and elderly women with tiny wings. But the hideous old fairy Evelina goes uninvited because she shut herself away in a tower long ago and is presumed dead. Of course she comes anyway, and after expressing her offense a grand musical number, she curses the princess, but the pink-clad Seventh Fairy softens her curse from death to a hundred-year sleep.

Sixteen years later, as in the Cannon Movie Tales adaptation, the whole kingdom is dressed in rags and patches because no new cloth can be made without spinning wheels. Princess Rosita knows that spinning was banned due to an old prophecy, but doesn't know what that prophecy is. When her parents go out a tour of the kingdom, Jesse the Jester promises to look after her. But he promptly knocks himself unconscious on a column, so Rosita is free to explore unknown parts of the castle. Of course she finds a tower where Evelina waits with a spinning wheel. King Carlos, Queen Maria, and Jesse are distraught when they find Rosita sleeping, but the Seventh Fairy arrives and puts the rest of the kingdom to sleep too. Over a hundred years, a dense jungle grows around the castle.

At long last, Prince Luis and his nervous squire Poncho arrive. They've heard many legends about the old castle, but finally an old man tells them the true story. When they ride into the jungle, the trees miraculously part, and soon the prince finds Rosita and kisses her, breaking the spell. A fantastico wedding is celebrated with new clothes for everyone, Evelina "goes all to pieces" with rage (her tower explodes with her inside it, leaving just a smoking ruin), and everyone else lives happily ever after.

While the animation isn't the most sophisticated, its lively, colorful, stylized aesthetic is memorable and charming. It perfectly suits the balance between humor and heart that the script offers. As in most episodes of this series, there are two featured songs, the brief "Good Fairies' Song" and Evelina's "Que Es Esto" ("A party without me? Surely you jest-o!"), both infused with the local color of the setting.

I recommend not only this episode, but the entire Happily Ever After series to anyone who enjoys seeing fairy tales told with fresh, colorful new spins, and especially to children of different ethnic groups, who will enjoy seeing themselves in the classic tales.

@ariel-seagull-wings, @thealmightyemprex, @faintingheroine, @reds-revenge, @paexgo-rosa, @comma-after-dearest, @the-blue-fairie, @themousefromfantasyland, @thatscarletflycatcher, @fairytaleslive, @autistic-prince-cinderella

[yeah-another-aesthetic-blog]

Nana as a Kumiho Aesthetic

A kumiho or gumiho (Korean: 구미호; Hanja: 九尾狐, literally "nine-tailed fox") is a creature that appears in the folktales on East Asia and legends of Korea. It is similar to the Chinese huli jing, the Japanese kitsune and the Vietnamese hồ ly tinh. It can freely transform into a beautiful woman often set out to seduce men, and eat their liver or heart (depending on the legend). There are numerous tales in which the kumiho appears, several of which can be found in the encyclopedic Compendium of Korean Oral Literature (한국 구비문학 대계/韓國口碑文學). Kumiho and other versions of the nine-tailed fox myths and folklores share a similar concept. All explain fox spirits as being the result of great longevity or the accumulation of energy, said to be foxes who have lived for a thousand years, and give them the power of shapeshifting, usually appearing in the guise of a woman. However, while China's huli jing and Japan's kitsune are often depicted as either good, evil or neutral, the kumiho is almost always treated as a malignant figure who feasts on human flesh. It is unclear at which point in time Koreans began viewing the kumiho as a purely evil creature, since many ancient texts mention the benevolent kumiho assisting humans (and even make mentions of wicked humans tricking kind but naïve kumiho). In later literature, kumiho were often depicted as bloodthirsty half-fox, half-human creatures that wandered cemeteries at night, digging human hearts out from graves. The fairy tale The Fox Sister depicts a fox spirit preying on a family for their livers. The most distinctive feature that separates the kumiho from its two counterparts (Japanese kitsune, and Chinese huli jing) is the existence of a 'yeowoo guseul' (여우구슬, literally meaning fox marble/bead) which is said to consist of knowledge. According to Korean mythology, the yeowoo guseul provides power to the kumiho and knowledge (and intelligence) to people if they can steal and swallow one. The kumiho can absorb humans' energy with it. The method of absorbing energy with the "yeowoo guseul" resembles a "deep kiss" (i.e. a kiss using a tongue). The kumiho sends the yeowoo guseul into people's mouths and then retakes it with their tongues. If that person swallows the yeowoo guseul, however, and then observes "sky, land, and people", each observation gives the observer preternatural knowledge. But the person fails to watch the "sky" in most tales, so they get a special ability but not the most important one.

[sicmvndvscreatvsest]

BASICS

FULL NAME: SEON HAE [ 선해 ]

OTHER NAMES: AKIRA, AKIRA HAE, SEON HAE [ 아키라  in Korean, あきら in Hiragana, アキラ in Katakana, and 明 in Kanji. 선해.]

» MEANING: Seon [ As a family name, Seon may be written with either of two hanja, one meaning "to announce" (宣) and the other meaning "first" (先). Each has one bon-gwan: for the former, Boseong, Jeollanam-do, and for the latter, Jinseong, Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do, both in what is today South Korea.. ]; Hae [ Hae in Korean means 'sun.' The Chinese character behind "Hae" (해) in Korean names, meaning "sun", is 海 (hǎi) in Mandarin Chinese and 해 (hae) in Korean Hanja. It is a combination of the characters for "sea" (海) and "sun" (日), and can be interpreted as "ocean sun" or "sun over the ocean". ]; Akira [ Akira (あきら, アキラ) is a given name present in a few languages. It is a unisex Japanese given name that is predominantly used for males. There are several kanji for Akira. In Thai, Akira or Arkira (Thai: อาคิรา, อาคีรา, อาคีระ) is a unisex name meaning 'the sun' or 'sunlight'. In Japanese there are many alternative ways to write the name Akira in kanji. This is not an exhaustive list. A popular kanji is 明 (the combination of the two different characters 日 = sun and 月 = moon) which means "the light coming from the sun", "sunlight and moonlight", "bright", "intelligent", "wisdom" or "truth". Though Akira is generally used to name males, sometimes it can be a female name as well.]

NICKNAME: Sunny, Aki.

AGE: Nearly 300-years old; 28 in appearance.

DATE OF BIRTH: 13th November, 18th century South Korea.

PLACE OF BIRTH: Kumiho realm, in fall.

OCCUPATION: Bodyguard to a powerful and rich vampire businessman.... Akira trained with her friend Seung-yong.

RELIGION: N/A

ORIENTATION: Homosexual; Homoromantic.

GENDER: Cisgender Female.

SPECIES: Kumiho

A kumiho or gumiho (Korean: 구미호; Hanja: 九尾狐, literally "nine-tailed fox") is a creature that appears in the folktales on East Asia and legends of Korea. It is similar to the Chinese huli jing, the Japanese kitsune and the Vietnamese hồ ly tinh. It can freely transform into a beautiful woman often set out to seduce men, and eat their liver or heart (depending on the legend). There are numerous tales in which the kumiho appears, several of which can be found in the encyclopedic Compendium of Korean Oral Literature (한국 구비문학 대계/韓國口碑文學).

Mythology

The old Chinese text Classic of Mountains and Seas, the earliest record to document the nine-tailed fox, mentioned that the fox with nine tails came from and lived in the country called Qingqiu (靑丘) three hundreds miles east, the term meaning "green hill" interpreted as the country or region of the east and was later historically used to refer to the region of Korea at least since the era during the Three Kingdoms of Korea. However, the name of Gojoseon (called Joseon in the record), the Korean kingdom that existed along with other minor states of the Korean peninsula at the time, was separately introduced in the same record. Kumiho and other versions of the nine-tailed fox myths and folklores share a similar concept. All explain fox spirits as being the result of great longevity or the accumulation of energy, said to be foxes who have lived for a thousand years, and give them the power of shapeshifting, usually appearing in the guise of a woman. However, while China's huli jing and Japan's kitsune are often depicted as either good, evil or neutral, the kumiho is almost always treated as a malignant figure who feasts on human flesh. It is unclear at which point in time Koreans began viewing the kumiho as a purely evil creature, since many ancient texts mention the benevolent kumiho assisting humans (and even make mentions of wicked humans tricking kind but naïve kumiho). In later literature, kumiho were often depicted as bloodthirsty half-fox, half-human creatures that wandered cemeteries at night, digging human hearts out from graves. The fairy tale The Fox Sister depicts a fox spirit preying on a family for their livers.

Knowledge beads

The most distinctive feature that separates the kumiho from its two counterparts (Japanese kitsune, and Chinese huli jing) is the existence of a 'yeowoo guseul' (여우구슬, literally meaning fox marble/bead) which is said to consist of knowledge. According to Korean mythology, the yeowoo guseul provides power to the kumiho and knowledge (and intelligence) to people if they can steal and swallow one. The kumiho can absorb humans' energy with it. The method of absorbing energy with the "yeowoo guseul" resembles a "deep kiss" (i.e. a kiss using a tongue). The kumiho sends the yeowoo guseul into people's mouths and then retakes it with their tongues. If that person swallows the yeowoo guseul, however, and then observes "sky, land, and people", each observation gives the observer preternatural knowledge. But the person fails to watch the "sky" in most tales, so they get a special ability but not the most important one.

Powers

Most legends state that while a gumiho was capable of changing its appearance, there is still something persistently fox-like about it (i.e. a foxy face, a set of ears, or the tell-tale nine tails) or a magical way of forcing; its countenance changes, but its nature does not. Although ancient legends indicated that kumiho could help humans, in modern times, these animals are known to eat human livers and hearts. They usually carry out their evil acts by tricking people into consuming their organs. Unlike Japanese kitsunes, which are portrayed as having multiple tails and magical abilities, kumiho is a nine-tailed creature all throughout their lives. According to Korean mythology, if a kumiho doesn’t eat human flesh for a thousand years, it might transform into a human. This is because the animal’s soul can still seek human flesh.

**Akira is deemed to be very strong even at a young age as a kumiho. She fights well because of her extensive training and has the ability to use her kumiho powers of bending and stopping time, appearing and disappearing, etc. Although sometimes, she can be impulsive. Akira is trained in taekwondo, sword fight, and other forms of martial arts. She also boxes often with Seungyong.

PERSONALITY

STRENGTHS: Powerful, Brave, Loyal, Passionate, Resourceful.

WEAKNESSES: Distrusting, Violent, Stubborn, Manipulative, Jealous.

APPEARANCE

FACE CLAIM: Han So-hee.

HEIGHT: 5'5 [165 cm.]

WEIGHT: 105 lbs. [48 kg.]

BUILD: Lean.

GAIT: TBA

HAIR COLOR: Reddish.

EYE COLOR: Amber in kumiho form; she likes wearing contact lenses for the colors.

BIRTHMARK: Yes.

OVERVIEW: » SCARS: Yes. » TATTOOS: Hell yeeees!

BACKGROUND

HOMETOWN: Spirit world; kumiho world.

RESIDENCES: Spirit world; Seoul, South Korea. She has a home in Japan, too.

NATIONALITY: Well, South Korean.

ETHNICITY: Asian.

FINANCIAL STATUS: Upper-class, she is also mad rich.

EDUCATION LEVEL: Akira took many courses coz she gets bored easily, she probably finished some of them or almost finish some of them.

DEGREES: Something...

SPOKEN LANGUAGES: Korean, Japanese, other Asian languages, she's been learning Thai but she sounds awful. English and Hebrew... She said she likes the way it sounds so she just picked it up. Then she got into Arabic, too. She's a mess.

RELATIONSHIPS

PARENTS: Kumiho gods/spirits. They're alive and well and just want Akira to settle down. Never happening, she said.

SIBLINGS: Lots....

CHILDREN: None.

PETS: She's got a pet dragon, but not really coz this 'pet' is a FULL GROWN dragon. More like bffs.

SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIPS: » Dragon bff.

FAMILY HISTORY: Akira is a mischief and lazy and her parents prayed to the kumiho gods and guardians to help them straighten her. A kumiho have nine tails all throughout their lives but the gods decided that Akira will be working for hers. She was to earn a tail for each 100 year she lives and make her parents proud. Later on, Akira met Seung-yong, a human who bonded with a dying dragon's ball and earned its powers. She became very close to the young witch/dragon and trained with him as a soldier/fighter. Seungyong became a bodyguard which interested Akira but her parents didn't think it was a suitable job for her. Akira pursued different careers then and witnessed how her kind were treated and taken advantage of by humans. When a childhood acquaintance got into a mess caused by a human, Akira became vindictive and haunted humans who has a dark heart and feasted on them.

Her parents didn't want her getting in trouble so they allowed her to finally train with Seungyong and pursue a career that would keep her focus. She has been working as a body guard for various entities and the latest was for a rich vampire who is living among the humans.

Seungyong wanted to investigate this vampire who has been connected with some known murders in other realms. Akira is helping his friend by sticking with the vampire and collecting info for her bounty hunter friend.

Akira travels everywhere due to the nature of her job.

ROMANTIC HISTORY: Messy. She had a lover that she had a roller-coaster relationship with. Akira can get overwhelming and many times, this reincarnated lover/partner, left her.

PLATONIC RELATIONSHIPS: Dragon bff, Seung-yong.

THOUGHTS ON LOVE: "It's messy."

HEALTH

PHOBIA(S): None.

HANDICAP(S): None.

MENTAL DISORDER: None.

PHYSICAL DISEASE(S): None.

PREDISPOSITION(S): N/A.

[letsreadlotsoffanfic]

Little Black Classics Box Set, pt 2

Continued from this post due to post size limits.

The Steel Flea by Nikolay Leskov - Original Russian English translation

The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe - Short story. Collection

The Terrors of the Night by Thomas Nashe

The Tinderbox by Hans Christian Andersen - Fairy tale. Original Danish only has a few. The English translation of all of them is collected here. According to this site, some of his works were published in English in the US before they were even published in his native country Denmark, so it's tricky to find a Danish omnibus online that's free & legal.

The Voyage of Sir Francis Drake Around the Whole Globe by Richard Hakluyt - Hakluyt has a lot of documented voyages, it may be best simply to peruse his author page on gutenberg

The Wife of Bath by Geoffrey Chaucer - Excerpt from "The Canterbury Tales"

The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Three Tang Dynasty Poets - Wang Wei, Li Bai, and Du Fu. This looks like a recent translation of their works, or at least a recent collection.

Wang Wei - Original Chinese English translation

Li Bai - Original Chinese with English translations

Du Fu - Original Chinese with English translations

To-morrow by Joseph Conrad

Traffic by John Ruskin - Some of Ruskin's essays. Traffic is taken from The Crown of Wild Olive

Travels in the Land of Serpents and Pearls by Marco Polo - Excerpt from the Travels of Marco Polo. Original Italian English translation vol 1

Trimalchio's Feast by Petronius - Excerpt from the Satyricon. English translation (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5225) Original Latin (https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2007.01.0001%3Atext%3DSatyricon)

Wailing Ghosts by Pu Songling - A few short stories. Original Chinese English translation vol 1 & 2

Well, They are Gone, and Here Must I Remain by Samuel Taylor Coleridge - Poem. Collection

Woman Much Missed by Thomas Hardy - Poem. Collection

[brookston]

Holidays 11.5

Holidays

American Football Day

Bank Transfer Day

Bonfire Night (UK)

Book Editors Day

Britney Day (Las Vegas)

Burning of the Tar Barrels (Ottery St. Mary, Devon, UK)

Christian Visibility Day

Cinco de Noviembre (Negros Island, Philippines)

Colón Day (Panama)

Commercial TV Broadcast Day

Elvis Has Left the Building Day

Feast of No Return

Firewood Day

Flux Capacitor Day

Foreign Intelligence Service Day (Kazakhstan)

Genghis Khan Day (a.k.a. Chinggis Khaan Day)

Gunpowder Day (UK)

Guy Fawkes Day (a.k.a. Guy Fawkes Night; UK)

International Day of Fairy Tale Characters

International Day of the Clown

International Prosthetics & Orthotics Day

International Romani Language Day

International Volunteer Managers Day

Kanakadasa Jayanthi (Karnataka, India)

Military Intelligence Day (Armenia; Russia)

National Cash Back Day

National Concrete Appreciation Day

National Day of Democracy (Palau)

National Erik Day

National Flora and Fauna Day (Indonesia)

National Love Your Red Hair Day (Ireland)

National Luke Day

National Medical Cannabis Day

National Men’s Hair Color Confidence Day

National Pride Day (Mongolia)

National Redhead Day

National Sneaker Day

Negros Revolution Day (Philippines)

Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrels (Devon, UK)

Parkin Day

Personal Record Day

Pope’s Day (a..k.a. Pope Night)

Puno Day (Peru)

Tori No Ichi (Rooster Day #1; Japan)

Turkey Day (French Republic)

Turning the Devil’s Stone (Devon, UK)

Velleda Asteroid Day

World Day of Caregivers

World Day of Cinema

World Interact Day

World Tsunami Awareness Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Denog Day (Drake’s Brewing)

National Chinese Take-Out Day

National Doughnut Appreciation Day

National Hot Sauce Day [also 1.22]

Wiggle Jiggle Jell-O Day

Independence & Related Days

Day of the First Shout For Independence (El Salvador)

First Cry of Independence Anniversary Day (Ecuador)

Istoria (Declared; 2009) [unrecognized]

Kocistan (Declared; 2016) [unrecognized]

1st Tuesday in November

Election Day (US) [1st Tuesday after 1st Monday]

International Skeptics Day [1st Tuesday after 1st Monday]

Taco Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Takeout Tuesday [1st Tuesday of Each Month]

Target Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Tater Tot Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

To-Do List Tuesday [1st Tuesday of Each Month]

Tranquil Tuesday [1st Tuesday of Each Month]

Trivia Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Two For Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Weekly Holidays beginning November 5 (1st Full Week of November)

None Known

Festivals Beginning November 5, 2024

Pitchfork Music Festival (London, United Kingdom) [thru 11.9]

Mutations (Brighton, United Kingdom) [thru 11.9]

Feast Days

Albert Camus Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

All Jesuit Saints and Blesseds (Christian)

Bertille, Abbess of Chelles (Christian; Saint)

Domninus (Christian; Saint)

Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist (Christian; Saint)

Episteme (Christian; Saint)

Festival of Amun (Ancient Egypt)

Galation (Christian; Saint)

Guido Maria Conforti (Christian; Saint)

Herne’s Day I: Prey (Pagan)

Jan Zrzavý (Artology)

John Berger (Writerism)

Louise the Chicken (Muppetism)

Magnus (Christian; Saint)

Marie de Molina (Positivist; Saint)

Nones of November (Ancient Rome)

Oral Sex Day (Pastafarian)

Philips Koninck (Artology)

Pietro Longhi (Artology)

Raymond Duchamp-Villon (Artology)

Richard Cosway (Artology)

Sam Shepard (Writerism)

Triads Day (Celtic Book of Days)

Turning the Devil’s Boulder (Shebbear, England; Everyday Wicca)

Wet Wellington Wednesday (Imps and Gremlins; Shamanism)

Wuwuchim Fire Ceremonies begin (Hopi) [16-Day Festival]

Zachary, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Dismal Day (Unlucky or Evil Day; Medieval Europe; 21 of 24)

Egyptian Day (Unlucky Day; Middle Ages Europe) [21 of 24]

Fatal Day (Pagan) [22 of 24]

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [45 of 53]

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [50 of 60]

Premieres

The Beach Party (Disney Cartoon; 1931)

Best of My Love, by The Eagles (Song; 1974)

The Broken Sword, by Poul Anderson (Novel; 1954)

Bryan Adams, by Bryan Adams (Album; 1980)

Carpe Jugulum, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 1998) [Discworld #23]

Chess Story (a.k.a. The Royal Game), by Stefan Zweig (Novel; 1942)

Coma, by Robin Cook (Novel; 1977)

Death Has Deep Roots, by Michael Gilbert (Novel; 1951)

The Eternals (Film; 2021)

Fear of Flying, by Erica Jong (Novel; 1973)

Finch (Film; 2021)

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, by Elton John (Album; 1973)

Hello, I Must Be Going!, by Phil Collins (Album; 1982)

Her Honor the Mare (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1943)

Immigrant Song, by Led Zeppelin (Song; 1970)

The Incredibles (Animated Pixar Film; 2004)

Interstellar (Film; 2014)

Into the Woods (Broadway Musical; 1987)

The Iron Man, by Ted Hughes (Novel; 1968)

Justified, by Justin Timberlake (Album; 2002)

Madman Across the Water, by Elton John (Album; 1971)

The Man from Snowy River (Film; 1982)

Manon of the Spring (Film; 1987)

The Marbleheads, Parts 3 & 4 (Underdog Cartoon, S3, Eps. 15 & 16; 1966)

The Matrix Revolutions (Film; 2003)

Megamind (Animated Film; 2010)

Morning Edition (Radio Series; 1979)

My Generation, by The Who (US Song; 1965)

The Nat King Cole Show (TV Variety Show; 1956)

The Old Mill (Silly Symphony Disney Cartoon; 1937)

127 Hours (Film; 2010)

One Mississippi (TV Series; 2015)

Out Foxed (Tex Avery Droopy MGM Cartoon; 1949)

Past Tense, 23rd Jack Reacher book, by Lee Child (Novel; 2018)

Porky in Egypt (WB LT Cartoon; 1938)

The Remains of the Day (Film; 1993)

Savage Night, by Jim Thompson (Novel; 1953)

Starship Troopers, by Robert A. Heinlein (Novel; 1959)

Sugar and Spies (WB LT Cartoon; 1966)

Three for Breakfast (Disney Cartoon; 1948)

True Grit, by Charles Portis (Novel; 1968)

Two Weeks to Live (TV Mini-Series; 2020)

Unchained, by Johnny Cash (Album; 1996)

You’re An Education (WB MM Cartoon; 1938)

Today’s Name Days

Bernhard, Berthild, Emmerich (Austria)

Elizabeta, Emerik, Fibicije, Imbro, Mirko, Modesta, Zakarija (Croatia)

Miriam (Czech Republic)

Malachias (Denmark)

Vaho, Vahto, Vahur (Estonia)

Reima (Finland)

Sylvie, Zacharie (France)

Emmerich, Hardy, Zacharias (Germany)

Epistimi, Galaktion, Linos, Silvanos (Greece)

Imre (Hungary)

Cesareo, Zaccaria (Italy)

Late, Lote, Šarlote (Latvia)

Audangas, Elžbieta, Elzė, Florijonas, Gedvydė (Lithuania)

Egil, Egon (Norway)

Blandyn, Blandyna, Dalemir, Elżbieta, Florian, Modesta, Sławomir, Zachariasz (Poland)

Epistimi, Galaction (Romania)

Imrich (Slovakia)

��ngela, Isabel, Zacarías (Spain)

Eugen, Eugenia (Sweden)

Perdita, Tiara, Tiera, Tierra, Swain, Swana (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 310 of 2024; 56 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of Week 45 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Hagal (Hailstone) [Day 10 of 28]

Chinese: Month 10 (Yi-Hai), Day 5 (Gui-You)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 4 Heshvan 5785

Islamic: 3 Jumada I 1446

J Cal: 10 Wood; Threesday [10 of 30]

Julian: 23 October 2024

Moon: 13%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 2 Frederic (12th Month) [Cosimo De Medici the Elder]

Runic Half Month: Wyn (Joy) [Day 14 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 44 of 90)

Week: 1st Full Week of November

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 13 of 30)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 11.5

Holidays

American Football Day

Bank Transfer Day

Bonfire Night (UK)

Book Editors Day

Britney Day (Las Vegas)

Burning of the Tar Barrels (Ottery St. Mary, Devon, UK)

Christian Visibility Day

Cinco de Noviembre (Negros Island, Philippines)

Colón Day (Panama)

Commercial TV Broadcast Day

Elvis Has Left the Building Day

Feast of No Return

Firewood Day

Flux Capacitor Day

Foreign Intelligence Service Day (Kazakhstan)

Genghis Khan Day (a.k.a. Chinggis Khaan Day)

Gunpowder Day (UK)

Guy Fawkes Day (a.k.a. Guy Fawkes Night; UK)

International Day of Fairy Tale Characters

International Day of the Clown

International Prosthetics & Orthotics Day

International Romani Language Day

International Volunteer Managers Day

Kanakadasa Jayanthi (Karnataka, India)

Military Intelligence Day (Armenia; Russia)

National Cash Back Day

National Concrete Appreciation Day

National Day of Democracy (Palau)

National Erik Day

National Flora and Fauna Day (Indonesia)

National Love Your Red Hair Day (Ireland)

National Luke Day

National Medical Cannabis Day

National Men’s Hair Color Confidence Day

National Pride Day (Mongolia)

National Redhead Day

National Sneaker Day

Negros Revolution Day (Philippines)

Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrels (Devon, UK)

Parkin Day

Personal Record Day

Pope’s Day (a..k.a. Pope Night)

Puno Day (Peru)

Tori No Ichi (Rooster Day #1; Japan)

Turkey Day (French Republic)

Turning the Devil’s Stone (Devon, UK)

Velleda Asteroid Day

World Day of Caregivers

World Day of Cinema

World Interact Day

World Tsunami Awareness Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Denog Day (Drake’s Brewing)

National Chinese Take-Out Day

National Doughnut Appreciation Day

National Hot Sauce Day [also 1.22]

Wiggle Jiggle Jell-O Day

Independence & Related Days

Day of the First Shout For Independence (El Salvador)

First Cry of Independence Anniversary Day (Ecuador)

Istoria (Declared; 2009) [unrecognized]

Kocistan (Declared; 2016) [unrecognized]

1st Tuesday in November

Election Day (US) [1st Tuesday after 1st Monday]

International Skeptics Day [1st Tuesday after 1st Monday]

Taco Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Takeout Tuesday [1st Tuesday of Each Month]

Target Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Tater Tot Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

To-Do List Tuesday [1st Tuesday of Each Month]

Tranquil Tuesday [1st Tuesday of Each Month]

Trivia Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Two For Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Weekly Holidays beginning November 5 (1st Full Week of November)

None Known

Festivals Beginning November 5, 2024

Pitchfork Music Festival (London, United Kingdom) [thru 11.9]

Mutations (Brighton, United Kingdom) [thru 11.9]

Feast Days

Albert Camus Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

All Jesuit Saints and Blesseds (Christian)

Bertille, Abbess of Chelles (Christian; Saint)

Domninus (Christian; Saint)

Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist (Christian; Saint)

Episteme (Christian; Saint)

Festival of Amun (Ancient Egypt)

Galation (Christian; Saint)

Guido Maria Conforti (Christian; Saint)

Herne’s Day I: Prey (Pagan)

Jan Zrzavý (Artology)

John Berger (Writerism)

Louise the Chicken (Muppetism)

Magnus (Christian; Saint)

Marie de Molina (Positivist; Saint)

Nones of November (Ancient Rome)

Oral Sex Day (Pastafarian)

Philips Koninck (Artology)

Pietro Longhi (Artology)

Raymond Duchamp-Villon (Artology)

Richard Cosway (Artology)

Sam Shepard (Writerism)

Triads Day (Celtic Book of Days)

Turning the Devil’s Boulder (Shebbear, England; Everyday Wicca)

Wet Wellington Wednesday (Imps and Gremlins; Shamanism)

Wuwuchim Fire Ceremonies begin (Hopi) [16-Day Festival]

Zachary, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Dismal Day (Unlucky or Evil Day; Medieval Europe; 21 of 24)

Egyptian Day (Unlucky Day; Middle Ages Europe) [21 of 24]

Fatal Day (Pagan) [22 of 24]

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [45 of 53]

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [50 of 60]

Premieres

The Beach Party (Disney Cartoon; 1931)

Best of My Love, by The Eagles (Song; 1974)

The Broken Sword, by Poul Anderson (Novel; 1954)

Bryan Adams, by Bryan Adams (Album; 1980)

Carpe Jugulum, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 1998) [Discworld #23]

Chess Story (a.k.a. The Royal Game), by Stefan Zweig (Novel; 1942)

Coma, by Robin Cook (Novel; 1977)

Death Has Deep Roots, by Michael Gilbert (Novel; 1951)

The Eternals (Film; 2021)

Fear of Flying, by Erica Jong (Novel; 1973)

Finch (Film; 2021)

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, by Elton John (Album; 1973)

Hello, I Must Be Going!, by Phil Collins (Album; 1982)

Her Honor the Mare (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1943)

Immigrant Song, by Led Zeppelin (Song; 1970)

The Incredibles (Animated Pixar Film; 2004)

Interstellar (Film; 2014)

Into the Woods (Broadway Musical; 1987)

The Iron Man, by Ted Hughes (Novel; 1968)

Justified, by Justin Timberlake (Album; 2002)

Madman Across the Water, by Elton John (Album; 1971)

The Man from Snowy River (Film; 1982)

Manon of the Spring (Film; 1987)

The Marbleheads, Parts 3 & 4 (Underdog Cartoon, S3, Eps. 15 & 16; 1966)

The Matrix Revolutions (Film; 2003)

Megamind (Animated Film; 2010)

Morning Edition (Radio Series; 1979)

My Generation, by The Who (US Song; 1965)

The Nat King Cole Show (TV Variety Show; 1956)

The Old Mill (Silly Symphony Disney Cartoon; 1937)

127 Hours (Film; 2010)

One Mississippi (TV Series; 2015)

Out Foxed (Tex Avery Droopy MGM Cartoon; 1949)

Past Tense, 23rd Jack Reacher book, by Lee Child (Novel; 2018)

Porky in Egypt (WB LT Cartoon; 1938)

The Remains of the Day (Film; 1993)

Savage Night, by Jim Thompson (Novel; 1953)

Starship Troopers, by Robert A. Heinlein (Novel; 1959)

Sugar and Spies (WB LT Cartoon; 1966)

Three for Breakfast (Disney Cartoon; 1948)

True Grit, by Charles Portis (Novel; 1968)

Two Weeks to Live (TV Mini-Series; 2020)

Unchained, by Johnny Cash (Album; 1996)

You’re An Education (WB MM Cartoon; 1938)

Today’s Name Days

Bernhard, Berthild, Emmerich (Austria)

Elizabeta, Emerik, Fibicije, Imbro, Mirko, Modesta, Zakarija (Croatia)

Miriam (Czech Republic)

Malachias (Denmark)

Vaho, Vahto, Vahur (Estonia)

Reima (Finland)

Sylvie, Zacharie (France)

Emmerich, Hardy, Zacharias (Germany)

Epistimi, Galaktion, Linos, Silvanos (Greece)

Imre (Hungary)

Cesareo, Zaccaria (Italy)

Late, Lote, Šarlote (Latvia)

Audangas, Elžbieta, Elzė, Florijonas, Gedvydė (Lithuania)

Egil, Egon (Norway)

Blandyn, Blandyna, Dalemir, Elżbieta, Florian, Modesta, Sławomir, Zachariasz (Poland)

Epistimi, Galaction (Romania)

Imrich (Slovakia)

Ángela, Isabel, Zacarías (Spain)

Eugen, Eugenia (Sweden)

Perdita, Tiara, Tiera, Tierra, Swain, Swana (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 310 of 2024; 56 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of Week 45 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Hagal (Hailstone) [Day 10 of 28]

Chinese: Month 10 (Yi-Hai), Day 5 (Gui-You)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 4 Heshvan 5785

Islamic: 3 Jumada I 1446

J Cal: 10 Wood; Threesday [10 of 30]

Julian: 23 October 2024

Moon: 13%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 2 Frederic (12th Month) [Cosimo De Medici the Elder]

Runic Half Month: Wyn (Joy) [Day 14 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 44 of 90)

Week: 1st Full Week of November

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 13 of 30)

[trendtrackershq]

Unveiling the Cultural Canvas: How Culture Shapes Vietnam Graphic Design Market

Introduction:

Vietnam, with its rich tapestry of culture, traditions, and history, serves as an abundant source of inspiration for graphic designers. In this comprehensive exploration, we delve into the profound impact of Vietnamese culture on graphic design, unveiling how traditions, folklore, culinary arts, and architectural marvels weave themselves into the vibrant designs that emerge from this dynamic nation.

According to the study by Next Move Strategy Consulting, the global Vietnam Graphic Design Market size is predicted to reach USD 1.84 billion with a CAGR of 5.0% by 2030.

Request for a sample, here: https://www.nextmsc.com/vietnam-graphic-design-market/request-sample

Vietnamese Folklore:

A Well of Inspiration Vietnam's folklore, steeped in centuries-old tales and legends, provides an endless well of inspiration for graphic designers. Stories of mythical creatures such as the dragon, phoenix, and turtle find their way into graphic designs, symbolizing strength, resilience, and prosperity. These motifs often adorn packaging, posters, and branding materials, infusing them with a sense of mystique and cultural significance.

For example, the image of the "Long Mạch" - a legendary dragon from Vietnamese mythology - might be stylized and incorporated into a company logo, symbolizing power and auspiciousness. Similarly, the graceful silhouette of the "Hồ" (Vietnamese phoenix) could inspire intricate patterns in textile designs or digital illustrations, evoking a sense of elegance and beauty.

In addition to mythical creatures, Vietnamese folklore is replete with tales of heroic figures, ancient battles, and timeless love stories, all of which provide rich material for graphic designers to draw upon. Whether it's the legendary Trưng Sisters who led a rebellion against Chinese domination or the tragic romance of the fairy couple, Chử Đồng Tử and Mỵ Nương, these narratives offer a wealth of themes and motifs that resonate with audiences of all ages.

Inquire before buying, here: https://www.nextmsc.com/vietnam-graphic-design-market/inquire-before-buying

Cuisine as a Design Palette Vietnamese cuisine, renowned for its bold flavors and vibrant colors, serves as a delightful palette for graphic designers. From the iconic "áo dài" (traditional Vietnamese dress) to the intricate patterns found in ceramic dishes, the culinary arts offer a treasure trove of visual inspiration.

Graphic designers often draw upon the rich hues of ingredients including turmeric, pandan leaves, and dragon fruit to create eye-catching color schemes for branding and packaging. Moreover, the artful presentation of dishes, such as the meticulous arrangement of herbs and garnishes in a bowl of "phở" (Vietnamese noodle soup), inspires designers to explore concepts of symmetry, balance, and harmony in their compositions.

Furthermore, the cultural significance of certain dishes adds layers of meaning to graphic designs. For instance, the "bánh chưng" (square glutinous rice cake) and "bánh dày" (round glutinous rice cake), traditionally eaten during the Lunar New Year (Tết), symbolize the earth and the sky respectively, representing the harmonious balance of yin and yang. Incorporating these motifs into design elements can evoke feelings of tradition, celebration, and cultural pride.

Architecture: Reflecting Heritage and Modernity Vietnam's architectural landscape is a testament to its diverse history and cultural heritage. From ancient temples and pagodas to French colonial villas and contemporary skyscrapers, the country’s environment offers a visual feast for graphic designers.

Traditional Vietnamese architecture, characterized by its emphasis on wooden structures, sloping roofs, and intricate carvings, inspires designers to incorporate elements of texture, symmetry, and symbolism into their work. For instance, the ornate patterns found in the façade of the "One Pillar Pagoda" in Hanoi might inspire a graphic designer to create intricate line art for a promotional poster or brochure.

Conversely, the sleek lines and futuristic aesthetic of modern Vietnamese architecture, as seen in landmarks such as the Bitexco Financial Tower in Ho Chi Minh City, provide a canvas for designers to explore concepts of innovation, progress, and urbanization. This juxtaposition of old and new, tradition and modernity, lends a dynamic energy to graphic designs in Vietnam, reflecting the country's evolving identity on the global stage.

Impact of Vietnamese History and Traditions on Graphic Design In addition to folklore, cuisine, and architecture, Vietnam's history and traditions play a significant role in shaping graphic design in the country. From ancient dynasties and colonial rule to wars and revolutions, the nation's tumultuous past has left an indelible mark on its visual culture.

For example, motifs from Vietnam's imperial era, such as the "longevity symbol" (bát tràng) or the "five blessings" (ngũ phúc), are often incorporated into graphic designs to evoke a sense of heritage and cultural continuity. Similarly, images of national heroes including Hồ Chí Minh or symbols of resistance and liberation, such as the hammer and sickle, serve as potent visual symbols in propaganda posters and political graphics.

Moreover, traditional crafts and artistic practices, such as lacquer painting, silk weaving, and woodblock printing, continue to inspire contemporary graphic designers in Vietnam. By reinterpreting these time-honored techniques through a modern lens, designers can create visually stunning and culturally resonant artworks that bridge the gap between the past and present.

Challenges and Opportunities in the Vietnamese Graphic Design Market While Vietnamese graphic designers draw inspiration from their rich cultural heritage, they also face a unique set of challenges and opportunities in the competitive global market. Limited access to resources, outdated infrastructure, and a lack of formal design education programs are among the hurdles that designers must navigate.

However, the rapid growth of Vietnam's economy, coupled with advancements in technology and connectivity, has created new opportunities for graphic designers to showcase their talents on a global stage. With the rise of e-commerce platforms, social media marketing, and digital publishing, designers have more avenues than ever before to reach international audiences and collaborate with clients from around the world.

Furthermore, initiatives such as design competitions, art festivals, and creative hubs are helping to foster a vibrant design community in Vietnam, providing support, mentorship, and networking opportunities for emerging talent. By harnessing the power of collaboration, innovation, and cultural exchange, Vietnamese graphic designers are poised to make their mark on the global design scene.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Vietnamese culture serves as a boundless source of inspiration for graphic designers, shaping the visual landscape of the nation with its rich tapestry of folklore, cuisine, architecture, history, and traditions. By drawing upon these cultural elements, designers can infuse their creations with depth, meaning, and a distinct sense of identity that resonates with audiences both at home and abroad.

As Vietnam continues to embrace its cultural heritage while forging ahead into the future, graphic design remains a powerful medium through which the essence of this vibrant nation is celebrated and shared with the world. By honoring the past, embracing the present, and envisioning the future, Vietnamese graphic designers are charting a bold course toward creative excellence and cultural relevance on the global stage.

[strijkdesign]

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

enjoy your mooncakes <3

[legend-collection]

Kumiho

A kumiho or gumiho is a creature that appears in the folktales on East Asia and legends of Korea. Korean kumiho shares many similarities to the Chinese huli jing and the Japanese kitsune. It can freely transform, among other things, into a beautiful woman often set out to seduce boys, and eat their liver or heart (depending on the legend).

The old Chinese text Classic of Mountains and Seas, the earliest record to document the nine-tailed fox, mentioned that the fox with nine tails came from and lived in the country called Qingqiu three hundreds miles east, the term meaning "green hill" interpreted as the country or region of the east and was later historically used to refer to the region of Korea at least since the era during the Three Kingdoms of Korea. However, it also must be noted that the name of Gojoseon (called Joseon in the record), the Korean kingdom that existed along with other minor states of the Korean peninsula at the time, was separately introduced in the same record.

the gumiho/kumiho by kuechi farron

Kumiho and other versions of the nine-tailed fox myths and folklores share similar concept. All explain fox spirits as being the result of great longevity or the accumulation of energy, said to be foxes who have lived for a thousand years, and give them the power of shapeshifting, usually appearing in the guise of a woman. However, while China's huli jing and Japan's kitsune are often depicted with ambiguous moral compasses, possibly good or bad, the kumiho is almost always treated as a malignant figure who feasts on human flesh. It is unclear at which point in time Koreans began viewing the kumiho as a purely evil creature, since many ancient texts mention the benevolent kumiho assisting humans (and even make mentions of wicked humans tricking kind but naïve kumiho).

In later literature, kumiho were often depicted as bloodthirsty half-fox, half-human creatures that wandered cemeteries at night, digging human hearts out from graves. The fairy tale The Fox Sister depicts a fox spirit preying on a family for their livers.

The most distinctive feature that separates the kumiho from its two counterparts (Japanese kitsune, and Chinese huli jing) is the existence of a 'yeowoo guseul' (literally meaning fox marble/bead) which is said to consist of knowledge. According to Korean mythology, the yeowoo guseul provides power to the kumiho and knowledge (and intelligence) to people if they can steal and swallow one. The kumiho can absorb humans' energy with it. The method of absorbing energy with the "yeowoo guseul" resembles a "deep kiss" (i.e. a kiss using a tongue). The kumiho sends the yeowoo guseul into people's mouths and then retakes it with their tongues. If that person swallows the yeowoo guseul, however, and then observes "sky, land, and people", each observation gives the observer preternatural knowledge. But the person fails to watch the "sky" in most tales, so they get a special ability but not the most important one.

Most legends state that while a gumiho was capable of changing its appearance, there is still something persistently fox-like about it (i.e. a foxy face, a set of ears, or the tell-tale nine tails) or a magical way of forcing; its countenance changes, but its nature does not. In Transformation of the Kumiho, a kumiho transforms into the identical likeness of a bride at a wedding and is only discovered when her clothes are removed. Bakh Mun-su and the Kumiho records an encounter that Pak Munsu has with a girl, living alone in the woods, that has a foxy appearance. In The Maiden who Discovered a Kumiho through a Chinese Poem, the kumiho is ultimately revealed when a hunting dog catches the scent of a fox and attacks. Although they have the ability to change forms, the true identity of a kumiho was said to be zealously guarded by the kumiho themselves. Some tales say that if a kumiho abstains from killing and eating humans for a thousand days, it can become human.

Much like changelings, werewolves or vampires in Western lore, there are always variations on the myth depending on the liberties that each story takes with the legend. One version of the mythology, however, holds that with enough will, a kumiho could further ascend from its yogoe (spirit) state, become permanently human and lose its evil character. Explanations of how this could be achieved vary, but sometimes include aspects such as refraining from killing or tasting meat for a thousand days, or obtaining a cintamani and making sure that the Yeoiju saw the full moon at least every month during the ordeal. Unlike Yeoiju-wielding dragons, kumiho were not thought to be capable of omnipotence or creation at will, since they were lesser creatures.

[thegirlwiththelantern]

5 Cookbooks I Want to Try

I recently reviewed and vlogged Chinese Fairy Tale Feasts. Each rocky venture into the kitchen has been a success. If very slow. But I’m very excited to continue learning. Mooncakes and Milk Bread by Kristina Cho Mooncakes & Milk Bread is a one-of-a-kind culinary adventure through the world of Chinese bakeries from architect-turned-food-blogger Kristina Cho. Discover all-new recipes,…

[ahsokasshoto]

Yes. Totally. If you've got the time, I'd love a Bad Batch spread with the Tarot of the Divine Deck. Thanks in advance ♡

i've got all the time 😎

1. Hunter: your overall emotional state (what in your environment is affecting you right now)

Queen of Swords - Turandot

This is an Arabic folktale which tells of the princess Turandot who was very beautiful, but refused anyone who wished to marry her. She had so many suitors that she devised challenging riddles to deter them. One prince was able to solve the riddles, but Turandot was not able to learn his name.

Your emotional center is calculating and exacting; your feelings are precise. Approach them with openness and with not judgement, but decisiveness about whether the feeling is serving you or not.

2. Tech: your mental state (what in your life could use a little logic)

Five of Wands - The Pandavas

This Indian legend from a Sanskrit epic poem tells of the Pandavas--five brothers who worked together in the face of conflict. They escaped a burning building together, and when sent to barren land, they developed it so well that it's said the lands rivalled the heavens.

This card is all about uniting that which is scattered or broken. Maybe your mind is being pulled in many directions. Find the common threads between your paths to narrow your scope.

3. Wrecker: your overall physical state (what will nourish you right now)

The Devil - Boitatá

In this Brazilian legend, there was once a night that did not end. The Amazon forest remained dark and rained so much it flooded, and the ancient snake Boitatá woke from a slumber and began to feast on the eyes of the dead animals. With each eye eaten, the snake grew brighter until it was aflame and banished the rain and brought warmth and light back to the forest.

The Devil card is all about getting down with your bad self! And that can mean whatever you want it to mean from dancing in your living room to sexy times. Your physical center is craving that fiery, spirited energy. Satiate yourself with even your dark desires because....the more you receive, the more you can give.

4. Echo: your overall spiritual state (what is defining you right now)

The Lovers - Beauty and the Beast

In this Chinese version of the fairy tale, a man who enjoyed picking flowers for his daughters one day picked flowers too close to the domain of the Beast. The Beast demanded one of his daughters' hands in marriage, and the youngest bravely went with him. One day she came back to visit her father and when she returned, the Beast was dying of thirst. She plunged him into the river and his curse was broken, turning him back into a prince.

Your spiritual center is in a good harmony right now--open, communicative, balanced. Your spirit sees to the true heart of things.

5. Crosshair: a challenge to face/overcome

King of Swords - Griffon

In Persian mythology, griffins are kings of land animals (as they are part lion) and birds (as they are part eagle) and represent power, wisdom, and strength. They are so strong they help pull the chariot that carries the sun across the sky each day.

The griffon is all about power through wisdom. As a challenge, this could be wisdom you're struggling to access or accept. Let yourself be open and free to travel through these new ideas.

6. Omega: heart, passion, motivation (what is your purpose?)

Seven of Coins - Nanahuatzin

This story from Aztec mythology tells of a weak, poor man Nanahuatzin and a wealthy, strong man Tecciztecatl to be sacrifices to become the moon and the sun, respectively. But at the last moment, Tecciztecatl's courage failed him and he cowered away from the sacrificial flame. Nanahuatzin was unafraid and jumped in, so he became the sun instead of Tecciztecatl.

Your heart is humble yet strong and unafraid, and your purpose is bold! You may need to scrap something in order to start fresh, but the results will be brilliant!

Hope you enjoyed!! 😊

request a spread

[scribbleb-red]

Neil is a lying liar who lies AU

A Morning AU - with a fab prompt from @djhedy

There’s a new boy in Andrew’s class and there’s something not quite right about him. He’s mouthy and sharp, the kinda kid that should end up in detention three times a week but never does.

They are seven years old, though the new kid looks five, with eyes like a wide open sky. 

He is very pretty - that’s why Andrew notices him first - he looks like a fairy prince. 

And it’s because Andrew is watching that he notices though: the kid is a big bad lying liar who lies. 

The day he joined, the kid said his name was ‘Stefan’ to Mrs Stewart and ‘Chris’ to Mr Brasenose. The next day he was just ‘Neil’ and was given a fond, exasperated warning to keep his make believe in the playground. 

 But the kid didn’t stop lying.

Some lies were big and others were small. 

On a Tuesday, Neil announced that he’d had a huge feast for breakfast - listing all the foods and making everyone’s mouth water with the descriptions. (But Andrew saw how he winced nd held his stomach like it was empty.)

On a Thursday, Neil said he grew up in England and proceeded to spend the next week speaking in a post English accent. (But he later admits at lunch it was just a couple months).

On a Friday, Neil whispers that his house is haunted and he’s scared to go home for the weekend. (There’s a little too much truth shining through those eyes as he talks about the ghost in his house. Andrew doesn’t doubt that he’s scared of something).

The following Monday, Neil explains his bruises by saying he spent the week learning to skateboard. 

“My cousin visited and let me use her skate board. It was pretty rad.” 

(Andrew eyes the split lip, it could be true. But then he sees the hand shape around Neil’s thin wrist and knows the truth: it’s a lie.)

Through it all, Andrew is very quiet and very alone. He knows how this goes - he’s seven years old with more cracks in his heart than a fifty year romantic - but he kinda enjoys Neil’s lies and how he gets away with them.

He particularly likes the outrageous ones: 

My father parachuted into Paris because he’s a spy. He died landing on the Eiffel Tower. I once wrestled a monster. I won but it stole all my mom’s apples. I’m telling the truth. My tongue goes green when I lie. I met Kevin Day.

Andrew won’t pretend he’s not intrigued. He thinks Neil is interesting and his lies are ones he can often hold in the dark, imagining over and over when he’s hurt and wishing to be anyone, anywhere but here.

Plus Neil is funny - he always snarks at the teachers and gets away with the most ridiculous things. Other kids always want to play with him because his games are brilliant - epic journeys, castles and wizards, magical tigers, patchwork villains made from the skin of children. 

Some of Neil’s tall tales are part fairytales, part nightmares.  And Andrew isn’t sure which part Neil actually belongs to. There are times where he’s the brightest, prettiest boy on the playground. And times where his eyes are haunted, mouth wicked cruel. And then there are times like today, where Neil is quiet and blank - a little too familiar to what Andrew sees in the mirror these days, looking like someone has scooped out his insides and left nothing but darkness behind in its wake. 

Andrew almost talks to him then. 

Almost.

But he doesn't. Not for another few weeks. Not until Neil's facing down Greg Doyle - the fight has the vibe of a hissing kitten against a rottweiler. 

 There's no way Neil can win. Greg is a third grader and big beside. 

But Neil doesn't look scared. He looks ferocious.

Not that appearances are going to help. Neil could have the sharpest claws of them all and he'd still weigh nothing against Greg. Neil dodges and ducks the first few blows. He snipes and snarks, that liar's mouth rattling off stories of how he took down a SWAT team once.

But dumb luck can’t do everything and finally Greg gets a thump in, straight across Neil’s jaw - hard enough to make him stagger. 

"So much for a SWAT team, fucking liar." 

There are gasps at the bad word from the growing first and second grade audience. 

"Tongue turns green," Neil says. He spits out blood.

Andrew's had enough when he sees the blood. 

Neil might be an idiot but Andrew knows that there's no way to win this one on alone He steps forward and puts himself between Neil and Greg. 

"Oooo who's this, your boyfriend?" 

Andrew would roll his eyes, but can't be bothered. He is the tallest kid in their year at nearly 4'5. He can look the nine year old Greg in the eye without trouble and he can see the bigger kid calculating his chances of taking Andrew on instead of the skinny little creature that was Neil "motor mouth" Josten.

"Back off," he says. He doesn't inflect. He watched a cartoon where a character spoke completely flat and it was really scary so he figures this might make Greg cower too. "Leave him alone."

Greg nearly steps into Andrew's space but someone has started a whisper: 

Andrew Doe is the kid who killed his parents. Andrew Doe is the kid that burned a house down. Andrew Doe is the kid who took on Bertie Becker from fifth grade and flushed his head down the loo.

It's the last one that gives away the source of these rumours - Neil has started a chain of Chinese whispers. And Greg hears them swirling from mouth to mouth, ear to ear, each more terrifying than the last. It makes Andrew want to grin, so he does. Greg actually whimpers.

The crowd laughs when Greg runs away - he can’t save face when he’s fleeing from a first grader. 

Andrew feels triumphant. 

 Especially when Neil steps up beside him, shy smile and summer sky eyes. “Thanks Andrew.” 

 Neil Josten knows his name, Andrew thinks. Wow wow wow.

Neil’s mouth is swollen but he’s still the prettiest boy in the playground so Andrew doesn’t say anything. 

“Want to play a game?” Neil says. 

 Andrew shrugs. 

 “Yes or no?” Neil says again. “I won’t force you but I’d like to play with you to if you’d like to play with me.”

Andrew thinks about it before saying yes. 

It’s the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

*

They start with games - make believe quests and imaginary journeys. They visit magical worlds in their heads and fall about laughing when one of them (mostly Andrew) doesn’t break character even for class.

They become inseparable - two boys with home lives full of ghosts but dreams that can take them anywhere. The lying liar is the better story teller but the stoic hero a better actor. And sometimes in games they hide their truths - violent families and horrifying pasts.

Neil shows Andrew his scars, “I sometimes say they’re from a shark or ninjas and stuff but...” 

“That’s from an iron.” 

“Yeah.”

In turn, Andrew tells Neil about his foster family. 

“We could poison him,” Neil says. “I heard we can make poison from apple cores. Applesenic or something.”

If only it were that simple.

It happens just before the end of the year - summer is nearly there and Andrew can only imagine how fun it'll be having a friend to adventure with for the first time. And then he finds out that his foster family is getting rid of him. He'll be packed off at the end of term.

"I think mom and I will move too," Neil admits. "We never hang around anywhere long." 

"Because of your dad?" 

"Yeah..." Neil plays with the hem of his t-shirt. "He's in prison but mom is still terrified. She moves us a lot." 

"Maybe you can move to the same place as me."

They pretend that the world isn't going to split them apart. 

They pretend that they're going to have the summer together. 

And the year after. 

That they'll start middle school together. 

And be best friends all the way to the end of high school.

And go to the same college.

"We could play exy together all the way through," Neil says. It's his new obsession. 

"I'm not going to play stickball. I prefer playing games with you." 

"We can play games on the court. You can be the fierce dragon and I'll be the knight that looks after you."

"You'd steal all my dragon gold." 

"Would not." 

Andrew raises one eyebrow. 

"Okay, yes I would. I'd be the knight trying to take your gold. But I'd be sneaky about it." Neil's laughter is high and bright. "Does that mean you'll play with me?" 

"Yeah okay," Andrew says.

But it doesn't work out that way. 

Neil vanishes like sun behind a mountain the day after term ends. 

Andrew's bags are packed. He's dumped in a new home near the beach. He hates the beach. He misses Neil the way his lungs miss oxygen when he's stuck in the swell of a wave.

He does play exy though. 

He does it because he figures one day he'll find Neil on a court too. 

He'll either face him down or by some miracle they'll be on the same team. 

He'll find Neil again. He will.  

He tells himself this every day. 

Even when it feels like a lie.

*

Something like an epilogue

Years pass before Andrew hears anything about the little boy who - for two semesters when he was seven - was his best friend. So many years that if it weren't for one polaroid from a cheeky arcade photo-booth, he might have let the idea of Neil go.

But he keeps the photo with him - through home after home, through Cass and Drake and juvie and Aaron and Nicky. He hides it in books, folds it into pockets. Makes sure to hold onto Neil and the memories of those few happy months.

He plays exy. Keeps track of other teams and their players. The sport does nothing for him - but sometimes he closes his eyes and imagines Neil with his flashing blue eyes mischievous smile and that long ago conversation. He remembers why he's doing this.

At 13, he asks Pig Higgins to do a search on Neil's name but the policeman refuses. 

At 14, he goes through the entire directory for California and when that's exhausted, he starts searching every state from West to East. 

He calls 362 Jostens across the USA. None are Neil.

When he turns 16, he uses a fake and has two small dragons outlined on the top of his left shoulder. 

When he's 17 he meets Riko and Kevin Day. He remembers Neil once saying he'd met Kevin and wonders if that was true or just one of Neil's many many lies. He turns the Ravens down.

He signs two weeks later with the Palmetto State Foxes - taking his brother and cousin with him. 

He watches as the lists of drafted players on other teams go up. There's no Chris or Stefan or Abram - not with the matching face Andrew wants. There's no sign of a Neil Josten.

Andrew smooths out the photo at night, slipping it between the pages of Whitman's Leaves of Grass every morning. 

Maybe it's time to put the memory of Neil to rest, but he can't. 

Neil is one of those beautiful ghosts that he can't help but hold onto. The one unspoilt thing in his memory.

Unspoilt, that is, until a Monday when Kevin Day announces he's recruiting a nobody from a nothing town in the middle of nowhere Arizona and the nobody's name is Neil.

"Neil what?" 

"Josten. Want to see his tape?" 

"Nope," Andrew says. But his heart is a thunderdrum, hope cutting through the medicated hyper mania easy as a knife through butter. "Actually yes, gimme the tapes little birdie." 

Kevin grimaces at his nickname but says nothing until they’re watching the tape. And then he can’t shut up about the player’s potential, his speed and natural flare on the Court. 

It's not Andrew’s Neil. 

But it is too. 

The striker on the court is a brunette with dark eyes but he runs like Neil. He's ferocious and plays like it's the last thing keeping him afloat. He has that little flick of his racquet before he goes to score, a telltale that would never get passed Andrew but no one else seemed to have noticed. 

Andrew says as much to Kevin. 

"Exactly," Kevin says. "That's why we have to have him."

So they go to Millport. 

And Andrew knows Neil well enough to anticipate that he'll run. 

Knows him well enough to trip him with a racquet and catch him as he falls. 

Neil hasn't grown much either - he's still small and sharp and far too pretty to be real.

"Stupid little liar, you should watch where you put your feet." Andrew wishes he were sober. Wishes he didn't have to greet Neil with this grin splitting his face. 

Wishes wishes wishes. 

But his one wish has already come true, Neil is here with him. Warm and lithe and alive.

"Drew?" Neil says, but the word is choked and breathless. Neil’s voice does something to Andrew’s insides and Andrew feels the muscles beneath his hands warring between flight and relief. 

"Neil," he replies. 

"Oh my god, Drew." 

And then Neil's arms are around Andrew's shoulders, and his face is turning into his neck and Andrew realises they're hugging and he shouldn't want to hug back but he does. He does because it's Neil. His friend. His pipe dream. The little boy with the pathological need to lie and an imagination that could create whole worlds from a handful of dust. 

He hugs Neil tight. 

Never wants to let go.

Kevin of course ruins the moment. 

But Neil isn't going to say no to the Foxes. Not now. 

And even though Andrew can recognise the lies slipping passed Neil's lips, he doesn't tell Wymack. Doesn't call out his idiot's new ouchies. Doesn't answer any questions when Kevin demands answers.

"Sign," he speaks only to Neil. He means, Stay with me. "We can play a game. Yes or no?" 

"Yes," Neil says and his smile is a little wild, a lot wonderful. "Let's play a game."

The End.

[brookston]

Holidays 12.20

Holidays

Abolition Day (Réunion)

Bo Aung Kyaw Day (Burma)

Cathode-Ray Tube Day

Day of National Mourning (Panama)

Dot Your I's Day

Dot Your I's With Smiley's Day

Fête des Cafres (Abolition of Slavery Day; Réunion, French Guiana)

Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover Day

Games Day

Go Caroling Day

Halcyon Days of Calm Seas begin

International Human Solidarity Day (UN)

Invocation of Molag Bal (Elder Scrolls)

Kitzmas

Louisiana Purchase Day

Make An Ornament Day

Mudd Day

Poet Laureate Day

Resilience Night

Ring of Troth Day

Sacagawea Day

SARE Day (Macau)

Tammasmass E'en (Orkney Islands)

Try to Remember Where You Hid the Christmas Gifts Day

Yuletide Lad #9 arrives (Bjugnakraekir or Sausage Pilferer; Iceland)

Food & Drink Celebrations

BPT Remembrance Day (Before Pop Tarts)

National Sangria Day

Pop Tart Day

Independence Days

Macau (Macau Special Administrative Region established, 1999)

Feast Days

Cheech & Chong Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Dominic of Silos (Christian; Saint)

Guyton Morveau (Positivist; Saint)

Hanukkah Day #2 (Judaism) [thru Dec. 26th]

Mōdraniht (Mother’s Night; Anglo-Saxon Pagans)

Mother Night (Beginning of Yuletide; Celtic, Pagan) [Begins at Sunset]

Not Frank Zappas Birthday (Pastafarian)

O Clavis (Christian; Saint)

Paul of Latrus (Christian; Saint)

Philogonius (Christian; Saint)

Pongol of the Sun (Hindu)

The Refined Young Cannonballs (Muppetism)

Swashbuckling Day (Pastafarian)

Ursicinus of Saint-Ursanne (Christian; Saint)

Katharina von Bora (Lutheran)

Yaldā (Iran; eve of the birth of Mithra) [Day before Winter Solstice]

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [50 of 53]

Lucky Day (Philippines) [69 of 71]

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

All That Jazz (Film; 1979)

Born on the Fourth of July (Film; 1989)

Concert for Bangladesh (Live Album; 1971)

Dreamgirls (Broadway Musical; 1981)

Everybody Plays the Fool, recorded by The Main Ingredient (Song; 1971)

Father of the Bride (Film; 1991)

Flaming Star (Film; 1960) [Elvis Presley #6]

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Film; 2011)

The Godfather Part II (Film; 1974)

Grimm’s Fairy Tales (Book; 1812)

Hot Rocks 1964-1971, by The Rolling Stones (Compilation Album; 1971)

It’s a Wonderful Life (Film; 1946)

Ivanhoe, by Walter Scott (Novel; 1819)

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (Film; 2017)

The Man with the Golden Gun (US Film; 1974) [James Bond #9]

Persuasion, by Jane Austen (Novel; 1817) [#6]

Rosamunde, by Helmina von Chézy with incidental music by Franz Schubert (Play; 1823)

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Film; 2019)

Two Weeks Notice (Film; 2002)

The Witcher (TV Series; 2019)

Today’s Name Days

Eike, Holger, Julius, Regina (Austria)

Ignat (Bulgaria)

Eugen, Julije, Makarije, Slobodan, Zefirin (Croatia)

Dagmar (Czech Republic)

Abraham (Denmark)

Pärja, Pärje (Estonia)

Benjamin, Kerkko (Finland)

Isaac, Jacob, Théophile (France)

Eike, Holger, Julius (Germany)

Ignatios (Greece)

Teofil (Hungary)

Liberato, Macario (Italy)

Abrams, Argods, Arta, Minjona (Latvia)

Daugardas, Gražvilė, Teofilis (Lithuania)

Abraham, Amund (Norway)

Amon, Bogumiła, Dominik, Liberat, Teofil (Poland)

Ignatie (Romania)

Dagmara (Slovakia)

Domingo, Eugenio, Teófilo (Spain)

Israel, Moses (Sweden)

Ammon, Roxana, Roxanne, Roxie (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 354 of 2022; 11 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 51 of 2022

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ruis (Elder) [Day 25 of 28]

Chinese: Month 11 (Dōngyuè), Day 27 (Ding-Wei)

Chinese Year of the: Tiger (until January 22, 2023)

Hebrew: 26 Kislev 5783

Islamic: 26 Jumada I 1444

J Cal: 24 Zima; Twosday [24 of 30]

Julian: 7 December 2022

Moon: 10%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 18 Bichat (12th Month) [Guyton Morveau]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 11 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 90 of 90)

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 28 of 30)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 12.20

Holidays

Abolition Day (Réunion)

Bo Aung Kyaw Day (Burma)

Cathode-Ray Tube Day

Day of National Mourning (Panama)

Dot Your I's Day

Dot Your I's With Smiley's Day

Fête des Cafres (Abolition of Slavery Day; Réunion, French Guiana)

Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover Day

Games Day

Go Caroling Day

Halcyon Days of Calm Seas begin

International Human Solidarity Day (UN)

Invocation of Molag Bal (Elder Scrolls)

Kitzmas

Louisiana Purchase Day

Make An Ornament Day

Mudd Day

Poet Laureate Day

Resilience Night

Ring of Troth Day

Sacagawea Day

SARE Day (Macau)

Tammasmass E'en (Orkney Islands)

Try to Remember Where You Hid the Christmas Gifts Day

Yuletide Lad #9 arrives (Bjugnakraekir or Sausage Pilferer; Iceland)

Food & Drink Celebrations

BPT Remembrance Day (Before Pop Tarts)

National Sangria Day

Pop Tart Day

Independence Days

Macau (Macau Special Administrative Region established, 1999)

Feast Days

Cheech & Chong Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Dominic of Silos (Christian; Saint)

Guyton Morveau (Positivist; Saint)

Hanukkah Day #2 (Judaism) [thru Dec. 26th]

Mōdraniht (Mother’s Night; Anglo-Saxon Pagans)

Mother Night (Beginning of Yuletide; Celtic, Pagan) [Begins at Sunset]

Not Frank Zappas Birthday (Pastafarian)

O Clavis (Christian; Saint)

Paul of Latrus (Christian; Saint)

Philogonius (Christian; Saint)

Pongol of the Sun (Hindu)

The Refined Young Cannonballs (Muppetism)

Swashbuckling Day (Pastafarian)

Ursicinus of Saint-Ursanne (Christian; Saint)

Katharina von Bora (Lutheran)

Yaldā (Iran; eve of the birth of Mithra) [Day before Winter Solstice]

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [50 of 53]

Lucky Day (Philippines) [69 of 71]

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

All That Jazz (Film; 1979)

Born on the Fourth of July (Film; 1989)

Concert for Bangladesh (Live Album; 1971)

Dreamgirls (Broadway Musical; 1981)

Everybody Plays the Fool, recorded by The Main Ingredient (Song; 1971)

Father of the Bride (Film; 1991)

Flaming Star (Film; 1960) [Elvis Presley #6]

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Film; 2011)

The Godfather Part II (Film; 1974)

Grimm’s Fairy Tales (Book; 1812)

Hot Rocks 1964-1971, by The Rolling Stones (Compilation Album; 1971)

It’s a Wonderful Life (Film; 1946)

Ivanhoe, by Walter Scott (Novel; 1819)

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (Film; 2017)

The Man with the Golden Gun (US Film; 1974) [James Bond #9]

Persuasion, by Jane Austen (Novel; 1817) [#6]

Rosamunde, by Helmina von Chézy with incidental music by Franz Schubert (Play; 1823)

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Film; 2019)

Two Weeks Notice (Film; 2002)

The Witcher (TV Series; 2019)

Today’s Name Days

Eike, Holger, Julius, Regina (Austria)

Ignat (Bulgaria)

Eugen, Julije, Makarije, Slobodan, Zefirin (Croatia)

Dagmar (Czech Republic)

Abraham (Denmark)

Pärja, Pärje (Estonia)

Benjamin, Kerkko (Finland)

Isaac, Jacob, Théophile (France)

Eike, Holger, Julius (Germany)

Ignatios (Greece)

Teofil (Hungary)

Liberato, Macario (Italy)

Abrams, Argods, Arta, Minjona (Latvia)

Daugardas, Gražvilė, Teofilis (Lithuania)

Abraham, Amund (Norway)

Amon, Bogumiła, Dominik, Liberat, Teofil (Poland)

Ignatie (Romania)

Dagmara (Slovakia)

Domingo, Eugenio, Teófilo (Spain)

Israel, Moses (Sweden)

Ammon, Roxana, Roxanne, Roxie (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 354 of 2022; 11 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 51 of 2022

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ruis (Elder) [Day 25 of 28]

Chinese: Month 11 (Dōngyuè), Day 27 (Ding-Wei)

Chinese Year of the: Tiger (until January 22, 2023)

Hebrew: 26 Kislev 5783

Islamic: 26 Jumada I 1444

J Cal: 24 Zima; Twosday [24 of 30]

Julian: 7 December 2022

Moon: 10%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 18 Bichat (12th Month) [Guyton Morveau]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 11 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 90 of 90)

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 28 of 30)

[starsofdarknebula]

Huli Jing/Kitsunes/Kumiho

Unlike fairies, foxes have no separate realm; they dwell in the material world, just like their less-talented animal brothers and sisters. Their idea of good real estate varies considerably, though. In tales, foxes live:

In dens in the woods, like ordinary foxes.

In tombs, or in dens dug into graves. Foxes bear a close relationship to the dead. Sometimes this relationship is almost brotherly, and foxes live in the graveyard out of fellow feeling for the dead. Occasionally, however, a fox digs burrows through a graveyard to eat the corpses. (This theme is more common in Korea.) In some traditions, foxes need human skulls to transform into human shape, so they may live in the graveyard to be close to the raw material for their magic. In most stories, though, the reason the fox lives in the graveyard is unstated. Foxes are close to the dead, and that's reason enough.

In an abandoned house. Foxes often take up residence in abandoned or ruined houses, which might show themselves in their full, uncrumbled magnificence to humans who happen upon them. Sometimes the house has the reputation of being haunted; sometimes it has no reputation, and the bewildered visitors discover later that their gracious hosts were something more or less than human. The magic used to disguise these houses is the same used by more conventionally denned foxes to make their holes in the ground look like houses or palaces.

On the grounds of human houses. Foxes occasionally den in the garden or under the house, and make a racket running to and fro all night. In a Japanese story, a householder was so irritated by the noise that he called a fox hunter to come and kill the foxes. The night before the hunter was due, the patriarch of the fox clan appeared to the man in a dream and begged the man to give his family another chance. He promised that he would keep the foolish youngsters of the family under control. The man agreed, with the proviso that he would call the hunter back if the ruckus started up again, and from then on peace reigned. (Note that the head of the family was able to take on human form, but the younger members presumably could not.)

In the rafters of human houses. Chinese foxes often live invisibly in the exposed rafters, the better to raise hell for their unwilling hosts. They fill the same niche in China's spiritual ecology as the poltergeist, and do all the same things. The rafters are also the home of choice for a variety of good and neutral foxes, but in general, if a Chinese roof is infested, it's no good for anyone. The previous three fox homes make sense from a naturalist's point of view. Foxes live anywhere they can find food, and that includes graveyards and back yards. However, they're firmly land-dwelling creatures. They might climb a tree from time to time, but they prefer to live where they can dodge into a hole easily. So why does story after story put them in the rafters? Is this just a folklore convention, or were old Chinese houses built such that foxes really did live in their rafters?

In a room of a human house. Like ghosts, foxes sometimes haunt a room of a house. Sometimes they let the family use the room during the day, but insist upon having food and wine laid out for them so they can have a private feast at night. Sometimes they throw things around and break everything they can lay their paws on unless they're given the room for the entire day. Sometimes they make a mess even when they do get the room to themselves for the entire day. Sometimes they make a mess and demand food and drink. And sometimes they're sweet as sugar and quiet as a mouse, the better to lure an unsuspecting visitor into the room for a leisurely kill. They are almost always invisible, usually but not always solitary (there are memorable stories of entire fox drinking parties), and always in need of a good, strong exorcism. or, barring that, a team of fox hunters.

Foxes also live in human houses, palaces, brothels, and monasteries as "human" inmates of those places.