#Cultural holiday insights

[thejuniorage]

Discover enchanting Christmas customs from diverse cultures with our captivating exploration of 'Fascinating Christmas Traditions From Around The World.

[vaspider]

I want to learn more about Jewish culture and history after a recent Ancestry test confirmed my family are Ashkenazi Jews, but the process is daunting with the state of misinformation and antisemitism in the USA. How can I start if going to a synagogue and asking is just not an option? (Comments and info in tags are welcome)

A few places to start. :)

I have tried to provide a basic, broad selection of sites across a number of different strains of thought within the Jewish world. None of these links are an endorsement of a particular site, publication on that site, or point of view on that site. We're Jews: we disagree strenuously about deeply essential things & are still one people.

I really hate that I have to say these things, but every time I post about Judaism at all, someone comes through like they think they're Encyclopedia Brown or some shit, trying to sniff out what I 'really mean' by what I post. What I mean is that these are basic resources. :)

[evi-anxiety]

To follow up my last post, I also wish we got more insight on Galra culture.

It seems like such a waste to have two very prominent alien races in a show and then not do much with their culture. I want to see religious/mythological figures, holidays and special traditions, behaviors and characteristics that are unfamiliar to our human characters

[remembertheplunge]

Hello! I’m not gay (at least I don’t think so), and I can’t remember how I stumbled across your blog but I wanted to thank you for sharing your life story. It’s helped me learn more about gay culture which I didn’t know much about before, other than a little bit about the partying aspect. I know that was worded awkwardly, sorry. But reading your blog as well as talking to older LGBT people showed me some of what non-gay people think about them is stereotypes based in fear or ignorance. I hope you have a great Christmas and New Year’s holiday and please stay safe! Take care

Wow! Thank you. Your words mean a lot to me. I'm glad that my journal entries give you insight into what being out and gay in America is and has been like. I think it's also great that you are talking with older LBGT people to hear their stories. We are just people living our lives.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you as well.

[15-lizards]

Hi I love the Stormlands and your wonderful posts is the only insight I’ve seen of the unloved Stormlands for clothes 😍 Would it be ok if you could elaborate on the clothes and styles with house baratheon in the steffon and cassava era? How do you think baratheon court changed from rhalle Targaryen to cassana estermont to renly? Do you think they had more Targaryen influences with rhalle or she embraced Baratheon styles, I have complete blank on what cassana era would be but I can so see renly going tyrell!!! Thoughts???? I’m so so loving your series my girl!!!😍😍😍 baratheon style and Stormlands get so unloved even the masters didn’t add their tree in the book they made for Robert

Ofc!!! The stormlands are my unloved favorite, and I’ve been meaning to get into them more so let’s go girls 🏃🏻‍♀️

I think the main aspect of stormlands clothing is durability. They need something that can last the constant harsh rain and wind and terrain. The air is probably always damp and the ground is rocky, so clothing is mostly sturdy cottons and other fibers, along with thicker coats or jackets made of animal skin to keep rain off. Hair is covered too, more for practical reasons than religious

Stormlander men keep it simple, partially bc they’re hard masculine #real men (Steffon doesn’t fuck with that “girly” shit at kings landing) and partially bc it’s just easier to deal with. Life is harder in the stormlands, and it would be even more difficult if they had long clothing and belts and jewelry getting in the way. Just leather, wool, and anger issues

They still have fancy clothing and such, but it’s not worn nearly as often and Stormlanders idea of “fancy” is probably different from the Reaches. Nice articles are probably reused and saved for important occasions. Detailed embroidering and patterned fabric are probably a luxury, so only the richer houses have that kind of stuff. However it’s my headcanon that there is a lot of precious metals in the mountains of the Stormlands, so essentially everyone has access to it for their accessories

And honestly smallfolk clothing isn’t that much different than most minor nobles. It’s essentially the same type of fabrics and layers, though not as neatly made. Smallfolk clothing can be defined as rough wool shifts, sturdy pants, one or two stiff overlayers tied with corded belts. Clothing good for work and marching to endless wars in the dornish marches

Also I kinda love the idea of more folk-like clothing worn by smallfolk on holidays and special occasions. Like each area of the stormlands and every village has their own variation of cultural clothing, and it gives them something nice to wear on holidays instead of old scratchy wool. Since Cassanna is a character in name only, I have a headcanon that she was a big promoter of cultural events native to the stormlands, and frequently paid for tourneys and festivals where Stormlanders could come together and celebrate more

[flusteredmoonn]

carolina

summary: "carolina stains on the dress she left," in which the song provides insight into how the marauders experience and celebrate halloween with their partner.

tags: (SFW), fluff, drabble?, headcanons?, slightly canon divergent, ooc!marauders, gn!reader, x reader.

words: 1.0k+

discography. request.

james potter

james potter loves halloween. aside from christmas, it's probably his favourite time of the year. there's nothing this boy loves more than celebrating halloween, particularly as its the point which muggle tradition and wizard tradition converge. muggle magick practices and the celebration of the supernatural combine with the reality in the wizarding world.

whole heartedly i believe that james would go full out with the halloween antics. dressing up, no question. he has a bowl of sweets already waiting by the door for eager trick or treaters. best believe he tries to guess each child's costume, revelling when he guesses correctly. he always calls his partner down when he hears the telling knock on the door to show off their coordinated costume to the kids, and probably more so to the appreciation of the parents accompanying their children out and about.

james would dress up with his partner as something like batman and robin, or danny and sandy, or coraline and wybie, or mr and mrs incredible. he loves to throw himself at halloween, and fully will commit to any character he dresses up as. he would let his partner style him entirely, buzzing with anticipation because of the joy he finds in this holiday.

if his partner didn't particularly fancy the whole event which was halloween, i think he would tone it down slightly, but also try to get them in on the halloween spirit. if they weren't budging he wouldn't take it to heart, just enthuse enough halloween celebration for the both of them. (though i don't truly think he would be with someeone who wouldn't match his freak)

the end of october is his favourite time of year because it connects both him and his partner and himself to his community. particularly upon moving to godric's hollow, where muggles are unknowingly intertwined within the wizarding world. other than christmas it is the time which james thrives the most, injecting the spooky spirit into everyone he encounters.

sirius black

sirius has a tricky relationship with halloween. he doesn't feel particularly strongly about the tradition – primarily because his family never really cared for it, and more than anything frowned upon it because of its non-magical origins. he doesn't understand it. as he begins his time at hogwarts his entire world is flipped when october inevitably arrives. the school is donned in festive decor; singing jack o' lanterns lining each of the halls and bats migrating to live closer to the activity of the students, sleeping among shadowed corners of the halls.

during christmas break when he returns to grimmauld place, his parents express their distain for both christmas and halloween traditions. they down talk their experience with halloween at hogwarts, and how it must've dampened their experience when they were at school. that was the first time he was unsure of how right about everything his parents were. that was the first time he doubted his parents.

so naturally, when he gets a partner who adores halloween, its a massive culture shock. even if his partner just wants to have a bowl of sweets to hand out to the children of the neighbourhood who come knocking. after a while, he begins to get more into it. he could probably be convinced to dress up, but it would take a while to convince him to do anything that remotely matches. however, if his partner adored halloween, he would put up with it – be way more into it then he'd ever admit – for them.

remus lupin

remus never experienced halloween in his childhood. he never truly understood what it even was. that was until he got to hogwarts and it was thrust upon him in his third month at the school. immediately he fell in love with the holiday. he loved the fact that it celebrated otherness, and that he got to watch the muggle world around him celebrate lycanthropy. even more so because they were so unaware of the dangers and nuance of it surrounding them, so far from the fiction they knew.

he got one day a year where he fit in with his peers, who all dressed up, despite being the faces of the muggle holiday. this is until a full moon falls on the thirty-first of october. he then resents the day and the agonies it reminds him of for the years to come, yet the discovery of his condition by his friends leads him to have a new appreciation for the day, and the beauty he had initially found in it at eleven.

him having a partner equally as enthusiastic of the holiday is a must. he wouldn't necessarily be prone to dressing up, but would adore the holiday and appreciate it more so away from the capitalistic origins. however, i believe he wouldn't give them too much grievance if they disliked the holiday for whatever reason, as long as it wasn't to the degree of loathing it. i think he balances precariously between loving and hating halloween, and can be easily swayed based on where he is at in his life, rather than holding a more fixed opinion of the spooky season.

from the artist: i meant to post this on halloween but i had grad and exams and life got away from me the last month and a bit. sorry

[superman-the-secret-third-thing]

Superman's Day of Truth! (1965)

A.k.a. Silver Age Superman is obligated to be honest for an entire day and he's a douche about it.

At least it gave us some neat insights to Kryptonian culture, such as this weird holiday and the fact they were formerly colonized by an oppressive alien race before uprising, inspired by the actions of a martyred youth, but more importantly, Superman is so mean in this!

[lemonlyman-dotcom]

Hi 🍋

I know you're busy with your rewatch but I was wondering cause I miss your rec lists: do you have a rec list for fics that heavily feature the 126's different religions? Them celebrating different holidays or discussing stuff or such?

Would love to see such a list, I feel like the fandom should have a general list where these fics are featured 💙

Hi anon!! Thank you so much for this lovely ask! Perfect timing, actually, because the fic I’m writing now, which I’ve affectionately been calling Eid Fic, centers around Marjan’s relationship with her faith and her family. It will heavily feature Marjan & TK discussing their own faiths, and sharing memories of holidays, fasting and family. And also how they grow together over the years and form their own found family.

I’m sorry my rec lists have fallen to the side lately! You are not the only person who’s asked me about them, and I promise they’re coming back! I’ve just been feeling a little overwhelmed lately (can you just be whelmed?). But I love any excuse to rec some of the amazing fics in this fandom. And this theme in particular is really exciting to me because we don’t have nearly enough of it! I have scoured by memory and my bookmarks for you, and here’s what I’ve found. Unsurprisingly, it mostly focuses on Carlos and TK’s faiths.

Disclaimer: this is by no means a comprehensive list, it is just what I remembered and what I found. If you know of other fics that feature religion, especially other characters, please reply/reblog with the links!

Carlos - Catholicism

The Line I'd Walk (For You) by TearsThisSideofHeaven Carlos lights a candle and says a prayer to St. Florian, the patron saint of firefighters when TK returns to work after being shot. TK asks him where he goes, so Carlos brings him to church one morning.

What is Sown, What is Grown by @never-blooms Carlos character study, beautiful glimpse into Carlos’s experience growing up Tejano and how his family shaped him.

I Swear I Love You (Te Juro Que Te Amo) by @never-blooms Nochebuena fic!! Beth gives us a really beautiful look at Nochebuena, which is the Christmas Eve holiday in Latinx cultures! This fic is full of everything you would expect from a good Nochebuena party: family, nosy siblings and aunties, chisme, delicious food and so much music.

to build a home by @freneticfloetry Carlos Begins, this fic follows Carlos from childhood through present day. Courtney gives us a lot of beautiful insight into Carlos’s background and culture, and there is some exploration of religious aspects especially in the last chapter.

And if you will allow a couple from me 🤭

I'm Not A Fortress, But I Will Try To Protect You TK & Marjan get together for pie after Marj breaks up with Salim and before TK goes back to Carlos. Marjan voices her fear of disappointing her parents with the news of the breakup, and TK offers to be there for her when she makes the phone call. Marjan also gives TK some perspective on what it was probably like for Carlos growing up in a conservative religious home.

The Greatest Gift I’ve Found, The Sweetest Thing I’ve Known My Nochebuena fic!! It’s got some holiday traditions and a lot of family love.

TK - Judaism

knock-knock-knockin' on heaven's door by rakketyrivertam Five prayers TK sang for other people, and one he sang for himself

a case of cruel to be kind by @maxbegone This is a really lovely AU based on the movie About Time. The plot is that TK discovers he can travel back in time to events in his past, and that he inherited the gift from Gwyn. But at the heart of the story is a really beautiful examination of Gwyn and TK’s relationship. This includes a look at some traditional Jewish funeral and grieving practices, through the eyes of TK after Gwyn’s passing.

The last day of Hanukkah by @ladytessa74 A very sweet little Hanukkah fic set in Tessa’s Elijah verse, in the future where Tarlos has a four-year-old named Elijah. This story gives us a glimpse of Hanukkah in the Strand-Reyes house, the little traditions and the food.

Looking at it now, it all seems so simple by @liminalmemories21 Enzo and Jonah come to town, set between seasons 3 & 4 (though S4 kinda makes it an AU now 😖). Explores TK’s relationship with his faith through Carlos’s eyes, they celebrate Hanukkah and have a Shabbos dinner, and there are a few conversations about what parts of their own cultures and religions they want to bring into the family they’re forming, and how they want to raise any future kids.

Rosa Mundi by fiddlersgreen TK, Carlos and Owen go to New York for Gwyneth's funeral. I must admit it’s been a minute since I read this, but this author gives a really lovely perspective of what Gwyn’s funeral might have been like with the Jewish traditions and customs.

[forumgamer]

A Jane Austen moment

I am currently re-reading Northanger Abbey (not my favourite Austen, but also not my least - probably rank 3-4 I'd say), and I was struck with the realisation how ODD the notion of Catherine Morland's trip to Bath would be to many modern people.

Here is a young girl (17), going on a trip to Bath with a rich older couple that are neighbours to her parents - not as an au pair or governess or whatever, but as a guest and companion. Taken along to have fun, as a kind gesture of favour and goodwill. And they aren't even her godparents or relatives or something!

And I find that notion so very charming.

Catherine is not like poor Fanny Price, rather abused than cherished, used as an indispensable companion for a very silly and lazy lady (though Mrs Allen certainly has her share of silliness and indolence...). From how their relationship is presented, the Allens seem genuinely motivated by wanting her to enjoy herself. They don't mind her meeting new people and spending time with them, and she in turn refers to them when she is unsure about how to behave in this to her completely new and exciting world. And rich as they may be, they also seem to spare little expense in taking her to Bath and there to balls and plays.

We have today a weird aversion to inter-generational friendships, or so it seems to me. Yet when I was growing up, in a semi-detached suburban house, I was always welcome at our neighbours' house and table. Sure, mostly because they had a boy my age who quickly became my friend, but even now, when we have both moved out, I rarely visit my parents without also checking in with their neighbours, who are like an uncle and aunt to me.

And as for myself, I have no children of my own, and will never have any either. Yet working as a teacher, I get to interact with younger people on a daily basis, and you guys, young people can be amazing company. Sure, some of their concerns appear trivial to me, but I remember they weren't that way when I was their age - just as some of my views or hobbies might seem odd or boring to them, yet they also know I have seen more of the world than they, and apply to me for insights into issues that they feel unsure about.

And guys... I get it. I get what the Allens feel. I might still be a bit young to QUITE get it (I assume the Allens to be in their 50es or so, which I am not for another decade), but... imagine taking a seventeen-year old teenager, that has never been able to travel so far, to a prime holiday spot! Showing them Paris, London, Prague or Rome, seeing their amazement and delight, presenting them the art, cuisine, culture and pleasures of such an unfamiliar site... to find new enjoyment in these things yourself by witnessing their effect on someone younger and more excitable than yourself.

I doubt I will ever have the option to do so, because a) times have changed and b) if Mr Allen had been a bachelor/divorcee like me, the book's plot could not have happened back then either, but... I think I might like it. I really would.

[radioaktiv666]

transchinese tips?

Transchinese tips!

𓍢ִ໋🇨🇳 learn about their religions! Toaism and buddhism are major ones. Learning about what those religions put emphasis on can definitely offer some insight into what chinese culture was founded on!

𓍢ִ໋🇨🇳 learn about and celebrate the chinese new year and zodiacs! And other holidays!

𓍢ִ໋🇨🇳 eat things like dumplings and fried rice!

[esoteric-chaos]

Samhain Masterpost - Spoonie Witch Friendly

Samhain, Halloween as we know it. Celebrated on October 31st to November 1st (May 1st in the Southern Hemisphere). Samhain is a cross-quarter fire celebration and the halfway point between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice.

Samhain is the 3rd and final fall harvest festival. This day is also known as the Witches New Year.

The veils are believed to be thinned, allowing the dead to return to the earth. Samhain is celebrated in many different cultures around the world. An important holiday to most.

Correspondences 

Colours

Black

Deep Purple

Silver

Grey

Orange

Gold

Dark Red

Herbal

Sage

Mugwort

Rosemary

Garlic

Hemlock

Belladonna

Marigold

Red Roses

Cedar

Cinnamon

Edibles

Apples

Pumpkin

Spiced Cake

Gourds

Squash

Mulled Wine

Corn

Mead

Nuts

Cider

Seeds

Fermented Food

Animals

Cats

Spiders

Moths

Wolves

Owls

Crows

Ravens

Scorpian

Bats

Vultures

Rats

Swans

Crystals

Moonstone

Amethyst

Carnelian

Obsidian

Black Tourmaline

Bloodstone

Silver

Iron

Onyx

Spiritual meanings & intentions

Transformation

New Journeys

Ancestors

Heritage

Death

Sorrow

Loss

Afterlife

Rebirth

Knowledge

Insight

Foresight

Relaxation

Recuperation

Divination

Planning and preservation

Shadow Work

Thinning of the Veil

Fae

Scents

Cinnamon

Nutmeg

Cloves

Honey

Pine

Star Anise

Sage

Pumpkin

Gods / Goddesses / Spirits

The Morrigan (Irish)

Hekate (Greek)

Demeter (Greek)

Hel (Norse)

Freyja (Norse)

Persepone (Greek)

Cerridwen (Celtic)

Rhiannon (Celtic)

Psyche (Greek)

Osiris (Egyptian)

Anubis (Egyptian)

Hades (Greek)

Cernunnos (Celtic)

Loki (Norse)

Dionysis (Greek)

Need some suggestions to celebrate? I got you covered.

High energy celebrations

Cleanse

Do a release ritual

Divination

Connect with ancestors

Carve a jack o’ lantern

Make a besom

Create witches bottle

Visit a graveyard and give your respects (be respectful!)

Low energy celebrations

Leave offering for ancestors

Chat with the folk about family history

Light incense

Burn something you’d like to let go on a piece of paper

No spoon celebrations

Eat pumpkin or any sort of squash

Leaving some of your food aside for the ancestors

Any sort of mischief. Telling a joke or pulling a prank

 Remember that it’s okay if you cant do much while you are unwell. That you come first and you simply existing is a blessing.

How you celebrate the holiday does not matter. You can choose to do any activity that feels right. These are only suggestions and remember that you're enough no matter what.

[ails-of-ardor-au]

Okay…. Where to begin…

PLEASE NOTE: Any and all ideas, insight, constructive criticism, and support is welcomed!

This is not a project I intended to make, really, and not one I intend to put too much energy towards. Community activity is very much welcomed, and polls will be common to let you guys decide which details are added or nixed, however I will retain the final say on most matters. If something you’ve suggested doesn’t make the cut immediately, likely it either just didn’t fit or I’m saving it to puzzle-piece in somewhere else! Either way: very sorry.

Likely this will end up just being a hodgepodge of my personal ideas, tastes, and desires being implemented in a somewhat cohesive restructuring of the canon Warrior’s story in a way that feels satisfying, with heavy influence from you guys as an audience! ^^

Let’s see where this takes us, and see where it goes!

[LORE DUMP MASTERPOST] (to be added)

Things I’d like to explore:

The Clans’ ancestor worship

The true extent of StarClan’s power and sway over the living world

Assigning meaning to prefixes and suffixes, while still allowing for more “fun” and “modern” names where possible

The way apprentices earn their full names, and what that truly means for them: not only as an individual, but as a part of their society, community, and culture

Independent Clan cultures, i.e. what truly differentiates them from their neighbors

How time is tracked and kept

The long-term effect Brokenstar had on ShadowClan and his direct followers

Things I’d like to keep roughly the same as canon (though likely expand on):

Very little, admittedly…

The rough job system (leader, deputy, meddie, warrior, queen, apprentice, elder), but likely with each being broken down into specific tasks

The naming system of the cats themselves (kit’ to paw’ to suffix’ to star’) and the naming of the Clans staying… well, “the Clans”

Big canon story plot points, even if some get shuffled around

Things I’d like to add:

More queer rep

More disabled rep and how the Clans might adequately support these cats

Ways for the cats to relax and have fun! Such as holidays, popular games, the potential for plays, etc… A society driven solely to work is not a sustainable society, after all

A true connection between Scourge and Fireheart, not just something retconned in

Things I’d like to change entirely:

Shifting the “no kits” rule from medicine cats to leaders (see: the Kinless Leaders au)

The deal with the Dark Forest and StarClan, and how the two both operate independently and interact with the living

Moth Flight

The “medicine cat” role being renamed to “cleric”

The way the Three’s powers actually work

The family tree. Enough said.

The timeline, and several character’s ages

BloodClan (how/why it was started, where it fits into the world and story, how they operate, their influence on Clan culture, Clan culture’s influence on them, etc etc)

This list will probably change and grow over time! ^^

[lesbiansforboromir]

(RoP ep 5 spoilers)

I was rlly down on rop after episode 4 w/ the flagrant racism and what felt like a real dip in writing quality after the first 3 eps - both the Rhûn and Southlander survivors plots could have been done so much better, Bombadil & Barrow Wights go back to the shadow pls...

But I just watched ep 5 & we're so back!!! Love the delicious deepening poison of the Eregion plot, the web that Celebrimbor has been spun in; every scene in Numenor pulling no punches, + 'our armies cannot defeat both Adar & Sauron. Not alone' 👀

Khazad Dum developing fascinatingly as always, the web beginning to be woven around Young Durin as well (though I miss that spark of threatening ambition from Disa in the 1st season)

And these little teases of Adar & Galadriel have built up the anticipation for that plot to come in the next eps so well, Sam Hazeldine killing it!!

Will be gutted not to see Alex Tarrant again. King 😔✌🏼

Did you have any thoughts? Always enjoy your insightful takes.

Sorry this took so long to reply too I've been enduring diverse horrors but yes! I experienced the last two episodes very similarly, ep 4 was extremely disappointing just for the genuinely shocking orientalism present and whilst it had some good scenes (really enjoyed the elaboration of Isildur's history with his mother and Theo identifying with it so viscerally, the ents were beautifully voice-acted and designed and, of course, big worm) in the majority it was just all the most superfulous plotlines in this show that really have no business being in this story bundled into one episode and none of them even justified themselves by being... good.

And again, cannot express enough how bad Tom's so called 'cornish accent' was, kind of compounding the show's clearly very unexamined and dismissive attitude towards culture, accents, ethnicities and employing any of them with skill or respect.

But with that in mind I wasn't very surprised that the next episode was just better to watch, it had all the plot-relevant plotlines in it 😂 AND was just in general better television. Like I've said this before, but they've clearly worked on and better'd their understanding of 'tolkienian dialogue' for this season, I'm fully convinced by every scene and especially Miriel and Elendil's dialogue, 'when the wolves are licking at the cradle' felt particularly good to me.

And!! Full commitment to the religious conflict! Like I know people will moan and gripe that Tolkien SAID Eru wasn't worshipped but I think he meant that in a completely different way to what most people think it means. Like the Meneltarma exists, the holidays for thanksgiving to Eru exist, hereticism exists and Numenor's story is one of religious oppression, resentment and rebellion. It is a no-brainer to make that clear to the audience through reverence, shrines and prayer. I was particularly won over by the use of 'Nasie' in the shrine desicration scene, which is the quenya version of 'Amen' from Tolkien's quenya translation of the Lord's Prayer (nerd).

I'm also genuinely enjoying the Eregion plotline! Which I did not expect. I think just purely for the acting actually, like it's not groundbreaking to say that Charles Edwards is a brilliant actor but still! It's worth mentioning! He's portraying Celebrimbor in this poignantly empathetic way, not flinching from the frailties but in a way that keeps me with him emotionally 100% of the time.

And I'm enjoying Charlie Vickers offering us, the audience, a clear understanding of exactly the tools he's using to try and manipulate the people around him whilst maintaining the idea that those tactics would work. I also like that there's an effort to make Celebrimbor appear as competent as he's supposed to be this season, even though it doesn't really make up for how little the forging of the elven rings was about him initially.

And in this episode I was REALLY taken with the scene where Mirdania puts on one of the rings, there was a gentleness to the way he found her hand to pull it off and a sort of immediate comprehension of the situation that made me go hell yeah! Thats a lord of elves! Thats a masterful person! Thats someone who is gentle at heart!

Everytime the balrog comes up I'm a little annoyed and concerned, I really do not want to see the destruction of Khazad-dum in the second age, but other than that the dwarf plot line also indeed continues to be excellent. I have lesbian blinkers on about Disa so it's hard to be unbiased, but god the WAY the relationship between the two Durins is progressing... UNBEARABLY heartbreaking, they are putting in work to make this complex and to preserve both characters as ultimately good and to keep the slow disaster inevitable anyway. My personal brand of narrative agony writ large. And! Really appreciated that they had Durin tell Celebrimbor that greed was never a part of his father's personality until the ring's influence, a small thing that helps nod to the larger antisemitism issue.

HOWEVER! Having said all that, the episode was more emotionally polarising for me than solely good.

Firstly, whilst I am enjoying Narvi's characterisation, I was enjoying it mainly because in every scene with him I was like 'wow! I love this guy, he's quiet and thoughtful and a little awkward but also knows his stuff, he and Celebrimbor will get along so well! can't wait to see their friendship progress! 🙂' And then... the doors of durin were already made and Celebrimbor made a joke about Narvi being a thief? And that's the last we saw of them together 😅 Like it really felt like a check box for the writers, and is one of these mirriad of little moments where you're immediately thinking about how much time the harfoot/gandalf plotline is taking up in this very time-constrained show and wish SO much that it could be used for THESE kinds of relational developments. And I mean I know ultimately Narvi and Celebrimbor's relationship is not important for the overall plotline of the show either, and it's not a crime to focus on the characters they're using to drive the story along, but it's still disappointing and sad to see it so relegated to the sideline.

AND THEN god, the scene with Pharazon and Kemen. Like I already feel so blindsided about how fast Pharazon became king, and with the use of the Eagle too. Like I appreciate the idea that Numenor's relationship to the west is complicated and that the eagle still holds weight when elves don't, ultimately like... the Eagle came to Miriel's coronation! The fact that this was apparently such a political blow to her that there was no rebuttal she could make seems a bit insane, does she really have no political allies to debate this for her in parliment? And I know I'm the 'lore doesn't matter' guy I know but... why didn't the eagle speak? We all know they can!

But that's not even my main issue with the Pharazon and Kemen scene, DELIGHTED to finally have the show acknowledge that Kemen had a mother and wasn't grown from Pharazon's own body or something, but... okay so RoP DOES AGREE that the dunedain can just HAVE the gift of prophecy.. so why have we slandered my poor benighted palantiri once again and given them powers they have never possessed? (I know why, the cool Miriel and Elendil vision misinterpretation couldn't have happened if they hadn't I know I know but it hurts it hurts okay!!)

BUT THAT'S STILL NOT EVEN MY MAIN ISSUE, my main issue is... this is the first time in the WHOLE SHOW we've heard anyone mention death as an issue between elves and mortals. Like Pharazon seems to have touched the sceptre and been imbued with the sudden realisation that is sucks elves get to live forever when humans can't. It's being portrayed in this like 'well clearly this is unreasonable, only a tyrant would think this' when this is one of the most emotionally relatable narratives in the whole canon! And multiple characters have MASSIVE motive to connect with this resentment. I mean, didn't Elendil literally lapse in faith BECAUSE his wife died??

It's made most gruelling by the fact that RoP got SO close to crafting a narrative that would have perfectly introduced and accelerated this resentment. Miriel went to war on the word of an elf who will live near-as-makes-no-difference forever and who HAS been alive for thousands of years already and that war killed a huge swathe of humans, many of whom were young with their whole lives ahead of them, but the thousands of years old elf still survived. Like that basic formula IS the catalyst for the first wave of faithless kings of numenor in the original canon! Minastir dragged Numenor to Gil-Galad's defense after Tar-Telperien spent so many years resisting that course of action and Minastir was the last faithful king of numenor for a millenia or more. So you would think! It would be EASY for the show to capitalise on that and show kingsmen associate the deaths of their loved ones with their resentment towards elves and the west who decreed it be so! But no! Somehow, the connection seems like... avoided almost!

Earien is angry at Miriel for taking her brother to war because of an elven artifact that she percieves as mystical and untrustworthy, and that sentiment is repeated by all the kingsmen we see (though many like Belzagar dont even seem that emotionally invested at all, it's more of a political ploy for them apparently). But literally none of them seem to have even considered the fact that dying at all sucks and apparently the option to NOT do it could be on the table, bizarre when their founding king's brother made that exact choice.

I don't know the cynic in me feels like it's an attempt to lead the viewer into an unthinking dichotomy of Faithful = Good and Kingsmen = Evil with no nuance or sympathy offered to the normal people of numenor who are reasonably asking why they have to die when elves don't! Which is would be a frankly crazy take in a show where sympathy for the villainous seems to be like... A HUGE PART of the overarching narrative they're constructing!!

And it's also clearly working if all the viciousness towards Earien is anything to go by, like my god the woman's just doing what she thinks to be the right choice with all the information she has at her disposal and since NO ONE ELSE (Elendil) seems to want to actually have a calm and respectful conversation with her about why she's mistaken and have decided just shouting and threats are the best way to go (Elendil) I do not blame her even one bit.

In general the Numenor plotline remains the MOST like... like it tears me fully in half. I am in love with the designs, the acting is great, even the FOUNDATIONS of these themes and relationships are immaculate (Elendil being initially a reluctant martyr and a disconnected unsympathetic father, Isildur survivor guilt, Elendil having a daughter who was wooed by kingsman ideology, Anarion's estrangement from his father over his revolutionist religious views etc) But they're just not handling it as well as the rest of the show's plots are. It feels rushed and muddy, and the whole 'elves coming over 'ere stealing our jobs' scene still haunts me at night. I can never get over it.

AND LAST THING I am not... content with Valandil's death. Like the scene itself was great, and my god is the music this season hitting right, but I feel like it was a waste to kill him off so early. The tragedy of it was certainly immense and it's going to drive the tension in Numenor up for sure, but Valandil was really carving a place out for himself as an interesting character in his own right and I would have liked to see him go a bit further into the story before we lost him. Though, of course, he always did have to die.

[traincat]

Kaine connecting with religion but that religion being Catholicism always felt like a wasted opportunity and/or something that still has the potential for a good story? Perfect way to explicitly state Peter's Jewish identity and explore it. Also tbh I think Judaism would be good for Kaine. Yes I'm also Jewish but I swear I'm speaking objectively- it's such a hopeful religion and culture, rooted in struggle and survival in a way that Christianity isn't.

That's a really good insight about survival and Judaism and Kaine, anon. It's like the old joke about every Jewish holiday being "they tried to kill us, we survived, let's eat" but for Kaine it's more like "they tried to kill me, they succeeded, I'm here anyway so now I'm going to order $800 worth of room service." Extremely Jewish of him.

I have complicated feelings about Kaine and Catholicism—though I'm gonna go ahead and say I think comics in general handle Catholicism badly and kind of just treat it like General Christianity or Default Christianity which is I guess what happens when your media empire is founded by Jews.

It's always giving this.

But yeah like honestly I don't think my feelings on Kaine and Catholicism and Kaine and heterosexuality are really that different, where he's aware that these are things you do to Be A Person but doesn't grasp the nuance because he was grown in a vat by the worst man to ever get tenure, so he's trying to connect to something that isn't a good fit for him or that maybe he's not particularly interested in as part of his efforts to be a Real Person and not just Peter Parker's broken clone. Which is really interesting! I don't think that was Yost's intent in Scarlet Spider (2012) when it comes to either Christianity or the Kaine/Annabelle romance, but that's always how it comes off to me on a subtextual level. Kaine is trying to do things the "right way" but he only has a very limited idea of what the right way is, or even that there are other options out there for him. He sees a church, he goes into the church. He sees a girl who is into him, he tries to follow a script where he can't be with her because he's bad news, not because he's not actually interested. (I have a lot of feelings on Kaine's canon romances, such as they are. He's the gay clone.)

And because he's not like Ben and he doesn't have all of Peter's memories, he's sort of awkwardly stumbling around the concept of faith as he sees it in the wider world, without a full understanding of either the nuances of that faith or of his own heritage through Peter. I also feel like even if he did know Peter was Jewish, that might be something he would feel reluctant to embrace unless he was given permission by Peter to share in that with him, because of his complicated feelings on Peter and Ben and his relation to both of them and what he feels he can and can't take away from those connections and what he hasn't earned.

I also do sometimes wonder if Miles Warren was a (lapsed) Catholic and if that's something Kaine picked up through him. That would be something interesting to explore.

[connectparanormal]

Ancestor Worship and Norse Magic

Ancestor worship, which intertwined with their views on the supernatural and the afterlife, heavily influenced Norse magic and spirituality. Because they believed that the spirits of the dead still had an impact on the living, the Norse people had a great deal of respect for their ancestors. Not only was this reverence a sign of respect, but it was also believed to guarantee the protection, wisdom, and favor of the ancestors in their day-to-day existence. The Norse thought that there were other places where the dead might live, including Helheim, the land of the dead ruled by the goddess Hel, and Valhalla, the hall of the slain warriors. However, many spirits were believed to reside close to their graves, often in "haugr," or burial mounds. These ancestors were thought to be strong beings with the ability to influence the prosperity and well-being of their offspring. The living would regularly leave food, wine, and other treasures at these mounds in remembrance of them, asking for their protection and blessing. Ancestor worship rituals had a strong connection with Norse magic. During important holidays like Yule, people carried out rituals to commemorate the deceased and invite their spirits to participate in the celebrations and communal feast. These customs were thought to guarantee a peaceful coexistence by strengthening the connection between the living and the deceased. The "dsablót" was another significant rite dedicated to the feminine spirits known as "dísir," who were frequently regarded as protective ancestral spirits. Aside from group rites, individual ancestor worship was widespread. Families would keep altars in their homes where they could pray to their ancestors and offer sacrifices. These customs served to strengthen the belief that the ancestors were always watching over and directing their surviving relatives. It was thought that by upholding these customs, the ancestors would offer guidance, defense, and even intervention during difficult times.

Another way people practiced reverence for their ancestors was through the act of communicating with the dead, known as seir. Seirmen and Seirkona were able to communicate with ancestor spirits through trance-like states and ritualistic activities, asking for their advice and benefiting from their accumulated wisdom. People believed that this form of necromancy allowed them to access the wisdom and strength of the dead, gaining insights for divination or urgent problem solving. Norse literature and sagas often emphasize the value of ancestor worship. Heroes frequently sought permission from their ancestors before embarking on major undertakings, passing down the stories of their bravery to inspire and educate the next generation. This storytelling tradition preserved the ancestors' memory and continued to influence Norse society's culture and spirituality.

Ancestor worship was therefore a powerful manifestation of the interdependence of the living and the dead in Norse magic. It underscored the notion of intertwining the past and present, and the active influence of ancestors' spirits on their offspring's lives. The Norse people had a strong connection with their ancestors and received strength and wisdom from the generations that went before them through rituals, offerings, and communication with the dead.

More at: Ancestry Worship and Norse Magic

[kimtaegis]

✨Dear Annie!✨

🌟I truly love your “Christmas at Annie’s” FESTIVAL of LOVE! ❤️💜💞✨✨✨

Especially now with our boys being away and everything. 🥰💜💫💗💫✨First of all, I would like to tell WONDERFUL YOU, how much I enjoy your beautiful work, wise words & your eternal kindness. 💗🦄🌟❤️✨✨Even without knowing it, you helped me through a lot in the last year. Thank you so much.☺️💞🌟 You’re forever in my ❤️, lovely Annie.✨

💗I’m also so glad having met @always-is-always on here. Dear Teresa, I‘m so grateful that I can call you my friend, even in real life, despite us living on different continents. 💜❤️🥰💗💞With Bangtan, nothing is impossible. Thank you for working with me sending light and protection to them and all in all spreading the love. You give me strength. Love you lots!❤️✨💜🌟💗💫✨

😇 Dear @sweetjikook! I‘m so happy to have met you through Bangtan. ❤️💞💫Thank you so much for your friendship, humor, wisdom and the amazing photos from SK. And for being a dog lover. 🐶 Hopefully, we can go together to one of the concerts in 2026, Hon. Love you!🥰✨✨❤️💜💫😘✨✨

💗Lovely Sky @jung-koook! ✨🌟💜💞❤️💗I‘m forever grateful for your incredible work and being here for all of us. 💜💫✨💜❤️✨It‘s so wonderful how you are keeping it all together, all of us informed, all the while being so lovely, patient and kind.☺️❤️💞💗✨💫

🌟Dear @daffyjjk! I‘m very happy and honored to have met you on here, feeling so connected through our FOREVER-LOVE for BTS. 💫❤️💫💜✨❤️🌹✨I just love it when you show glimpses of your beautiful culture. 🌸🌺🌼✨Big hug! 🌹💐🧚‍♀️

✨Dear @jmdbjk! I sooo enjoy your beautiful write ups. Thank you so much for all you do! 💗💞💫💜❤️✨💫✨

💜My dear Artie @chikooritajjk, thank you so much for your incredible posts, full of wisdom and love. Reading you is always so enlightening and fascinating. 💗💫💐💫❤️💞🌟🧚‍♀️💞😇I‘m very grateful for our friendship. Love you so much. 🥰

😀My lovely, hilarious @bucky13, I just love your posts! So funny. ❤️💜💞🌟✨💫They singlehandedly helped me through some hard times. Thank you so much!💜💗💫🧚‍♀️🌹❤️💞

✨💗Dear Joy @joyswonderland1108! 🌹Even if you post less at the moment: I will forever be grateful for our friendship and your insight into everything Bangtan. Love you!🎄🌟💫💜❤️❤️💗✨💃✨💞✨

I also wouldn’t enjoy being an ARMY half as much if I hadn’t @mimmi1963, @andy-wm, @chimstarlight, @kanmom51, @mariajmajesty, @roo-bastmoon, @irmi3454, @akookminsupporter, @irishhorse-blog, @marengogo, @carolinamountainthyme, @jkjmbtsarmy, @bangtanboizz, @bookscandlesnbts, @atxn8, @juliapark13, @monismochi, @everkook, @julietapark, @jimin-updates, @mimikoolover, @verseziam, @kaylee9597, @jikook-married, @hon3ymo0n, @aricastmblr, @jimimn & @seoul-bros in my life. And I miss @whysojiminimnida. 🥰 Knowing you all makes the current heartbreak a bit less painful. Love you all so much! 💗 We will go through this together, waiting patiently and not so patiently for our beloved Boys to come back. Big hug!💞💫💗🥰💜🌹🌟❤️🌸✨💗✨🌸✨💫

✨Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to all of you and ESPECIALLY to our AMAZING ANGEL ANNIE.😇🎄💗💫🌟✨❤️💫🌟✨🧚‍♀️

Xxx,

✨Janeli🌟✨

dearest janeli, what a special letter 🥺 you have such a big heart and I’m so happy for all of these amazing people to receive so much love from you, I hope it’ll always return to you to the same extent. thank you for sharing your generous kindness, it truly means a lot to have such supportive, sweet people like you here who will always go out of their way to make everyone feel happy and loved. I wish you the most wonderful christmas time, darling, you deserve all the good things in the world, no matter what time of the year! please stay healthy and keep being the incredible angel you are for all the years to come. I’m sending you all my love!!! 💖🤍🎁💝

also let me try to tag @everkook again for you, so they see this beautiful message too 💓

Participate in Christmas at Annie’s 🎁