#like they have their diwali celebrations

[garneneva]

Headcannon that in star trek they celebrate all the religious festivals and not just Christmas/ Christian holidays. I think that this idea is neat.

[sunlitsighs]

i do not understand what booping is on this silly little site and am afraid to do it but the cat paws are terribly cute and i like them

[blackvahana]

Oh my god. I can celebrate diwali this year in the house. oh my god. it's on Oct 31st.

[stardustanddaffodils]

christmas brings up a few dilemmas that i prefer to just simply Not Think About

[someoneintheshadow456]

You gotta recognize there's going to people who have never had interacted outside of their of their own community. This includes you. And just because your community is familiar with all the right vocabulary and how to correctly say something, it doesn't mean they're actually going to support you.

"The trannies should be able to piss in whatever toilet they want and change their bodies however they want. Why is it my business if some chick has a dick or a guy has a pie? I'm not a trannie or a fag so I don't care, just give 'em the medicine they need."

"This is an LGBT safe space. Of COURSE I fully support individuals who identify as transgender and their right to self-determination! I just think that transitioning is a very serious choice and should be heavily regulated. And there could be a lot of harm in exposing cis children to such topics, so we should be really careful about when it is appropriate to mention trans issues or have too much trans visibility."

One of the above statements is Problematic and the other is slightly annoying. If we disagree on which is which then working together for a better future is going to get really fucking difficult.

[like-butterflies-and-glitter]

is it just me or is the explosion of orange flags making anyone else super uncomfortable

[wadesprincessboy]

Just found out my cities big hannukah event is likely canceled. Last year they did it indoors with shit tons of security and it will probably be the same this year. I used to love going to the event. It was a massive celebration in the botanical gardens with food and music and all the fun stuff, and now its just an indoor gathering :(

I hate antisemitism for ruining the one annual event us Jews have in this city. Im probably gonna end up going 9 hours north to go to the Auckland one because they still did it last year and I would hate to miss my favourite event of the year.

I love it so much because its a chance to not only meet other Jews, but to bring my non-Jewish friends and share my culture with them.

I just hate that goyim can have massive parades throughout the street thar inconvenience everyone and have big Diwali and Eid events at massive stadiums that are postered eveerywhere to advertise, but Jewish people cant have this one thing. We have to go indoors and not tell anyone where its at and have insane amounts of security and everything.

I wish the world was safer for us. I just want to celebrate my second favourite holiday and have good food and hang out with friends while celebrating my culture yk?

[burst-of-iridescent]

South Asian and Hindu Influences in ATLA (Part 1)

disclaimer: i was raised culturally and religiously hindu, and though i've tried to do my research for this post and pair it with my own cultural knowledge, i'm not an expert on hinduism by any means. should i mess up, please let me know.

please also be aware that many of the concepts discussed in this post overlap heavily with religions such as buddhism and jainism, which might have different interpretations and representations. as i'm not from those religions or cultures, i don't want to speak on them, but if anyone with that knowledge wishes to add on, please feel free.

it's well-known that atla draws from indigenous, east and southeast asian influences, but something i rarely see discussed in the fandom is the influences the show takes from hinduism and south asia, and there are actually far more than i think people are aware of.

so here's a (non-exhaustive list) of the main inspirations atla drew from south asian culture and hinduism, starting with...

The Avatar

the title of the show itself is taken from the ancient language of sanskrit, often considered the sacred tongue of the hindu religion. in sanskrit, the word "avatar" means to "descend" or "alight".

the concept of the avatar is a very old one, referring to the physical incarnation of a powerful deity or spirit. the idea of the avatar is most often linked to the god Vishnu, one of three supreme hindu gods collectively called the trimurti, or trinity. the avatar is said to manifest upon earth primarily in times of great need, when balance must be maintained between the forces of good and evil.

atla borrows heavily from this idea in having aang be the incarnation of a divine spirit who returns to the world during a time of immense strife, and is tasked with defeating a great evil to bring balance back to the world. and though i don't know if it was an intentional reference, it's interesting to note that Krishna, the most famous incarnation of Vishnu was also reborn amidst a fierce storm and carried through a raging sea to a new home where he would be protected from the king who sought to kill him. sounds a little familiar, doesn't it?

Agni Kai and the Philosophy of Firebending

the word "agni" derives from the sanskrit name Agni, the god of fire, though it can also generally mean "fire".

the concepts of lightning bending and the sun being the source of firebending are likely also taken from the idea of Agni, since he's said to exist simultaneously in three different forms on three different dimensions: as fire on earth, as lightning in the atmosphere, and as the sun in the sky.

Agni is a significant aspect of many rituals, including marriage rites, death rites, and the festivals of holi and diwali. the concept of Agni is one of duality: life and death, rebirth and destruction. hindu rituals accept and celebrate both aspects, revolving around the idea that destruction is not separate from creation, but rather necessary to facilitate it. the cremation of the dead, for instance, is seen as purification, not destruction: burning away the physical form so the soul is unencumbered, set free to continue the reincarnation cycle.

this influence can be seen in the firebending masters episode, which discusses the idea of fire being vital to life. the sun warriors safeguarding the original fire and demanding that zuko and aang bring fire to the dragons as a sacrifice could also reference the ritual of Agnihotra - the ritual of keeping a fire at the home hearth and making offerings to it. the purpose of this ritual differs depending on which text you refer to, but it is generally believed to purify the person and atmosphere in which it is performed, similar to how zuko and aang must make offerings to ran and shaw and survive their fire before being deemed worthy and pure.

Agnihotra is said to serve as a symbolic reminder of the vitality and importance of fire as the driving force of life, a lesson that zuko and aang also internalize from their encounter with the dragons.

Bumi

bumi's name is taken from the sanskrit word "bhumi", which means "earth". it's also the name of the hindu goddess of the earth, bumi or bhudevi.

one of the things the original animation didn't do and which i really enjoyed about the live action was that they made bumi indian and added desi inspiration to omashu. it makes perfect sense for a king whose name is as hindu-inspired as they come.

NWT Royal Palace

chief arnook's palace in the northern water tribe takes inspiration from the gopurams of hindu temples, massive pyramidal structures that served as entrance towers to the temple.

gopurams were built tall enough to be seen for miles around, beacons to signal tired or weary travellers who wished for a place to rest that a temple was nearby. it's a nice touch that the chief's palace is located in front of the spirit oasis, a similarly symbolic entryway to a sanctuary housing otherworldly deities.

Betrothal Necklaces

to preface: i doubt this was an intentional reference, and this great post talks about other cultures that could have inspired the water tribe betrothal necklaces. given the desi influence in the nwt architecture however, i figured it was worth mentioning.

the idea of betrothal necklaces being given to women by their male partners is similar to the thaali, a necklace given to hindu wives by their husbands. during hindu weddings, grooms tie the thaali around their brides' necks to symbolize their marriage. once given, wives are expected to wear their thaali till the day they die, as doing so is believed to bring good luck, health and prosperity to their husbands.

Chi-Blocking

though chi-blocking takes primary inspiration from the art of Dim Mak, it is also influenced by the south indian martial arts forms of adimurai and kalaripayattu, both of which include techniques of striking vital points in the body to disable or kill an opponent.

kalaripayattu also shares parallels with firebending, being a very physically demanding, aggressive martial art that emphasises the importance of discipline and mental fortitude. control of the mind is essential to control of the body, a philosophy similar to that espoused by iroh across the show.

Wan Shi Tong's Library

the library draws inspiration partly from the taj mahal, the famous mausoleum constructed by shah jahan during the mughal empire as a monument to his beloved wife, mumtaz mahal.

i'll end this post here since it's getting too long as it is, and the following section will be even longer. for while atla treated the concepts in this post with respect, the same unfortunately cannot be said for its depiction of guru pathik and combustion man - both of which we'll be discussing next.

[gothhabiba]

why is happy holidays a silly phrase?

Like “BCE” and “CE” for “BC” and “AD,” it seems not Christian on its surface (because it doesn’t explicitly mention “Christ”), but it is still implicitly very Christian in how it considers time (i.e. setting Jesus’ birth as year 0, or assuming that early winter is ‘the time for big holidays’)

That is, it’s based on the idea that Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa are equivalents, or at least holidays of equivalent weight (like, Chanukah is the “Jewish Christmas”). This isn’t true—Chanukah is not the most important or second most important holiday of the year. And very few people celebrate Kwanzaa like that. And there is no Muslim holiday that is tied to the wintertime (though Ramadan being in the winter for a while did confuse a lot of non-Muslims on this point, who said “happy Ramadan” during the winter for years afterward….)

So the phrase owes its currency to this very liberal-multicultural-pluralism-diversity-and-inclusion idea of the “big three” holidays that we were taught in elementary school in the U.S. All broader criticisms of liberal pluralism apply here

The phrase allows Christians to pretend that the timing of breaks from school and work (for certain people) is not entirely dependent on Christmas. But it clearly is. And if Diwali has definitely occurred by November and Chanukah is over by December 15, what do you mean by saying “happy holidays” on December 20th…?

I think the usage of the phrase can actually be a ‘microaggression’ as the kids say. Like why say “happy holidays” to me while I hand you a Christmas present and make plans with you for Christmas Eve dinner and tell you “merry Christmas.” What are you trying to say. Lmao.

Also!!! If people are saying “happy holidays” to me specifically based on how they’re racialising me (as opposed to people who just default to it with everyone), then um. Which holiday do they mean? No Muslim holidays tied to December!!

Imo, if you don’t know anything about the person you’re talking to, just say “have a good day” or something. You don’t actually have to assume that everyone else’s experience is the same as your’s while putting on a thin veneer of pretending that that’s not what you’re doing.

[tarotbyjam24]

Collective messages from Lakshmi maa :

Celebrations\ good news\ positivity\blessings are coming on your way , it could be celebration about new house , marriage, or new family member coming to the family either by adoption or birth or you could also get new pets to your house .some people are coming back to their home land connecting with their ancestors , reunions\gatherings are also coming, you're advised to to your fav hobbies or just sing \dance your heart out ! Communicate with your family , friends 🎋

Some of you could also going through heartbreaks or you're not paying attention to you're health,you're not listening to your body's need . Please listen to your body's need Keep your heart protected treat yourself with a good hearty meal !

Some of you're super content in life feeling grateful for what you've in life and that the way how you live life ! Pure joy 🩷

Some of you are planning to go on trips near nature . This is your sign to go and heal ! I feel this trip will bring you creativity and happiness too

If some of you feeling like things aren't going your way they will soon start going your way you'll rise again ,old things will end and new beginnings will come , you might have feeling delusional but I see you're gaining clarity on things and not just following blind paths ,you're getting good at making decisions,some of you might have missed opportunities but you know that everything happens for good ✨

Don't feel bad about yourself don't feel guilty,sad release these emotions find some good ways to release them I reccomend meditation,dancing ,yoga, stretching or any physical activity that you love to do . There's light at the end of tunnel

Some of you need to move on it could be anything relationship,work etc any toxic situation you're not leaving it . Don't wait for right time , welcome the transition, take help from your surroundings if needed don't feel stuck.

Some of you aren't giving \pouring when you need to ? It's wrong guys please do your best everywhere, play your roles happily don't do it half a** . Be there for the people when they need you . Give your 100% . You're also lacking self care too . Please treat yourself as the king\queen like you're and treat others that way too because people project what they're shown \given

Some are overspending their money, focusing on showing off instead of stability,being selfish,not keeping their promises,taking advantage of their powers , lacking gratitude

Some of you are stuck in situations because you're choosing to be there , viewing situations from different pov , delaying things,having resistance . Please let it go .let it be . Care for yourself and for others too . Leave your ego

Some random advice 🌷: buy flowers, redecorate your place, go to catch sunrise , watch river\stream flow, work on your heart chakra, share your success with your loved ones , celebrate your Successes, don't be materialistic, do some self care ,fix your daily schedule, do some charity if you can , don't be too lazy guys new year's in 2 months get your life together 🩷 LASTLY BELEIVE IN YOURSELF! 🫶🏻

Note: this is collective reading,things may or may not resonate,take it all lightly nothing's set in stone until you believe so also please provide feedback if it resonated or not . This is my 1st time connecting with gods, goddesses and doing collective reading too 😊 so I'm grateful if you read it and resonate with it

bless you all have a great week ahead 🍁🎃 .oh yeah HAPPY DIWALI GUYS 🪔

[julymusings]

ain't nobody like my desi girl !

who's the hottest girl in the world? my desi girl, my desi girl!

or; Jason Todd celebrating Diwali with his Indian girlfriend 🎆☄️✨

jason todd x f!indian!reader, mildly suggestive at the end (it's literally microscopic) I totally would’ve posted this last week when it was actually Diwali but I just made this blog yesterday #lolz that being said since I’m new here does anyone wanna be friends👉👈 Read Dick's version here !

When you invite him to your family’s house for Diwali, Jason shows up early to help with setting up decorations and preparing food. He’s especially eager to help with the food so he can learn to make your favorite dishes. He brings flowers for your parents and calls them ‘aunty’ and ‘uncle.’ He even does charanashpara (touches their feet). You hadn’t even told him to do that, but he did his own research because he just wants to make a good impression.

You wanted to get him a black kurta (because obviously) but he asked for a red one because he wanted to match with you. It fits him soooo nicely. The way it stretches across his broad chest and strains against his biceps when he crosses his arms…lord have mercy. That and the thin chain that hangs around his neck…you want to eat him alive.

He’s totally starstruck when he sees you in your traditional wear; the sequined red sari that exposes your collarbones, hugs you in all the right places, the low, low back of its blouse, and the gold jewelry adorning you—he can’t take his eyes off you all night. He’s physically pained by how beautiful you look and the fact that he can’t have his hands all over you because your family is right there. But rest assured his hand is warm and unmoving against your back, thumb dragging back and forth over the exposed skin allll night (what can I say he’s just a physical touch kind of guy I don’t make the rules).

He’s trying so hard to keep up with the prayers but the words in the booklet are so tiny and hard to pronounce the poor guy is just mouthing gibberish😭 He's so relieved when it's over. You show him all the sweets, explaining what each one is called and what its ingredients are, etc. When you point out your favorites, he takes one, breaks it in half so he can try it, and feeds you the other half.

And if you’re wearing red red lipstick to match the outfit? Oh he’s going feral. Before the party is even over he’s taking your hand and pulling you up the stairs to your room and that lipstick is getting smudged all over both his and your face and neck and chest. His large fingers have trouble undoing the tiny delicate hooks that run down your back and he's getting so frustrated he just wants to rip the thing open

"Don't you DARE, Jay, I LOVE this dress.” “C'mon babe, more than me?🥺”

He wouldn't dream of upsetting you, though, so he's whining and grumbling his way down. But halfway through he gets the hang of it and speeds through the rest, lips following the path his hands pave down the line of your back.

He can’t wait for next year.

[srbachchan]

DAY 6101

Jalsa, Mumbai Nov , 1, 2024/Nov 2 , Fri/Sat 12:08 am

🪔 ,

And the wishes to the Ef ..

November 02 .. birthday wishes to Ef Erlika from Indonesia 🇮🇩 .. Ef Abhijit Jagtab from Pune .. and .. Ef Dipagala Gala .. 🙏🏻❤️🚩

November 01 .. birthday wishes to Ef Vishan Lal 🪈 from Gurugram .. Ef Honey Aishu from Bangkok - Thailand 🇹🇭 .. Ef Nouranne Achraf from Egypt / France 🇪🇬🇫🇷 .. Ef Pankaj Shukla from Indore .. Ef Shubhra Rattan .. and Ef Somraj Mane from Kolhapur .. 🙏🏻❤️🚩

..

may this new year in your lives bring greater joy and prosperity ❤️🌹

Govardhan Pooja ... नमस्कार 🙏

and the festivities continue .. as do all the rituals .. and among all this Australia declares the month of October as a heritage month of Hindu festivities .. grace and divine blessings ..

But the intimacy of soft celebrations and the adherence to the control of many environmental obligations is revered .. as another year of the year of Lights ends , to another day of light ..

The intrigue of religious festivities .. their time and date and occasion still brings a wonder to many .. indeed to a great many .. and the readings of our Ef Sudhir and his dedicated research on the subject does evoke curiosity .. and awareness ...

The Calendar

There are two lunar calendars in the Jyotish Shastra… One is Purnaant and the other is Amaant…

There's a gap of 15 days between the two, although the order of the months are the same…

For instance, Deepavali's Lakshmi puja is on Purnaant Kartik Amavasya… while the same day is Amaant Ashwin Amavasya in some states…

So, the festival has a different reason in each region, and one common reason at the national level…

Like, the South, where the Lakshmi puja night of diwali is to recall the victory of Krishna over Narakaasur… In the North, it's for the return of Shri Ram to Ayodhya…

The concept of a civilisation made of many cultures dates back to the Treta Yug…

Diwali is celebrated for different days in different places… One day, three days, five days and eleven days… depending on the local history…

Yes… the different calendars, different cultures, but the same festivals, and the same civilisation…

You know, what… I think it's always an advantage when we do something that has no precedence… when there is nothing to refer…

This organisation of a nation is first envisaged in the chronicles of the satyug… each kingdom was called a country… group of countries was a region… the collective of regions was called a nation…

In Hindi - देश, प्रदेश तथा राष्ट्र…

What calendar do I follow?

I follow Rishi Varāhamihira's Brihat Samhita… In that, there is no need of dividing time into months and years…

The movements of cosmic objects don't need a calendar to have months and years… Only days are enough… Just count the days from a no-moon or a new-moon… the patterns are measurable and predictable…

Like,

The diwali always happens on the same no-moon night… regardless of which month in which state…

Thus, all the differences are dissolved in the universal medium… 🙂

About the light…

Darkness is not displaced by light… darkness is eliminated by light…

तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय।

Easiest way to do it is: Use one lamp to light the next… A series of lamps… Hence, Deepavali… Deep + Aavali - strings of light…

एक ब्रह्म है… एक सत्य है… एक ही है परमात्मा… प्राणों से प्राण मिलाते चलो.

my obsessed gratitude ..

my love and regard ...

Amitabh Bachchan

[not-your-asian-fantasy]

The Juggernaut

Barbie’s new Diwali doll has sold out in less than four days.

The $40 doll by Indian fashion designer Anita Dongre came out October 4. Though Barbie has released “Indian” dolls before, this is its first Diwali Barbie.

“In a continued commitment to promoting celebrations of heritage, Barbie is unveiling its first Barbie Diwali doll,” Mattel wrote in a news release. “The Barbie Diwali doll celebrates India’s cultural richness with a worldwide audience.”

Diwali Barbie sports a dark blue Anita Dongre lehenga, golden bangles and jhumka, high heels, and a ponytail. She has no backstory.

Dongre told USA Today that designing the look took over a year. She first envisioned the doll having several outfits. “I wanted to have an entire collection,” she told USA Today. “Should it be a lehenga? Should it be a sari? Should it be a sharara? There’s so much one can do. Indian fashion is just so versatile.”

“This Moonlight Bloom look features a choli top, floral koti vest, and lehenga skirt lush with dahlias, jasmine, and Indian lotus, representing strength and beauty,” Mattel’s site reads. Though note: “The doll comes with a stand…Doll cannot stand alone.”

Last year, American Girl also got in on the Indian American market, America’s fastest-growing and richest demographic. It launched Kavi, a doll who loves Broadway, has a Western and Indian wardrobe, and celebrates Diwali and Holi.

Despite its 2023 blockbuster movie, #Barbie has long faced flak for shaping perceptions of what women should look like.

In 1996, Mattel created its first melanated doll for Indians. She had the same physique as white Barbie and wore a bindi. Yet, the box labeled her pink sari as a two-piece outfit with an optional shawl and noted that Indians don’t use utensils to eat. As Sadaf Ahsan wrote for The Juggernaut: “If you aren’t blonde and blue-eyed, life in plastic isn’t fantastic.”

[guilty-pleasures21]

The roommate

Surprise! Happy Halloween/Diwali/Dia de los muertos everyone!

Credits to @tojishugetiddies for giving me a base idea. Thanks, sweetie ☺️! 

This is just a two-parter, so I’m releasing part 1 today and then part 2 tomorrow on Halloween itself. 

Also, side note: I came up with the Optimus Prime idea before I went to watch the Transformers One movie, but I can’t recommend it enough!!! It’s SO GOOD 😭😭😭😭😭!!!

Original story

BONUS Halloween story!

Part 1

Part 2

Warnings: none.

----------------------------------------------------------

Roommate!Miguel who walks down the stairs in his costume. 

Your neighbourhood was notorious for doing a big blowout celebration for Halloween and just like you always had, you loved dressing up for it. Your kids were old enough this year to go trick-or-treating with their friends, but you didn’t mind staying at home to hand out candy with Miguel- it gave you a chance to admire the other kids’ outfits and also left you with some alone time to get up to a little ‘trick-or-treating’ of your own with your big, strong husband … 🤭 

You rip open a packet of sweets and pour the contents into one of the large bowls in front of you and your son takes advantage of the opportunity to snatch a sweet as he walks past. You tsk at him in irritation, but Rio just shrugs and pulls out his phone as he takes a seat at the dining table. 

Roommate!Miguel who wraps his arms around your waist as he comes up behind you. 

“Need any help, querida?” he asks, pressing a kiss to your cheek in greeting. You twist your head around to give him a smile, then snicker softly at the fake moustache you’d drawn onto his upper lip. 

You’d called him into your bathroom after finishing your own makeup, then sat him down on the chair in front of your dresser. He’d slid his hands up your thighs as you’d climbed onto his lap, his fingers squeezing and stroking you while you’d sketched the fine hairs onto his face. 

‘Miguel,’ you’d chastised him as his lips had stretched into a smile, ‘try not to smile so much.’

He’d grinned at your soft laughter and moved his hands up to your waist. 

‘I can’t help it, querida,’ he’d told you apologetically. ‘Why didn’t you just let me grow my own moustache?'

‘Because,’ you’d argued, getting back to work, ‘you’d look like a creep. And it would be annoying to kiss you.’

He’d snuck his fingers beneath your shirt and began running them across your skin as you’d continued and soon, your costume prep time had turned into a full-on makeout session with your sweet and sexy husband. 

Roommate!Miguel who steals a sweet out of the bowl as well. 

Your jaw drops in surprise and you glare at him as he walks around the kitchen island to take a seat in front of you. 

“Like father, like son,” you grumble, shaking your head in disapproval as you tear open another bag of sweets. “If I ask the two of you for help, you’ll probably finish all the sweets on your own.” 

Miguel glances over at his son in question, but Rio just shoots him the same confused look he was sure was on his own face. “!Papà!” 

Miguel looks up as your youngest son barrels down the stairs, a look of alarm on his little face. 

“¡Ten cuidado, pollito! (Be careful!)” Miguel warns him, holding his hands out as Rafael races towards him. His son slows down a little, but his body still buzzes with panic.

“!Papà! The lights aren’t working! Fix it!” 

Roommate!Miguel whose lips twitch with amusement at his son’s demand. 

He’d helped him attach the optical-fibre cables running through his Optimus Prime costume a few days ago, but something seemed to have gone wrong in the meantime. Miguel turns Rafael around and examines the cables, finding the problem easily. He reattaches the loose wire and turns the switch on, causing the costume to light up as they had intended. 

“Yes!” Rafael exclaims, bouncing with excitement. “¡Gracías, Papà!” 

He gives his dad a quick hug, then dashes back up to his room without another word. 

“Rio?” you call. “What time are your friends getting here?”

Rio checks his phone again for any new messages. “They said they should be here in about ten minutes. They’re picking up Danny first.”

“Who’s he dressed as?” Miguel asks, trying to find a way to steal another sweet from one of the bowls. Rio grins and sets his phone aside. 

“Daphne,” he reveals delightedly. “He got his mum to help him alter his skirt and everything! I think he’s going to steal his sister’s heels, but Shawn said he’s going to bring a spare pair of sneakers in case his feet start to hurt.”

His friends had decided to dress up at the Scooby Doo gang and though your son looked the polar opposite of the pale-skinned, blond-haired all-American golden boy, they’d still chosen him to play Fred thanks to the good looks he’d inherited from you and Miguel.

Roommate!Miguel who turns to the door when one of your neighbours pops her head in and calls out to you. 

“Hi everyone!” Sana begins, trying to keep the group of eleven-year-olds behind her at bay. “Is Rafael ready?” 

The woman had moved to your neighbourhood last year with her husband and two sons - the oldest of whom had quickly become good friends with your youngest. She was tall and thin with dark hair that always looked like she’d just come from the salon. Miguel stands and calls up the stairs for Rafa to come down and you don’t miss the way Sana’s eyes travel down your husband’s broad back. 

“Rafa! Rashid is here!” Miguel turns to shoot her an amused look as Rafa scurries back down the stairs and Sana returns it with a practised smile of her own. You lower your head to hide the way your eyes roll, then bend over to give your son a hug. 

“Bye, mami, love you!” Rafa recites before running around the island to tell the same to his dad. 

“Bye, bebito! ¡Te amo, mi solito!” you call after him as he disappears out the door with his friends. Miguel yells the same, then sits back down again.

Roommate!Miguel who jumps up again when he sees his daughter coming down the stairs. 

“Gabriella?!” he exclaims, unsure whether to be angry or terrified. “¡¿Qué diablos estás llevas?! (What the hell are you wearing?!)” 

Gabi stops and stares back at her father with his same deep-set, upturned eyes. 

“It’s my costume,” she replies, folding her arms across the tight shirt she’d put on over a pair of rolled-up shorts and a set of outrageously inappropriate fishnet stockings.

“What are you supposed to be?” Rio asks, narrowing his eyes in thought as he puzzles over his sister’s ‘costume’. You move to stand beside your husband and your features melt into a frown when you see what your daughter intends to leave the house in. 

“A witch?” Gabriella replies, gesturing to her pointed hat as if it should have been obvious. You cross your arms and raise an eyebrow at her. 

“I thought witches were supposed to look scary?” you muse out loud. “Not like a teenage boy's wet dream.”

“¡Mamà!” Gabi screeches in horror at the same time that Rio groans, “¡Ay, mami! ¡Por amor de Dios! (For the love of God!)”

You shrug, unbothered by your children’s complaints. “If you're embarrassed to hear me say it, you should be embarrassed to let me see it. Who's the boy?”

Gabi furrows her brow in confusion. “What boy?”

“The boy you’re trying to impress with this outfit?” you reply. “Which you should never be doing, by the way: that’s a red flag. The guy should always be trying to impress you.”

Roommate!Miguel whose eyebrows shoot up at your words. 

He thinks back to the time before you’d started dating, trying to recall if he’d worked to impress you any more than you had. Maybe you were right: he could remember doing a few extra reps every time you’d joined him in the gym and he had shown off a little whenever you guys had studied together in the library or your shared living room. And there was that time he’d learned how to make your favourite dish so he could see the adorable smile that would light up your features when you came home to it after class. Ay, mierda. Maybe he really had always been trying to impress you. 

“There’s no guy, mami,” Gabi sighs, rolling her eyes at your implication. You fix your daughter with a challenging look and she finally starts feeling self-conscious. 

“There isn’t!” she insists, shifting awkwardly in position. “It’s just … Everyone else my age dresses up like this now!”

You turn to Rio in question. “Rio? Does everyone in Gabi’s year dress up like this?” 

“We wear school uniforms, mamà,” Rio replies exasperatedly, not wanting to be dragged into the conversation. 

“Outside of school?” you question, mimicking his sarcastic tone. Rio shrugs and glances at his phone again. 

“I dunno,” he replies, coolly “I don't go around looking at fourteen-year-olds outside of school.”

“Right answer …” Miguel supposes, confused by his son’s response. “Wrong situation.” 

You let your hands fall back to your sides, then you start walking up the stairs towards Gabriella. 

“Wait.” You stop suddenly and quickly return to the kitchen to grab the bowl of candy. Gabi furrows her brows at you, but holds a hand out to help you. 

“What are you doing?” she asks, helping you carry the bowls up to her room.

“I am making sure your brother stays healthy and your father stays hot,” you reply, prompting a wince out of your daughter. 

“Why do I keep asking you questions I know I don't want to hear the answers to?”

“Because you're your father's daughter.” 

Roommate!Miguel whose entire body warms at your words. 

How could you still call him ‘hot’, even after all this time? After seventeen years of marriage and three kids? Rio jumps up as the sound of his friends’ voices float through the doorway. 

“Bye, mami! Bye, Gabi!” he calls up the stairs, prompting you to rush out of his sister’s room and back down the stairs. 

“Wait! Let me see your costumes!” you screech excitedly, gesturing for Miguel to get your phone. He grabs it from the kitchen island and turns on the camera as he joins you. “Oh my god! You boys look so good!” 

You lean over to look at the photos he’s taken and Miguel wraps his arm around your waist. 

“Thanks, Mrs O’Hara,” Nick replies, flicking his shaggy wig out of his eyes. He takes in your costume: a long-sleeved black dress that exposes your collarbone and clings to your figure. “You look good too! The Addams family?” 

He shoots you a cheeky wink and Miguel pulls you a little closer into his side. 

“This is why I don’t invite you guys over anymore,” Rio says, smacking his friend on the back of the head. 

“Oh my god!” Gabi squeals, joining the two of you on the porch. “You guys look amazing!” 

“You look,” Shawn begins excitedly, his features lighting up when he sees Gabi. He pauses quickly, calming himself down so he doesn’t come across as too eager, then he finishes coolly, “nice too.” 

Gabriella smiles, oblivious to Shawn’s sudden shyness in her presence. “Thanks! My mum helped me!” 

Roommate!Miguel who breathes a sigh of relief when he sees his daughter’s new outfit. 

You’d made her roll her shorts back down to her mid-thighs and gotten rid of the fishnet stockings beneath. Then you’d switched her two-sizes-too-small shirt to an oversized black band tee you’d tucked into her shorts and rolled up the sleeves of. Finally, you’d clipped a section of her hair back, revealing her kohl-lined eyes, cherry red lips and two small fangs that peeked out from between her lips whenever she smiled. 

“Whoa, are you … shining, honeybee?” Danny asks, squinting to check that he was seeing right. Gabi frowns at the nickname, but holds her arms out for everyone to see. 

“Yup!” she confirms delightedly. “But it’s a secret.” 

“Hey, bee!” Mayday calls, walking through their gate in almost the exact same outfit Gabriella had had on earlier. “Are you- Oh! Hi, Rio …”

Rio grimaces as she lowers her head, letting her curly hair fall over her shy smile. You press your lips together as Miguel digs his fingers into your side and reach up to place a reassuring hand on his shoulder. It was pretty obvious that his best friend’s daughter had a crush on your oldest son, but your husband had insisted time and time again that though he loved Peter, he did not want to become his brother-in-law. 

‘I don’t think that’s how it works, cariño,’ you’d supposed, amused by your husband’s horror at the very prospect. 

‘Good,’ Miguel had responded firmly. ‘I don’t want it to work.’

“Bye, guys!” Rio exclaims, pushing his friends out the gate before Mayday could say anything more.

“Bye, papito! ¡Te amo!” you call after him quickly. Mayday waves at the group as they rush past, then she jogs over to her best friend. 

“Wow! Nice dress, Aunty X! And you look really good in that suit, Uncle Miguel! Oh my god!” She stops suddenly when she notices Gabriella’s outfit. “You look so good, Gabi! How did you …?” 

“My mum helped,” she explains, pulling her friend in the house behind her. “Come on! I’ll help you get changed, then we can still match!”

Continue

Tags: @sukunash0e @safixiovi @amberbalcom14 @shack-wheel-oneal

[writingwithfolklore]

Creating Fictional Holidays

     Happy Holidays everyone!

     Like mythology or folklore, holidays can add an extra bit of realism and magic to your fictional worlds, and provide for an interesting setting to portray characters, culture, or even family dynamic.

      While you can use real world holidays and adapt them to your worlds, you may also want to create your own! Here’s a few things to consider:

1. What does your holiday celebrate?

Typically, holidays come from historical events or events believed to have happened by religious groups. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, or good’s triumph over evil. Passover celebrates Israelites’ escape from slavery. This would be a great chance to delve into the history of your world, and how it forms and influences communities.

Otherwise (and as well as), holidays can be expressions of important cultural values such as community, hard work, or family. The Day of the Dead (or Dia de los Muertos) is the celebration of honoring passed family members, Labour day is held to honour the struggle for unionization by working people. What does your holiday say about the society or community that created it?

2. How has your holiday adapted?

As much as holiday is entrenched in longstanding tradition, there is no escaping modernization and adaption to contemporary norms. As much as Christmas is a religious holiday at its roots, for many, it’s a celebration of family and gift giving. Rather than being a saint, Santa has become the jolly toy-maker separated from religion entirely.

If your holiday began to celebrate say Harvest season, but in modern times ‘harvest season’ is no longer regularly recognized, how does this society continue to celebrate this holiday? Where does tradition and modern standards intersect?

3. How do people perceive the holiday?

Even joyous, wholesome holidays are going to have haters. Just think of Valentines Day coming around every year—there are people who love it, people who hate it, and people who see it as a superficial excuse to fund capitalism and consumer culture. What do the people of your world believe about the holiday, or what groups/communities are invited or left out?

4. What rituals go into celebrating your holiday?

During Christmas, many families bring in a tree, wrap gifts to put under it, and bake cookies for a secret intruder in the night. A ritual is just a way people honour something—it doesn’t necessarily have to be cultish or ‘evil’. What longstanding rituals go into the celebration of your holiday?

Maybe gifts are exchanged, candles are lit, cards are given out, money is donated, certain foods are given up or certain times limit eating (such as fasting), families gather, parties are held, etc. etc. There are thousands of ways people celebrate what’s important to them. Consider how each family or character in your story might take a slightly different spin on the same rituals.

I hope no matter what or how you celebrate this year, you get time to spend with your loved ones <3

[starstrider-productions]

LOOKING FOR SENSITIVITY READERS (PAID!)

I am looking for two sensitivity readers for my next audio drama project from the following backgrounds: Jewish and Hindu. I am very committed to making my portrayal of these religions as accurate and respectful as possible, so would love to hear from readers with lived experiences.

Both readers will be asked to read 5 scripts. Each script is between 15-20 pages long. I will also give background information on the project to give you contextual knowledge of the over-arching themes/ideas of the plot.

If you are interested, please email starstriderproductions@gmail.com with your rates/experience, or any questions you might have! You are also welcome to reblog/comment with questions.

(Just a heads up - I am very bad at checking Tumblr messages, so I am MUCH more likely to see an email than an ask/message.)

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Francesca (Audio fiction writer - previous credits include The Pilgrimage Saga and H.G. Wells Has His Regrets)

EDIT:

I have been advised to be a little more specific in my post regarding the characters! Here are some additional details:

Character 1: Female, 20s, British Asian, practising Hindu. She celebrates Diwali in one of the episodes.

Character 2: Female, 70s, Dutch, Jewish. She regularly attends the synagogue, celebrates Jewish holidays such as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and her faith is an important part of the story. This podcast is set in 2004, and this character is a Holocaust survivor (imprisoned in Dachau as a child).

FURTHER UPDATE: Thank you to those of you who have emailed me so far - a reader has been found for Character 2! Still looking for a Hindu reader :)

FINAL UPDATE: Thank you everyone who has contacted me - I have found readers for both characters! I hope you all enjoy the final product :)