#popular cultural festivals

[champstorymedia]

Breaking Down the Evolution of Hip-Hop Dance

Introduction: Hip-hop dance has become a global phenomenon, captivating audiences with its infectious energy and creativity. From its roots in the streets of New York City to its influence on mainstream culture, hip-hop dance has undergone a remarkable evolution over the decades. In this article, we will explore the history and evolution of hip-hop dance, from its humble beginnings to its current…

[highspeedinterconnect]

japanfest in atlanta seemed so “Japan = anime :3” and I had such secondhand embarrassment on behalf of the entire country

[balshumetsbaragouin]

Lore Post: Goddess of Revelry, Celebration, and Gratitude

More Lore posts about Divine Spirits. This one doesn't have an AU or story dealing with her themes coming up, but she's still a fun Goddess. First one I've posted about too! Like Cernunnos and Aodh, she's one of the more minor of the Divine. You'll find a primer on her below!

Goddess of Revelry, Celebration, and Gratitude, Lúthgáir isn't poorly regarded because their domain is uncommon, like other lessor worshiped deities, but because their domain has very little conflict or reasons to go wrong.

The honored deity of festivals, feast days, and parties, her most common prayers are sent up by host(ess) throughout the Zone on the lead up to a grand celebration. The greater the occasion, the more intense the prayer. Brides/Grooms to be, head chefs and maids, butlers and homemakers all pray to her in the lead up and day of the event.

But because many of the events in question are about things falling under other deity's domains: The end of a war, the union of two families, the birth or birthday of a Clan member, much of the prayers about these celebrations go to these other deities, leaving only the preparations and the hope for fun with Lúthgáir.

The favored Goddess of drunks, bar flies, and social butterflies everywhere, she still gets plenty of idle daily worship instead of large offerings and fervent prayers. This makes her one of the more powerful deities, despite her curtailed domain and generally lower opinion of importance among those in the Zone.

As fun-loving as her namesake, and symbolized by wine, party favors, and streamers, she sees little worship among more solitary Reborns, instead having shrines and minor festivals among the cultures of the Neverborns who live throughout the Zone.

She is especially popular in the country of Kingdom Drazi, whose people enjoy vigorous parties and whose cities have bars filled to the brim every night. She is sometimes invoked as a warning to those who do not act with gratitude or who look at Good Times or Gifts of Plenty with scorn, warning her blessings will flee from the ungrateful and force upon them Bad Times.

As a result, though she isn't regarded to have much power, she is still well respected by those in a Zone, lest their beer spoil, all the presents get ruined, or the guests arrive late and in an ill-mood.

[mrnoital]

As we enjoy this Holiday chili, let's not forget the reason for the season...(devolves into anti-capitalist rant)

[pastdaily]

Franz Ferdinand - Great Wide Open - 2012 - Past Daily Morning Soundbooth

Coffee anyone? https://pastdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/franz-ferdinand-great-wide-open-festival-2012.mp3 – Franz Ferdinand – Great Wide Open Festival 2012 – Gordon Skene Sound Collection – Franz Ferdinand to end the week, in concert at the Great Wide Open Festival Summer of 2012 Holland, recorded by the Dutch radio channel VPRO. Franz Ferdinand formed in Glasgow in 2002. The band’s…

[always-a-slut-4-ghouls]

I would say that the United States, as of right now, has three main food groups (aside from junk food) and those are, Italian, Mexican, and Chinese. All of which have been Americanized here to some extent but differently in different parts of the country. I find this very funny because I have heard people from Italy be indignant about what we’ve done with the stuff (and about good restaurants too!) like, sorry if you guys weren’t creative, mixing things up a bit is great. “What about (regionally popular food)?!” I know we all have those, I haven’t heard of bitches in the south eating lefse, but that’s not my point! What was my point actually? I think I was going to say that, even if we bastardize stuff a lot, I’m super glad we have, as a country, agreed that more seasoning is good. Because if this place had been like “fuck immigrant food forever, we are eating British style” I think I would die.

This country has historically treated immigrants like shit, but we do tend to cave eventually and go like “actually,

your food is really good” a kind of shallow prize I guess, but I’m glad we actually start doing it eventually because I WILL mock British food and I WILL be sad that the only good family recipes my family has from before immigrating are all desserts. Don’t get me wrong, I love sweets, but I’m pretty sure there is a reason we stopped making other stuff

Wait, I re-read this today and realized I sound like my family is British. We are not. What even are British desserts? I bet they don’t have enough cardamom. Although lefse doesn’t have cardamom and i like a lot of things without it, my point is that their holiday and special event foods probably don’t have enough! Which wouldn’t surprise me tbh because apparently the only place that went crazy for the stuff outside of where it originated seems to have been Scandinavia for some reason. At least some maps I looked at seemed to suggest it. Which rocked me to my core

[sefaradweb]

El Otoño Sefardí de Plasencia invita a dulces y a conocer la judería

🇪🇸 El Otoño Sefardí de Plasencia, que se inauguró el 2 de octubre de 2024, es un evento cultural que celebra la herencia sefardí y que invita a disfrutar de dulces típicos elaborados por alumnos de la Escuela Municipal de Cocina. La inauguración se llevó a cabo en la Oficina de Turismo del Centro Cultural Las Claras a partir de las 11:00 horas, marcando el inicio de un programa que se extenderá hasta el 25 de octubre. Durante este mes, se ofrecerán diversas actividades, como conferencias, sesiones de yoga y visitas guiadas por la judería de Plasencia, culminando en un concierto de música sefardí del grupo Isbilya. Un evento destacado será la celebración del Día del Perdón o Iom Kipur el 11 de octubre, que incluirá una conferencia sobre Plasencia Sefardí a las 11:00 en la Universidad Popular, seguida de un taller de yoga. La clausura del festival será el 25 de octubre, con una visita guiada por la judería a las 18:30. Las actividades requieren reserva previa en la Oficina de Turismo, y forman parte del Mes de la Cultura Sefardí, que se celebra en localidades de la Red de Juderías de España.

🇺🇸 The Sefardic Autumn Festival in Plasencia, which began on October 2, 2024, is a cultural event celebrating Sephardic heritage, inviting attendees to enjoy traditional sweets made by students from the Municipal Cooking School. The inauguration took place at the Tourist Office in the Cultural Center Las Claras starting at 11:00 AM, marking the beginning of a program that will extend until October 25. Throughout this month, various activities will be offered, including lectures, yoga sessions, and guided tours of the Jewish quarter of Plasencia, culminating in a concert by the Isbilya group featuring Sephardic music. A notable event will be the celebration of Yom Kippur on October 11, which will include a lecture about Sephardic Plasencia at 11:00 AM at the Popular University, followed by a yoga workshop. The festival will conclude on October 25 with a guided tour of the Jewish quarter at 6:30 PM. Reservations are required for activities at the Tourist Office, and the events are part of the Month of Sephardic Culture, celebrated in towns belonging to the Network of Jewish Quarters of Spain.

[housekeepinginfo]

Indian dishes: Your Guide to an Indian Restaurant Menu

Exploring an Indian restaurant menu can be exciting and a bit overwhelming for those new to Indian food. The mix of aromatic spices and vibrant colors makes Indian cuisine a unique adventure. As a professional journalist, I'm here to help you discover the best Indian dishes and explain the food culture.

[lionheartlr]

Exploring the Heart of West Africa: A Travel Guide to Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso, nestled in the heart of West Africa, offers an enriching blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Known as the “Land of Upright People,” this country is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by intrepid travelers. This guide will walk you through the essentials of visiting Burkina Faso, from its rich history to practical travel tips and must-see attractions. A Brief History…

[zemaribeiro]

Festival Gestores em Movimento une música popular e de concerto neste fim de semana em São Luís

Apresentação do violonista Augusto Nassa no programa Pátio Aberto, do Centro Cultural Vale Maranhão, em 2020 Todo mundo já ouviu falar ou já pode testemunhar a riqueza, a força e a diversidade da cultura popular do Maranhão. Estamos em junho, mês em que isto pode ser demonstrado ainda mais intensamente na prática: grupos de bumba meu boi, tambor de crioula e cacuriá, entre muitas outras…

[babybluebanshee]

So I finally got my water heater replaced after more than half a year of it leaking and nearly destroying my floor, but that's not the story. The story is of the handyman that installed it.

Dude's name is Chris, and he's your typically midwestern schlub - friendly, apologizes too much, really likes the Cardinals, maybe a little younger than my parents. Hella nice tho, gets the heater installed quickly, and even offers to fix the floorboards it warped (after nearly tripping over the hump it made in the floor twice). Overall, a stress-free experience.

Then, as he's gathering up his tools - "So, I noticed your, uh, banner. Over your bed."*

*(The closet where my water heater is is located in my bedroom because I live in a mobile home, dude wasn't just wandering creepily into my bedroom)

He's referring to a giant pride flag that's hanging over my bed, with the words "Sounds gay, I'm in"

My anxiety spikes instantaneously, thinking oh christ I'm about to get hatecrimed or at least microaggressioned.

But then he says "Yeah, my daughter is gay, and I was wondering, like...where do you guys, ya know, meet up?"

What.

"Because she met her most recent girlfriend when she was in jail, and I keep asking why she doesn't just find a nice lesbian librarian or something and she said 'dad I know they're out there, I just don't know where'. So...like...where do you?"

So I ended up confessing to this nice man who installed my water heater that I don't know of any real gay culture in our mostly Baptist Missouri town of about 18,000 that routinely freaks out over pride displays in the library (I'm sure it exists but I'm lazy and haven't gone looking for it). My girlfriend lives in an area with a rather bustling gay community (we just did a face painting booth for their pride festival a few weeks ago), so maybe have her go out there with some friends, and also a lot of queers I know play dnd so maybe find a nice group of them and network. I then apologized that I wasn't more helpful in getting his daughter settled with a nice, wholesome dyke.

On the plus side, he was not deterred at all, and seemed to be very interested in the fact dnd was so popular amongst the el gee bee tees. I told him the names of some dms I know and told him to go to town. I do not know if the names will be given to his daughter or hoarded for himself so he can join a group and play like he did when he was a teenager and not be called satanic for it.

He's coming to fix my floor next week.

[champstorymedia]

Discovering the Timeless Beauty of Classical Music: Tips for Novice Listeners

Introduction: Classical music has been celebrated for centuries for its timeless beauty and the emotional depth it evokes in listeners. For novice listeners, delving into the world of classical music may seem daunting at first, but with the right guidance and tips, it can be a truly enriching experience. In this article, we will explore how to discover the beauty of classical music as a novice…

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

Pātea Māori Club - Poi E 1983

"Poi E" is a song by New Zealand group Pātea Māori Club off the album of the same name. Released in 1983, the song was sung entirely in the Māori language and featured a blend of Māori cultural practices in the song and accompanying music video, including Māori chanting, poi dancing, and the wearing of traditional Māori kākahu (garments). The song reached number 1 in New Zealand in each of the following three decades.

"Poi E" topped the New Zealand pop charts for four weeks and also became the biggest seller in New Zealand for 1984, outselling all international recording artists. Today the song maintains its status as a cult classic in non-Māori New Zealand, as the group behind it, Pātea Māori Club, was a one-hit wonder. However, for Māori, the song is much more important, as it became "the anthem of a new generation", the generation known as the "hip-hop generation". "Poi E" returned to the NZ Singles Chart in 2009, after being featured in an advertising campaign for Vodafone, accompanied by the release of Poi E (25th Anniversary Edition) in August 2009, an extended version of the album featuring unreleased songs, remixes and live tracks. The song was prominently featured during the final dance sequence of the Taika Waititi film Boy (2010), which led to it re-charting for a third time.

It was written by Māori linguist Ngoi Pewhairangi; the music was scored by Dalvanius Prime. Pewhairangi's intent in writing the song in such a way was to promote Māori ethnic pride among young Māori people in a popular format. The two faced indifference from record labels, so Prime produced the song and album under his self-made label, Maui Records. Without radio play and barely any commercial TV airing, a TV news story is credited with shooting the song up to number 1 on New Zealand charts in March 1984.

In July 2016, a film about the song, Poi E: The Story of Our Song, premiered at the New Zealand International Film Festival.

"Poi E" received a total of 65,8% yes votes!

[thinkdifferenton]

May this Navratri bring you closer to your family and friends. Happy Navratri. Click Here

[pastdaily]

Split Enz - Pinkpop Festival - 1980 - Past Daily Weekend Soundbooth

Coffee would be nice: https://pastdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/split-enz-live-pinkpop-fest-holland-1980.mp3 One of my favorite, and arguably most underrated bands of the 70’s and early 80’s. Split Enz were amazing to see live.I remember their first tour of the U.S., promoting the release of “Mental Notes” (which was called “Second Thoughts” in New Zealand and Australia). They played a…

[ranchstoryblog]

PRESS RELEASE: Adventure, Romance, and Village Building Begin in Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma on May 30 on Nintendo Switch™ and PC, Welcoming Players to an Eastern Land of Adventure and Dragons

XSEED/Marvelous USA:

Marvelous USA Releases Gameplay Video Showcasing Guardians of Azuma’s

Action Combat, Relationship System, and Seasonal Village Life; Announces Jan. 22 Livestream Showcasing Additional Details and Special Guests

TORRANCE, Calif. — Jan. 16, 2025 — Marvelous USA announced today that Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma will launch globally on the Nintendo Switch™ system and Windows PC via Steam on May 30, 2025. The latest entry in the popular action-RPG and life-simulation series introduces players to the Eastern territory of Azuma, a land of Japanese-inspired visuals and unique twists on familiar gameplay elements from the Rune Factory franchise. Alongside the reveal of the release date, Marvelous USA announced an upcoming livestream that will happen on Jan. 22 at 8AM PT/11AM ET on their YouTube channel, where the company will be revealing additional information and showcasing further looks into the land of Azuma. Host Ovilee May will be joined by voice actors Brandon McInnis (Subaru) and Suzie Yeung (Kaguya), who will discuss their roles and provide additional commentary alongside new reveals.

Ravaged by the effects of the Celestial Collapse and the cessation of power provided by the runes, the eastern lands of Azuma are a shadow of their prosperous past. Weakened by corruptive forces, the gods of nature retreated from the world, leaving mountains to crumble and fields to wither. The people of Azuma seek aid against a blight that has swept these once-bountiful lands. One young hero enters into a contract with a dragon and sets out on a journey. “Accept the might of the Earth Dancer. Use this power to save the land.”

Guardians of Azuma takes players on an all-new adventure in the never-before-seen country of Azuma. Here, players will assume the role of an Earth Dancer destined to return hope—and life—to the once-thriving land. Choose from one of two protagonists whose fates are closely tied together, and experience reimagined and expanded Rune Factory gameplay; as an Earth Dancer, players will farm with grace, restore and build entire villages, and fight with new weapons like the Bow and Talismans. Azuma is a vast world to explore with majestic villages to uncover, each taking inspiration from Japanese culture and each with a seasonal theme. In addition to exploration, combat, and village-building, players will also cultivate relationships with the locals, recruiting them to your side in battle or to help manage the villages. Wield sacred treasures of the gods and the Earth Dancer’s power of dance to purify the land and return Azuma to its former glory. The adventure of a new world awaits.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Key Features:

Bold New Abilities and Weapons: As an Earth Dancer, use the power of dance, sacred treasures, and fresh weapons like the Bow and Talismans to purify the land, farm, and undo the Blight’s damage.

It Takes a Village: Don’t just mind the farm—rebuild entire villages! Construct and place buildings strategically to entice people to return to the villages and contribute. Revive the gods to bring vitality and valuable resources back to the plagued lands.

Your Fantasy Japanese Life: Experience beautiful Japanese-inspired character designs and aesthetics—from festivals to events to monsters. Explore Azuma’s natural landscapes and its seasonal-themed locales steeped in tradition.

Classic Romance and Relationships: Choose between male and female protagonists, then befriend or romance any of the eligible candidates—god and mortal alike—in fully voiced scenarios. Recruit these new friends to aid in dynamic battles, too!

Pre-orders for the Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma “Earth Dancer Edition” on Nintendo Switch™ are now available via the Marvelous USA Online Store and at participating retailers for an MSRP of $99.99. This stunning collection comes in a custom outer box featuring awe-inspiring art of a battle high above Azuma, and includes a physical copy of the game, an original soundtrack CD, an art book, an Azuma-inspired folding fan, a plush Woolby keychain, and the “Earth Dancer DLC Pack,” which includes the “Seasons of Love Bundle,” the “Festive Attire and Dark Woolby Bundle,” the “Rune Factory 4 Outfit Bundle,” and the Useful Item Bundle. The standard edition of the game is also available to pre-order for an MSRP of $59.99.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma will also be available digitally on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch and Windows PC via Steam. Details on SKUs and pricing will be available at a later date.

Developed by Marvelous and published in the Americas by Marvelous USA, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is scheduled for release globally on the Nintendo Switch™ and Windows PC via Steam on May 30, 2025. The title will be published in Japan by Marvelous Inc. and in Europe by Marvelous Europe. More information can be found on the official website, https://na.runefactory.com/azuma/, and on X @RuneFactory. This title has been rated “T for Teen” by the ESRB.

Information about Marvelous USA’s products can be found at www.marvelous-usa.com. Fans can also check out the latest videos from the Marvelous family of titles on YouTube and get updates by following on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Bluesky.

---

Marvelous Europe:

---

London, U.K. — 16 January 2025 — Marvelous Europe announced today that Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma will launch globally on the Nintendo Switch™ system and Windows PC via Steam on May 30, 2025.

Alongside the reveal of the release date, Marvelous Europe announced an upcoming livestream that will happen on 22 January at 16:00 GMT/ 17:00 CEST on their YouTube channel, where the company will be revealing additional information and showcasing further looks into the land of Azuma. Host Ovilee May will be joined by voice actors Brandon McInnis (Subaru) and Suzie Yeung (Kaguya), who will discuss their roles and provide additional commentary alongside new reveals. 

The latest entry in the popular action-RPG and life-simulation series introduces players to the Eastern territory of Azuma, a land of Japanese-inspired visuals and unique twists on familiar gameplay elements from the Rune Factory franchise. 

Ravaged by the effects of the Celestial Collapse and the cessation of power provided by the runes, the eastern lands of Azuma are a shadow of their prosperous past. Weakened by corruptive forces, the gods of nature retreated from the world, leaving mountains to crumble and fields to wither. The people of Azuma seek aid against a blight that has swept these once-bountiful lands. One young hero enters into a contract with a dragon and sets out on a journey. “Accept the might of the Earth Dancer. Use this power to save the land.”

Guardians of Azuma takes players on an all-new adventure in the never-before-seen country of Azuma. Here, players will assume the role of an Earth Dancer destined to return hope—and life—to the once-thriving land. Choose from one of two protagonists whose fates are closely tied together, and experience reimagined and expanded Rune Factory gameplay; as an Earth Dancer, players will farm with grace, restore and build entire villages, and fight with new weapons like the Bow and Talismans. Azuma is a vast world to explore with majestic villages to uncover, each taking inspiration from Japanese culture and each with a seasonal theme. In addition to exploration, combat, and village-building, players will also cultivate relationships with the locals, recruiting them to your side in battle or to help manage the villages. Wield sacred treasures of the gods and the Earth Dancer’s power of dance to purify the land and return Azuma to its former glory. The adventure of a new world awaits.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Key Features:

Bold New Abilities and Weapons: As an Earth Dancer, use the power of dance, sacred treasures, and fresh weapons like the Bow and Talismans to purify the land, farm, and undo the Blight’s damage.

It Takes a Village: Don’t just mind the farm—rebuild entire villages! Construct and place buildings strategically to entice people to return to the villages and contribute. Revive the gods to bring vitality and valuable resources back to the plagued lands.

Your Fantasy Japanese Life: Experience beautiful Japanese-inspired character designs and aesthetics—from festivals to events to monsters. Explore Azuma’s natural landscapes and its seasonal-themed locales steeped in tradition.

Classic Romance and Relationships: Choose between male and female protagonists, then befriend or romance any of the eligible candidates—god and mortal alike—in fully voiced scenarios. Recruit these new friends to aid in dynamic battles, too!

Pre-orders for the Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma  Limited Edition are now available at participating retailers via the Marvelous Europe website for an RRP of €99.99. This stunning collection comes in a custom outer box and includes a physical copy of the game, an original soundtrack CD, an art book, an Azuma-inspired folding fan, the “Seasons of Love” DLC bundle, additional DLC costumes for your protagonists and their divine sidekick Woolby, and a plush Woolby keychain. The standard edition of the game is also available to pre-order for an RRP of €59.99. Details on digital editions will be announced later.

Developed by Marvelous and published in Europe and Australia by Marvelous Europe, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch™ and Windows PC via Steam on 30 May, 2025. The title will be published in Japan by Marvelous Inc. and in the Americas by Marvelous USA. More information can be found on the official website, https://marvelousgames.com/games/rune-factory-guardians-of-azuma, and on X @RuneFactory.

For more information regarding Marvelous Europe, please visit the official website, or follow @MarvelousEurope on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube.