Batavian Culture
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The Batavian Culture is shared by Batavian people across the realm. In the year 1624 Batavians from various nations united to create the District of Batavia in Sutica which became the home of Batavian Culture. People of Batavian descend or with Batavian culture are called Batavians or Batavi people. The culture is a sub culture of Human culture and is thought to have originated in Oren. In Axios, Batavi people originated mostly from Oren, Lorraine and Haense. Here's a little more about the culture.
Contents
History
The culture is a sub culture of Human culture and is thought to have originated in Oren. In Axios, Batavi people originated mostly from Oren, Lorraine and Haense. The unification of Batavians across the realm happened in the year 1624, when Willem Hagelijn I and Adriaan de Witt founded the District of Batavia, a small neighbourhood in the Sutican capital. Soon more Batavians moved in and their small community started to grow, the Batavian culture now had a proper home to it rather than it being spread amongst human farmers and fisherman in various countries.
Geography
The culture has remained with the Batavian people mostly, apart from some general Heartlanders here and there, and these people tended to always settle in flatlands or forests, near any decent sized body of water where they could fish.
Society
Batavian society is very based on collaboration. The Batavi look well after eachother and work together to achieve their common goals. An important factor in this is the so called "Gemenebest Systeem" or Commonwealth system, this ensures that there's always free food, housing and protection by the local defense force for the members of the community.
Government
The Batavian leadership exists of three parts, Stadhouder, Raadspensionaris and the Raad. The Stadhouder is the official name of the Batavian leader and is typically the only function of leadership in a small Batavian community. The Raadspensionaris is the name of the the second in command of the Stadhouder and is his personal secretary. He is also the main advisor of the Stadhouder and together with him they lead over the Raad. 'Raad' is Batavian for two things, council, but also advice, and that's exactly the job of this council, to advice the Stadhouder and to make him aware of potential problems.
Nobility
Batavian nobility works pretty much like any ordinary human nobility. The nobility is made up of Houses which the Batavians call 'Huizes'. Any family can become Batavian nobility as long as they have a loyal and well mannered family, have the Batavian culture and are granted the title of nobility by the Stadhouder. If there's a large area of land that needs to be ruled by Batavians, the feudal system is in place and various Houses get appointed a piece of land by the Stadhouder. They rule over the area for him in his name and can use it as they wish. In turn, these nobles provide militial or economic aid to the Stadhouder.
List of current Batavian noble houses:
List of former Batavian noble houses:
- Huize Hagelijn
- Huize de Witt
- Huize van Brandt
- Huize Batavus
List of Lodenlander noble houses:
- Huize van Loden
- Huize de Ruyter
- Huize de Wett
- Huize van Astland
Economy
Batavians value hard work and ambition highly and see it important to work together in achieving common goals. Their economy can be considered quite capitalistic. They have a free market and international trading is always allowed despite relations between countries (unless an embargo is declared). Common professions in the culture are fishing, farming, trading in goods, artistical professions, carpenting and naval professions.
Traditions and Celebrations
The most prominent tradition in the Batavian culture is the Saint Nicholas fest. This is the celebration of Saint Nicholas' birthday. In Batavian folklore, the Saint was the patron saint of children, sailors, tradesmen, bankers, students and dedicants, archers and brewers. This caused Saint Nicholas to become the most popular Saint amongst the Batavian people and thus his birthday became a cultural celebration. On Saint Nicholas fest, which is called Sint Nikolaas feest in Batavian, children and even some adults put their footwear by the door or fireplace and pray to the Saint or sing songs to him. If, according to the Saint, the person has been good in the past year, they receive presents and treats. However, if the Saint thinks they have been bad or sinned too much in the past year, they receive salt. In reality it's the children's parents or the ruling figure in the Batavian society that delivers the gift since the Saint is long gone. The fest is celebrated once in an Elven year (5th of december). The Saint Nicolas fest is very similar to and thought to have shared origins with Krugmas, which is also still celebrated by Batavians.
Religion
Because the Batavian culture has existed under the reign of Oren for most of it's existance, the religion of the culture is canonist. However, Batavian people aren't strictly canonist because they see religion as a private matter that any individual can choose for themselves. This means that within the Batavian culture there is a respected freedom of religion which has led to Batavian people following the True Faith, the Owynist Faith and other branch offs of canonism, but also aspectism and other deities. Despite the religious freedom there are limits and 'heretical' religions and spiritualism are frowned upon, religions that are influenced by any form of dark magic or being are forbidden.
Artistry
Batavi people like to consider themselves well-cultured. They enjoy many kinds of music and value good books, paintings, craftwork and the likings very highly. There is an old Batavian saying that says "Our refinement in culture is how we prove ourselves to the Creator" and therefore many Batavians strife to developing cultural masterpieces. What is considered by many Batavians to be the ultimate goal in the cultural field is being able to call yourself a 'homo universalis'. This means being someone who excels in basically any form of culture, be it math, writing, painting or playing music.
Art
Batavians love art. Whoever can afford it would be willing to buy good paintings, woodcuttings or sculptures. Paintings are the main artistic interest of Batavians. There are four main painting genres that the Batavians practice and are interested in. These are the Historical Artwork, Portrait, Landscape and Still Life. The Still Life genre is said by some to have it's origins with Batavian painters under who it's known as the 'Stilleven'. Portraits are the main point of interest and are bought by many who can afford it to capture them or their family for forever. Landscapes come in place two and are often made based on a well-known location or the hometown of the artist's client. Historical Artworks depict a historical event, myth or story, often these works have a deeper meaning than it may seem at first and usually they are made to teach the observer something.
Literature
The most important and influential book in Batavian culture is by far the Holy Scrolls of the canonist faith. Besides the holy books, books on science and knowledge are also considered of great importance in Batavian society, not to leave out the occasional poem. Most works written by Batavians can be found scattered across the human realm since there has never been a distinct Batavian library to this day.
Music
Batavians are overly fond of music, especially instruments such as the flute, trumpet, harp and the drum are favourites in their musical taste. A common tradition regarding music is that of the 'Samenhoring'. Here a Batavian community gathers in one's house or if the weather allows it somewhere outside on a quiet evening to listen to one another's music. Members of the community can take turns in stepping forth to play a song or sing one, showing off their musical skills. Of course drinking beer and the likes is a big part of evenings such as these, and it has become common sense to throw anyone who dares to interrupt a music piece into a nearby pond, river or other body of water.
Batavians are also known for their many songs of war and marching songs. Over the centuries many of these songs have been created as Batavians view music as a key part to an army's morale.
Language
The Batavian culture has it's own language named, not to anyone's suprise, 'Batavian'. Batavian is a branch off of the common human language and is closely related to Waldenian. Despite having their own language and having had it for ages, Batavian people all speak the common language just fine due to the Batavian speech not being of any influence outside their circles which caused the Batavians to need to adjust and use common as well in their every day lives. Because the Batavian people were never really united, the Batavian language has gained several dialects, the most prominent being 'Friesch', though these dialects have no significance.
Random Tidbits
- Willem Hagelijn I and Adriaan de Witt were the ones to unite the Batavian people for the first time by creating the district of Batavia in Sutica.
- The Batavian language has gained many ways of pronouncing and writing it due to the Batavian people being divided. This gave rise to dialects such as Frysch, Laag-Bataafs, Holtlandsch, Overstichts and many more smaller ones.
- It's a common dream amongst Batavian people to take their ship and sail off, leaving their trouble filled home realms behind. Most are never to be seen again but some return, having visited abandoned realms or having come across a new realm before the bulk of descendants migrated there.
- On a different note, did you know: that druids and aspectists worship a trinity called the Aspects? “Find out more, here!”
