Cultural aspects from your nation

by **Walosia** » Tue May 19, 2015 3:17 am

Cultural aspects from Walosia

Just a few aspects of the Walosian culture and the Walosian way of thinking.
Most of these cultural aspects are generalizations. People are different wherever you go; these are just the general accepted aspects of the Walosian culture. In general, people on the countryside tend to be more conservative than their Big City counterparts.

Politics:
Walosians have a long history of political turmoil and political changes within society. Since 900AD, every major political question has been debated both within the Senate and within the people of Walosia. Centuries of this have developed a distinct culture within Walosia with political devotion and political interest. Walosians today values political freedom and freedom of speech highly and Walosians today are a very politically active people. Almost everyone have at least one opinion on a political matter and many people, especially youth are actively members of a political party. This distinct culture has given rise to a phenomenon called “Locus Disputatio”, which translates into “Talk Rooms”. Such Talk Rooms are cafés where people can meet strangers and talk politics over a cup of coffee or a bagel (or any other drink or bakery goods).

As a result of this aspect of the Walosian culture, the Senate is completely open to everyone who wishes to view legislative debates or speak to a senator. The Grand Entrance Hall of the Walosian Senate is where most senators, secretaries and other political officials will meet the press and hold press conferences. Regular Walosians can attend such conferences or enter the hall in hopes of catching a word with a particular senator. All contact information of the Senators, Secretaries and President, with the exception of home address and private phone number, are available on the web site of the Imperial Senate and statistically speaking, every Senator will receive 20 E-mails daily with questions from the people of Walosia. All Legislative Debates in the Imperial Grand Chamber and subsequent Chambers are completely open to the public and are visited by 500 people daily on average.

This aspect of the Walosian culture has also sparked a culture of protests and riots. An average of 70 protests takes place on a monthly basis with few turning violent. The subjects of these protests range from small issues like the price of alcohol and tobacco to larger issues like Student housing and Animal rights. Few of the protests turns into riots, an average of 15 riots occur annually with few injuries on both sides (Police and Protestors). The last major riot occurred in Apollonia in regards to a legislative proposition from the Nationalist Party of Walosia, which would drastically tighten the Walosian immigration policy.

Nationalism:
Walosians are known for being a nationalistic and patriotic country. Walosians feel great pride in their history, culture and country. The Walosian flag usually hangs on all public and government buildings throughout the Empire. All residents with a flagpole have their flag raised almost daily and many Walosians have the Walosian flag on a piece of clothing. This is especially common on the countryside. Flags can be seen almost everywhere in Walosia.

This nationalistic and patriotic pride has resulted in some cultural tension between immigrants and Walosian citizens throughout the years. This is especially true in regards to the growing Muslim population in Walosia and this has caused the concentration of Muslims in selected neighborhoods in Walosia. These neighborhoods are often referred to as ghettos. Muslims are not the only demographic that finds themselves exposed to the skeptics of Walosian citizen. Christians, Blacks and Gilzic immigrants have all faced the everyday racism in Walosia. This has however; improved over the last 100 years and Walosia today is considered a multi-cultural country.

Alcohol:
Walosians today are considered liberal regarding their view of alcohol, which again has spawned some quite liberal legislation regarding alcohol sale and consumption. In Walosia, alcohol is seen as a respected substance and drunkenness is culturally accepted with exception in regards to underage teenagers and in front of young children. Kids and young adults who grow up on local wine farms are often introduced to wine and alcohol at a young age. A sentence that captures the respect Walosians have towards alcohol is this “I grew up on a wine farm and I first tasted alcohol when I was 8 years old. All we did was related to the production of wine and to every meal; my father would bring out a new batch of wine to try out. However, the first time I saw a man drunk was when I attended High School and one of my friends was hosting a graduation party.”

Alcoholic beverages like beer, sparkling wine and vodka are accepted as beverages to drink at parties and festivals while other distilled beverages like Whiskey, Gin, Bourbon and Wine are seen as beverages to enjoy. Drinking whiskey to become drunk is frowned upon, both because it is a drink Walosians sees as a cultural symbol of Walosia and because it is seen as a beverage that doesn’t fit with being drunk. Whiskey, Bourbon, Gin and Wine are all seen as classy drinks and becoming drunk of them is seen as disrespectful. Walosians have, on average, a healthy relationship towards alcohol. Walosia also have a distinct pub culture where it is normal and socially acceptable to go to the pub after a long day at work, have a few half-liters and chat with your friends before returning home to your family. 16:00 is unofficially dubbed the “Hour of the Pub” where people will get off from work and gather in pubs and bars around Walosia to chat and relax. This is most common in the smaller communities and out on the countryside as those living in the Metropolitan areas tends to only do so during sporting events.

Both beer and wine can be sold at grocery stores and they can be sold 24/7 or as long as the store is open. The only requirements are that the stores cannot sell alcohol to minors (those under 16) and that they cannot sell alcohol to visibly drunk customers. The cashiers are obligated to ask for ID on whoever is purchasing alcohol and the government is often testing the various stores that sell alcohol. Distilled beverages are sold in specialized stores and it can be sold 24/7 as well. Much of the same requirements that are given to the stores who sell beer and wine are given to those stores who specializes in distilled beverages as well. In addition, stores who specialize in Distilled Beverages cannot allow minors (those under 18 years) access to the store and they cannot sell any other merchandise than spirits with the exception of bakery goods, non-alcoholic beverages and candy bars.

Guns and gun ownership:
Walosian attitude towards gun ownership varies quite a bit. In the metropolitan areas and larger communities, gun ownership is frowned upon and people who own guns are viewed with suspicion. In the rural areas of Walosia, gun ownership is widely accepted and in recent years, it has developed as a distinct sub-culture of the Walosian rural communities. Guns are usually used to hunt or collect, but some uses it as a hobby, participating in regional and national sharpshooter competitions and Gun Shows. This difference has sparked some culture clashes between farmers and city folks and it has been seen as a culture stance. If you love guns you belong on the countryside while if you hate guns, you belong in the city.

Sexuality:
Walosians are known for being VERY sexually liberal. Walosians, especially teenagers, tend to separate sex into two categories, the emotional sex and the recreational sex. Emotional sex is the kind of sex you have with your partner or SO while recreational sex is something you have with others. Boys and girls share the same attitude towards sex and it is equally accepted by society for a guy to have had many sexual partners as it is for a female to have done the same. Girls are not viewed as whores or loose when they have a lot of sex. Walosian men and women, especially teens and young adults are known for using sex as a form of recreation and a fun activity and it is when they meet their significant other that the sex starts to become emotional. It is first when you are in a relationship Walosians become judgmental in regards to your sex life. It is frowned upon to cheat and to sleep around whilst having a partner.

In Walosia, it is common practice to consider yourself bi-sexual until you come out of the closet as either straight or gay. Homosexuals are viewed the same as heterosexuals and most of the prejudice in regards to homosexuality has died out. The shame and prejudice regarding the profession of Prostitute is gone as prostitution and pornography is culturally approved in Walosia. In order to make an easy buck, many Walosian teenagers turn to pornography. This is especially true among students who find it easier to do so than to have a “regular job”. A girl that has worked as a porn star is not looked down upon and is not shunned for her choice of work and it does not damage her possibilities on the job marked in the long run. The same goes for guys.

Language:
The official language in Walosia is Latin, which is spoken by the majority of its citizens. Latin is the mother tong of naturally born Walosians and it is the first language they will learn when attending Elementary School. Latin is the spoken language on television, in the news, in the daily life of Walosians and in the professional life of most Walosians. English doesn’t start to become important until you begin to trade internationally. However, many minority groups and immigrants have brought a vied variety of languages to Walosia, most notable Spanish, German, Kelsh and Russian. These languages with the exception of Spanish were introduced by immigrants who came to Walosia throughout the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th century. Spanish is the only language to have survived the Latin indoctrination during the first millennium of the Walosian Empire. Most Northern Logatian born natives today speaks Spanish and most of these grow up with two mother tongs. Spanish was originally spoken by the Logatian Empire, an Empire that existed for millennial until Walosia conquered it in 133AD. Unlike other languages like Norse, Greek and Old English who were eradicated by force, Spanish remained due to its many similarities to Latin. (I might write more in regards to the Latin Indoctrination later).

Sports:
Sports and sporting events have been a part of the Walosian culture scene in the entirety of its existence. It started with gladiator fights and theater in the antiquity and has steadily moved towards what we have today. The two most popular sports in Walosia are American Football and Hockey. Other sports like regular Football, Handball, Volleyball, F1, Racing, Horse Riding and Basket Ball etc. are considered popular and has a solid base within the Walosian society and the Walosian culture. However, the symbol of Walosian sportsmanship and sporting culture are Hockey and American Football. It’s the sport most children attend after school and it is the most viewed sporting events in Walosia. In Walosia, every local community and Commune have their own Football team and when it is match night, people usually gather in pubs and on the stadium to watch. The patriotic feelings regarding your local Football club is said to define where you come from (where in Walosia).

by **Liberty and Alderney** » Tue May 19, 2015 3:21 am

Got a factbook here with all the cultural and artistic endevors of Liberty and Alderney.

by **-the Kingdom of Scotland** » Tue May 19, 2015 5:11 am

Politics
Scotland has a long history of active involvement in politics. The old Scottish legislature, the Three Estates, up until its reformation in 1790 was one of the most modern legislatures of its time. Nobility, clergy and commoners all sat together in the one chamber and the parliament was far more than just a rubber stamp for royal decisions. The monarchy voluntarily reformed the legislature after they saw what was happening in the French Revolution and decided that a more radical democracy was necessary so they drafted a constitution, limited their powers and allowed free democratic elections.

The history of democracy in Scotland has kept people's interest in it alive and turnout in elections has only once fallen below 70%. Scotland is technically a dominant party state like South Africa but elections here us Single Transferable Vote so normally the Radical Party wins a plurality of seats and needs to form a coalition. The Radicals are rarely out of government.

Nationalism
Scots are very patriotic although this nationalism is not ethnic of chauvinistic, it is cultural and liberal. The Gaelic and Scots languages are very important to Scots and the government. Nationalism often focuses on language and traditional culture.

Most people have fly the Scottish flag from the houses and it's commonplace in public areas.

Alcohol
Scotland is a nation of drinkers however this is mainly done in moderation. The number of alcohol-related crimes has fallen dramatically in recent years, partly thanks to the government introducing minimum pricing for alcohol and better education in schools about it.

Guns
Gun laws in Scotland are more liberal than those in the rest of Europe or in the UK but they are stricter than those in the USA. Gun ownership isn't a controversial issue like it is elsewhere and not that many people actually own them and there are very few shootings in Scotland.

Sexuality
Although Scotland is quite a religious country (55% Catholic, 20% Presbyterian), the government is also highly secular and has been since 1790 and secular values are as important as religious ones. Sex and Relationships Education is given in schools from the first year of primary school onwards and students are taught about contraception etc and the teaching of abstinence is banned.

As a traditionally Christian country, homosexuality was frowned upon however it has never actually been illegal and its legality was re-confirmed by the constitution in 1790. Same-sex marriage has been legal since 1985. Homophobia is very rare here.

Language
The most common language is Scots/English, spoken natively by about 60% of the population and the traditional language of Scotland is Gaelic which is spoken by 35% of the population. Scots and Gaelic are the National Languages and are given prominence on signage and in education and Scots, Gaelic, English and French are official languages. French is a common language in Scotland due to the 'Auld Alliance' between Scotland and France.

Sport
The most common sports in Scotland are Gaelic sports like shinty and Gaelic football and Highland games sports like caber toss. Association football is also very popular.

by **Chelta** » Tue May 19, 2015 6:47 am

Politics -- Cheltish politics has traditionally centred on the power dynamic between the Crown and the people. The Cheltish are very suspicious and sceptical of centralised government, and have not allowed the power of the Crown to expand beyond very restrictive limits. Contemporary politics is not that different from 19th Century politics: it generally involves the question of whether some tax the monarch wants to levy should be raised.

Nationalism -- The Cheltish are not very nationalistic. The Cheltish have loyalty and affection for their Queen, as well as a gentle patriotism, but the Cheltish don't do nationalism. Cheltish patriotism, rather than being bellicose and triumphalist, is very parochial and is more appropriately described as "home-love", an affection for one's physical country, one's culture, and a familial affection for one's people.

Alcohol -- Drinking is part of Cheltish culture, although the Cheltish are generally eased slowly into drinking from a young age rather forgoing alcohol until they turn 18, at which point their first experience of alcohol is getting plastered on their birthday. Pubs are an important and ubiquitous institution in local communities.

Guns and gun ownership -- There are no restrictions on gun-ownership, and Chelta is a gun-owning society. Most households and commercial premises have a gun for self-defence. Having a gun in the house is simply regarded as common sense.

Sex and sexuality -- Chelta would be regarded as a sexually repressed society by modern Western standards, although standards vary by region. There is a social taboo against pre-marital and extra-marital sex, reinforced by family and religious discipline, although of course a certain degree of disapproved sexual activity goes on regardless. Nevertheless, most Cheltish don't expect to have sex before they marry. The Cheltish marry young (i.e. early twenties) and generally don't leave home until they marry. LGBT people are accepted and tolerated in Cheltish society.

Language -- The Cheltish speak English, specifically Cheltish English. Cheltish English and the English spoken in our "mother country", Brent, have increasingly converged since the 18th Century due to a number of factors including increased commercial intercourse and integration between Chelta and the Brentish sphere of the English-speaking world, as well as the fact that the Cheltish court under Queen Elizabeth, our first "domestic" monarch, and her successors spoke the English as spoken in Brent, rather than the "provincial" dialect of English that had developed in Chelta over centuries of seclusion. The older form of Cheltish English is still spoken in certain regions, although there are various local dialects.

Sports -- The most popular sport in Chelta is cricket, which is something of a national obsession. Rugby (league and union) is also popular.

by **Imperium Sidhicum** » Tue May 19, 2015 9:09 am

Politics - traditionally a privilege of military veterans, who have served at least three years, politics by large do not interest the civilian populace much. Ordinary Sidh folk who do not crave glory and power that military service and consequent political rights can bring have no real reason to be discontent with the Imperial government and do not really see their lack of political rights as a disadvantage. Considering how all full citizens eligible to enter politics also originate from the ranks of ordinary citizenry, the rank-and-file Sidh need not worry about his interests being represented with the authorities. The relative stability and predictability of Imperial politics also make ordinary citizens somewhat disinterested in partaking.

Nationalism - Sidhae are about as nationalist (read: rabidly-xenophobic jingoist) as they ever come. Displays of unbridled patriotic fervor are both the norm and socially-expected, citizens often assembling in spontaneous flag-waving demonstrations on festive events or announcement of good news, such as a military victory. Lack of patriotic enthusiasm is regarded with suspicion and distrust, while views and statements critical of Sidh nationalist views and ways are looked down upon as borderline-treasonous. The authorities make sure the public retains high enthusiasm about their nation through incessant propaganda. Consequently, every proper Sidh views his nation and lifestyle as the epitome of civilization in a dark and barbarous galaxy, and while not every Sidh may be a rabid xenophobe, every loyal citizen is certainly convinced that Sidh civilization is superior to all others.

Alcohol - consumption of alcoholic beverages is accepted in moderation, but drunkenness, along with other forms of excess, is strongly frowned upon. Considering the quantities of alcohol required to intoxicate the average Sidh with his enhanced metabolism, the mere fact of one getting visibly drunk indicates very excessive drinking - for a typical Sidh, a volume that would knock out most ordinary humans outright is sufficient merely to brighten the mood.

Guns and gun ownership - every Sidh is required by law to know at least the basics of handling firearms and be capable of defending himself with arms. That's just part of what being a Sidh is. Conversely, actual gun ownership is relatively rare on the developed worlds out of a simple lack of necessity - the authorities are doing their job properly, and core-worlders rarely leave their cities into the wild where firearms might be necessary. Gun enthusiasts have access to indoor shooting ranges and advanced sim-rooms for a low price, allowing them to practice frequently without actually having to purchase their own piece. Quite the opposite is true on Frontier worlds, where every Sidh settler owns and carries a piece at all times as a matter of practical necessity - dangerous wildlife and various unsavoury characters that often make Frontier worlds their home see to that. There are very little legal restrictions on what types of firearms a Sidh may own - technically, a citizen may own even a thermonuclear warhead or a space battlecruiser as long as he possesses the appropriate certification to properly operate such a device (which can be obtained through military training). The existing restrictions deal mainly with the use of weapons, restricting the discharge of the more potent varieties in public areas without appropriate sanction from the authorities.

Sex and sexuality - Sidh attitudes towards sexuality range from indifferent to negative, at best regarding it as a pleasant if somewhat obsolete pastime and as a useless distraction at worst. Overt displays of sexuality are strongly disapproved of, since that goes against the Sidh principle of discretion. Deviant (i.e., non-heterosexual) sexuality is deemed a harmless defect, but a defect nonetheless, and thus certainly not something one should be proud of or advertise - people with sexual deviations are expected to seek repair rather than try to solicit acceptance from others, and any suggestions to the contrary are likely to be met with unbridled hostility. Simply put, Sidh people are rather prudish and boring sexuality-wise, mainly because sex has lost most of it's functions in a society of cyborgs, and is practiced largely out of habit rather than any inherent need.

The notion of forging one's identity around sexual preferences as is common among humans is utterly alien to Sidhae, who find the idea of identifying with a biological function (and even moreso with a deficient one) laughable and pathetic. The very notion of a special sexual identity is rejected by Sidh society at large as a bizarre and barbarous outsider practice unfit to be practiced in a proper Sidh society.

Language - Sidh language was partly constructed, and partly evolved on it's own as a means for the Sidh ancestors of diverse backgrounds to communicate, as well as a tool to unite them and forge a new identity with. Outsiders have often remarked that it sounds somewhat similar to Latin or Old Greek, but asides from some terms borrowed from these languages, Sidh is a distinct and unique language.

Imperial authorities strive to maintain linguistic uniformity throughout the Imperium, and Sidhae themselves are vary of corrupting their language in which they take great pride, meaning there's very little language diversification throughout the Imperium. While different worlds do develop their own specific accents, slang and terms, nowhere has Sidh language changed considerably enough to be considered a dialect, literary language standards being upheld rather rigidly throughout the Imperium.

Sports - with their culture emphasizing physical fitness and martial readiness, Sidhae very much enjoy both individual and team sports, every noteworthy industrial, commercial or government establishment having it's own sports club whose members compete with other clubs to further the fame of their workplace. These competitions attract large crowds of spectators. That said, professional sports are effectively non-existent in the Imperium, Sidh sportsmen being strictly amateurs who pursue their chosen sport as a pastime, their way of self-improvement.

Among the most popular sports in Sidh society is blitzball, which can best be described as rugby in zero gravity incorporating elements of MMA and the use of stun guns. Martial arts contests are also wildly popular, champion fighters being known Imperium-wide and bringing great fame to their workplace and it's sports club. In keeping with the Sidh martial predisposal, tactical combat is also considered a type of sport, two or more teams facing down in an arena with practice weapons and stun suits incapacitating or disabling struck players.

Gladiatorial spectacles involving actual fights to the death, while not formally endorsed by the authorities, are also fairly common, typically being held in the human ghettos, typically involving human fighters and Sidh spectators.

by **Diopolis** » Wed May 20, 2015 2:06 am

Politics:
Regular Diopolisians don't bother with politics. A few people follow it, but it's mostly a game for nobles.

Nationalism:
Diopolisians, as a general rule, are not very aware of other states existing. Diopolis is an isolationist state, and while most citizens are intellectually aware that there are other states in existence, find it difficult to believe that they actually exist.

Alcohol:
Beer and whiskey exist in Diopolis, but are considered somewhat low class. Most Diopolisians drink wine, specifically vabo and posca, which refer to two cheap wines at opposite ends of the spectrum. Vabo is a cheap sweet white wine, which is typically served with ice in it so as to cut the almost painfully sweet taste. Posca, on the other hand, is a red so sour that drinking it requires copious amounts of honey added to make it go down easier. The two are not considered to be variants of the same beverage, and both are unfortified, cheap, young concoctions that, while intellectually known to be alcoholic, are not considered as such by the culture at large due to their low alcohol content and tendency to be cut even further. The alternative is a stronger wine concoction known as forva, which includes red, white, and especially blush varieties. It has an alcohol content approaching that of whiskey. Absinthe is the final beverage present in Diopolis, and it too is considered low class. While extant as a wine additive to some extent, absinthe is generally viewed as the drink of those who are already alcoholic. There is no drinking age in Diopolis.

Guns and gun ownership:
Guns are common in Diopolis, and come in three varieties: regular chemical weapons, coilguns, and rocket guns. Regular chemical weapons are common and cheap, especially in rural areas and on frontier worlds, and it is quite possible that there are hundreds of billions of them in the dominion as a whole. They are common hunting and target shooting weapons. Coilguns are military weapons, and while a civilian might conceivably have a coilgun for target shooting, they're considered useless for hunting and generally very expensive. Rocket guns are long, bulky rifles used as standard issue in the military. They tend to be quite common among civilians, especially in rural areas, for target shooting and big-game hunting. While more expensive than chemical weapons, the huge numbers of military surplus weapons in existence renders them well within the means of most Diopolisians.

Sexuality:
Diopolisians are assumed to be bisexual, but are expected not to act on those particular urges, although women and wealthy men who are discreet can often get away with it, and same sex pornography is a massive and relatively legal industry. Diopolisians can, for the most part, reasonably expect not to have sexual relations before marriage. On the other hand, Diopolisians marry relatively young, and generally not for love. Rather, Diopolisian girls can expect to marry at around sixteen, usually to a man selected by their father. Diopolisian boys generally marry at around twenty-one, and have slightly more freedom in selection than girls, but will still have significant inputs from their fathers.

Language:
In Diopolis, the main tongue is Diopolisian, which is a language similar to Old English with a variety of Latin and Greek borrowings. In addition to Diopolisian, educated people are expected to know Latin, Greek, and Old English, although not to be speaking-fluent.

Sports:
The main sport in Diopolis is football(some call it soccer). Football is not a particularly big deal, as in other countries, but there is definitely a portion of the population who are major fans.

by **Tolmakia** » Wed May 20, 2015 6:39 am

Politics: Tolmakian politics is usually focused on balance and generally centrism (being neutral, never taking sides, and basically finding middle ground). Though Tolmakians were rarely able to interact directly with politics during the past millennium as part of the British Empire, they were able to shape a political structure (and something of an ideology) that satisfied them and worked for them after their independence and unification, even up until today and probably for years to come.

The current stable political structure did not come without conflict though. Initially, Tolmakians were split in their political preference. Those who enjoyed being under the rule of the British preferred a benevolent autocracy, while others who decided to kindle Tolmakia's nationalism settled for a republic. This split became a literal national split, but not before a bloody week-long civil war. After both states suffered, they compromised each other by reunifying and taking an approach that would benefit both parties.

Following this, a "political boom" followed, where many young intellectual Tolmakians became interested to lead the new republic to prosperity, and to make it an equal economic power to its former "master," the UK. They also wanted to repair the nation, which still had some traces of the civil war visible. The Tolmakians later decided that they wanted to be a peaceful but not isolated state, so they adopted a "third way" policy by reaching out to both the US and the USSR during the later stages of the cold war, and benefitted greatly through this in many aspects.

Nationalism: Until recent modern times, Tolmakian nationalism had been practically nonexistent. Tolmakians were humble, modest, and naturally pacifist. Even those who rose to power in the British government were quite softies, and did not give any thoughts about their ethnicity or nationality.

With the spark of nationalism during the Finzilanian revolution that brought independence, Tolmakians started to be more aggressive and firm to assert their independent spirit. They started to think more like the British, and from this, the first groups of Tolmakian conservatives came to being. From the conservatives then came the current ruling republican party (which, although centrist, also upholds Tolmakian nationalism - to "the right degree" though, since it frowns on extremism).

Nationalism is believed to be a key to the nation's stable centrist ideology. According to the government, "without it, Tolmakia would be a state without an identity and agenda."

Alcohol: While beer, whiskey, and fine wines have become part of Tolmakian culture, Tolmakia has created some of its own alcoholic beverages (or at least some variations). One is the extremely popular and iconic shrimp beer, considered Tolmakia's national alcoholic drink. Shrimp beer is the only exception to the minimum age limit of Tolmakia in drinking beer, and people as young as 12 may try it.

Alcoholic drinks may be drunk for celebratory or ceremonial purposes. It may be drunk in social gatherings (usually men's gatherings), formal occasions, and specific events like food conventions. To consume alcoholic beverages regularly is frowned upon though, and is regarded as "abusing your poor liver." The added fact that drunk people may pose potential threats makes overconsumption of alcohol discouraged and banned in some stores.

Guns and gun ownership: Owning a gun is believed to be a basic right. It acts as an instrument of self-defence. However, it can also become a tool of murder. For this reason, while every citizen may have a firearm, they are subjected to tight regulations.

With prioritization on national security, every capable Tolmakian was required to join compulsory military service, not only to learn how to handle a gun, but also how to "own" one (and also how to use it effectively).

While each Tolmakian may own a gun, they may own as many non-lethal/less lethal ranged weapons they want (like crossbows and potato guns)

Sexuality: Tolmakians are mostly conservative about their sexuality. While LGBTQ rights are observed and respected, even the government refuses to recognize them officially (but being centrist and somewhat progressive, allows them, including gay marriages albeit unofficially). Their Protestant and Christian nature made them initially frown on LGBTQ people, but recently the political boom, introduction of the freedom of expression, and many campaigns have successfully persuaded the populace to wield to reason and to accept all LGBTQs.

Still, a majority of the population are heterosexual. The second majority are asexual, followed by bisexual people. In the more liberal and open northern province, a majority of the people are bisexual, homosexuals, or trans. Because of this, the province hosts the nation's LGBTQ community.

Regardless of sexual orientation, all Tolmakian citizens are privileged to be treated equally and fairly. Even before the concept of LGBTQs were introduced to Tolmakians, women have been equal in terms of power and position to men.

Language: On the subject of language, there still exist some issues. While the 1,000 years of British rule have made English a natural, agreeable official language, Tolmakians have also persisted in preserving their own language (and part of their cultural identity) by making it the official one instead. In the end, English became the official and most spoken language of the state, while Tolmakian became the traditional and national language.

Because of the long period of assimilation, Tolmakian language has evolved to two versions: Ancient Tolmakian (original but almost unused, disappeared throughout the ages), and Modern Tolmakian (a fabricated version that was based off British English, created somewhere around the 20th century).

Tolmakians still prefer English over Tolmakian, but are quite okay with learning their own language compulsorily. This preference is mainly due to their interactions with the English across their borders, and their familiarity with British English. Despite this, it is projected that the amount of Tolmakian speakers will double by the late 2020s.

Sports: Sports are not only held as a way of physical fitness activities, but also as a way of "social fitness activities." In sporting events, friendly competition, teamwork, bonding and strategic and critical thinking are encouraged. There are also some devoted sports organizations that take a specific type of sport the "hardcore" way (upholding its "art" and tradition rather than for physical or social benefits).

The national sport of Tolmakia is Association Football (or Soccer). Even before reunification, this was western Tolmakia's national sport. There are many avid soccer fans around Tolmakia. Soccer events (especially if these are international) usually draw Tolmakians together globally to cheer for their own team.

Archery is another popular sport, the second most famous next to soccer. This sport is compulsory, as it comes with military training. During their spare time, Tolmakian Military Forces members may be involved in sporting activities with archery.

by **New Vudnia** » Fri May 22, 2015 2:39 pm

Politics: As Vudnia has just liberated itself from a theocratic dictatorship, Many of our citizens tend to vote on the left end of the spectrum. Political parties have been outlawed, as the theocracy rose to power whilst disguising itself as a political party, and we don't want that to happen again. We are a constitutional monarchy, with our Dear Grand Prince in the seat of supreme executive. All other political advocates are voted for by the people.

Nationalism: While national banners are seen around holidays, Imperial births and weddings, and on government buildings, citizens are in no way required to prove themselves loyal. There is no other nation on our planet they could possibly defect to, and extremities of any opinion are seen as a symptom of acute mental illness. Many citizens simply cannot comprehend the idea of another nation outside of Vudnia, and schoolchildren frequently complain about difficulties in trying to keep all the old world nations straight. They also see wars as pointless and avoidable through mediation, and believe many of the old world wars could have been avoided through such channels.

Alcohol: Vudnians love to drink. Wether it's a celebration, a moment of grief, or Tuesday, Vudnians will drink to it. Since Alcohol was banned under the Exceptionalist theocracy, Alcohol of all types has experienced a revival among the populace. The poor prefer Beer and cider, while the middle and upper class enjoy mixing all sorts of drinks. Typically, Wine is served with meals (Sparkling for breakfast, White or rose for lunch, and red for dinner) but one may also indulge in various cocktails during the night time.

Unfortunately, with the rise of alcohol, the rise of alcohol-related deaths has also increased. Thankfully, many Vudnians do not own cars, so they cannot kill other people whilst drunk. Public intoxication is frowned upon, but it is not illegal. An estimated 2,000 people a year drink themselves to death or end up doing something incredibly stupid while drunk. It is not illegal for children to drink, but they are taught "only one glass" and Alcohol is never served at schools. Alcoholism is also on the rise, but as Vudnia has an extensive mental health system, many can be treated.

Guns and Gun Ownership: As Vudnia has no formal enemies we could go to war with, We have no formal military. The police use handguns and have trained snipers for emergencies. For the most part, Vudnians only own a gun if they are interested in shooting sports. There are tough regulations on gun ownership. For instance, If one owns a gun, he or she must register it with the local gun club. These clubs serve as both social environments, and a public forum. Club organizers must report any suspicious activity to the government, such as a member who has made numerous arms or ammunition purchases, a member who has an apparent mental problem, a member with an extreme opinion on any given subject, or suspicious people hanging around the club. These reports are then handled by the Imperial Ministry of firearms and it is determined if police intervention should be made.

Farmers and homesteaders are allowed the use of one Shotgun per household for use against threats. Pistols are available to everyone, but their ammunition is rationed and monitored by the government. Rifles are only used by the police force and gun clubs. No private citizen may own a rifle. If one does not have a proper safe to store their guns, the local gun club offers a lock-up service. Children under the age of ten are not allowed to be in the same room as a firearm, and until the age of sixteen, Adolescents with guns must be accompanied by their parents at all times. On the first purchase of a firearm of any sort, folks are required to attend and pass up to five classes where they learn about safety, care of their new firearm, the laws regarding their new firearm, and alternative self-defence options. Gun clubs always offer more in-depth versions of these classes as well as certification for various levels of gun sports. Gun Sport competitions are also held by the gun clubs, with ranks all the way up to national level. It is illegal to fire a gun if one is drunk, and alcohol is never served at Gun clubs.

Sexuality: Naturally, the Exceptionalists banned any sexual activity outside of marriage (which in turn lead to a rise in molestation and rape cases). They also hated Homosexuality more than anything else. When the "spiritual and sexual purity" act was abolished, the number of homosexuals saw a dramatic increase, Even more so when it was announced that homosexuals could now marry and adopt children as well! The average Vudnian citizen considers the homosexual a curiosity. They are still a minority of the population, but they are now more visible. Transsexuals are extremely rare, and regarded with even greater curiosity. Such curiosity may come off as rude, but the homosexuals, transsexuals, asexuals and even the "complex sexuals" are willing to answer any question they receive.

As for consent, it is considered extremely important. The exceptionalists previously taught that men were entitled to women, and could rape their wives if they wished, but any woman who even looked at a man who was not her husband was a filthy, filthy whore. Grand Prince David admitted that there was a crisis of national importance in regards to consent with sexuality. Any individual who wishes to engage in sex must be of age (20. Rather high, we admit) conscious, willing, and safe. A national campaign to eliminate rape resulted in a shocking find. 90% of all women had experienced some form of sexual harassment or abuse, and were too scared under the exceptionalists to do anything about it. Grand Princess Cordelia has spearheaded a movement known as "My Body" which seeks to empower women sexually. New Sex education standards in schools have been implemented, and all couples seeking a marriage license must attend classes on sexual matters before they are wed. Prostitution is legal, but highly taxed and strictly regulated.

A new bill known as the National Health Bill has recently passed parliament. In it, there are parts about the regulation and prevention of sexually-transmitted infections. It states that the public must be made aware of such conditions, and preventative measures like condoms and birth control must be made available to anyone who needs them. Masturbation is actually encouraged among the underage, as it is a way to explore one's sexuality without risking pregnancy or STI. Our Sex education standards are extremely high. In schools we have a saying "Don't date, Masturbate!". Doctor even encourage patients to masturbate (in private) to help relieve stress. Sex shops have popped up in recent years, and various "toys" are available to anyone post-pubescent, with the use of such toys illustrated in our Sex ed classes. Bestiality, underage sexual activities, catcalling, marital rape, and public masturbation are all illegal, with the punishments ranging from fines to court-ordered therapy.

Language: All Vudnians speak english, as it is a language that absorbs words and phrases from other languages, it suits our multi-ethnic culture. Many Vudnians speak another language as well, and Schools teach a multitude of language choices. Polish is the most common secondary language, it is considered a "high class" language.

Sports: Many Vudnians engage in sports, but they are seen merely as leisure. Vudnia has no national sports teams or sport coverage, and even competitions are seen as informal. While exercise is encouraged, organized sports are seen as merely child's play. Children are given the means to play sports if they wish, but no one in vudnia makes a living by performing sports.

by **Appalatchia** » Fri May 22, 2015 4:46 pm

Politics: Appalachia became independent after centuries of being mistreated and ignored by its government. As such, there is still a deep-rooted distrust of government institutions, particularly law enforcement. This has been a challenge for a fledgling government trying to provide for the welfare and security of its people. But independence has ignited a new hope and created a politically active society. There is also a history of activism, which has been encouraged by the new, independent government. Thus the freedom of speech is held sacred, "I may not agree with what you say but I'll defend to the death your right to say it" is the most common philosophy among the people. There are three major parties, with the Mountain Alliance party (centrist, and the leaders of the independence movement) being in power. The other parties are the left-leaning Union party and the conservative Values party. Election turnout tends to be fairly high, the government goes to great lengths to ensure ballot access to even the most isolated regions of the country.

Nationalism: The independence movement started as citizens became more informed about the abuses of their rights, the destruction of their environment, and the generally lack of concern for the welfare. The nation is fairly new, so there is not yet a strong nationalist ideal. Although many who were skeptical of independence were converted by how rapidly the government implemented public welfare and infrastructure programs, there are still holdouts who will state that the Appalachian government is illegitimate and that they are "proud Americans." Military service is held in very high regard in Appalachian culture.

Alcohol: A significant part of Appalachia's history involves moonshine, illegal alcohol that would be brewed and then ran in cars during the prohibition period of the 1930s. Moonshine, although now legal, is still commonly made in rural homes throughout the country. Other common drinks are beer and whisky. There is also a burgeoning wine industry, particularly in the southern part of the country. Alcohol abuse has been a serious problem, but the independent government has started funding treatment programs for those affected. The drinking age is 18, but underage drinking is fairly common.

Sexuality: Many parts of the country are very conservative and as such have traditional views on sexual relationships. However, in the cities, there is a more liberal attitude. Views on homosexuality vary widely depending on which region you are in as well. The government forbids discrimination against LGBT people and attacks against them are treated as hate crimes, but many states do not recognize same sex unions. Younger people tend to have more favorable opinions on homosexuality. As for sexual attitudes in general, teenagers and young adults frequently engage in premarital sex, and this is true even of older generations, so there is a certain culture of hypocrisy in regards to attitudes about sex. Teen pregnancy rates are high. Even with abortion legal in every province, many don't get them because of cultural or religious attitudes, leading to 'shotgun weddings.' A stereotype that unfortunately has some truth to it is incest, which does occur at a higher rate than elsewhere in the region, and it is typically abusive in nature. The government has increased penalties for it to try to prevent this.

Language: English is the main language of Appalachia. But there is a particular variant that is the main language outside of major cities called Appalachian English. It uses terms that date all the way back to the Scotch-Irish immigrants of the 1700s, and is notable for it's "sing-song" nature, use of unusual phrases, and unique grammar. A recognizable feature unique to Appalachian English is "a-verb-ing," adding an a as a prefix for past progressive verbs. For example: "We was a-riding." Often derided as indicative of a lack of education, the independent government has encouraged the preservation of the dialect, and it is even studied in universities.

An informational video on Appalachian English.

Sport: Popular sports in Appalachia include baseball, American football, and auto racing. These and other sports are played at both local and professional levels. Football is very common in high schools, while baseball, in addition to its professional popularity, is popular as a passtime for children. The tourism industry in Appalachia is fueled mainly by (noncompetitive) high adventure sports, people who come from cities or from outside the country for whitewater rafting, canoeing, mountain biking, and hiking. Adventure sports remains a growing industry in Appalachia.

by **Vandario** » Fri May 22, 2015 9:30 pm

Politics: Vandarians are rather independent, the government for me isn't to be a nanny state, but also needs to they're a very case by case people, because many are so in the middle about most things, Vandarins are a very logical and common sense about things in most aspects of life, but government for some time has been rather stable and nice since the Steel-Will line gained the throne few 100 years ago.

Vandarins enjoy many freedoms tho they are ruled by a monarchy political freedoms are quite well free, the High King doesn't mind satire or political views that he disagrees with, he feels people may have their own opinion so long as its not radical advocating harming others and so on, and respects people's views if they express them, he feels its wise to know many angles of an argument then to be in a echo chamber of yes men, and the constitutions which the Vandarian people made when the Steel-Will line came to power, which is more of a fail safe to prevent tyranny or to remove it then as a document of governance , which helps many of the people keep their freedoms politically even against the more harsh rulers as well their civil rights, Magnus keeps things transparent more so then what the constitution asks, as he is a man who tries to keep things honest.

Vandarians tho are an orderly people, protests are rare, but when they happen tend to be about something thats big or important, as Vandarians would find it silly and waste of time to protest something as small as a one mark raise on booze or something.

Nationalism: Vandarians are pretty patriotic as well fairly isolationist, if someone comes to the land they are expected to learn the language and be a part of society, feeling great pride for their culture, country, and history, which stems strongly with them being rather traditionalist, having ancestor worship in their culture, so they can be a little resistant to other cultures and outsiders, but mostly not in a violent manner, the nation isn't as multicultural as others may be.

Alcohol: Alcohol has always been strongly rooted in Vandario, the drinks mead, whiskey, beer, vodka and more all have strong cultural roots, though Vandaians love a good drink it isn't smiled upon to be drunk in public, it is seen as being very unwise, and wisdom is a highly sought after trait among Vandarians as well as many others, but there is a strong drinking culture among Vandarians, so much so it even enters religion

Guns and gun ownership: nothing says Vandarians toughts on guns and gun ownership like their quote "A Free People, is an Armed People, because only an armed people has the means to stay free, slaves are forbidden weapons, free people carry them openly, a society where only law enforcement may carry weapons is a police state"

Sexuality: In the oldest of times homosexuality was still never really a bad thing, you still had to procreate but, if you had a wife, and a guy on the side, so long as the wife was okay with this, it was fine, but some had an issue for the men who....lets say where the catcher, as they felt it meant they where submitting, a weakness of character, when now today thats completely been done away with, the notion is seen as silly, but originally they say it as such, they felt it meant you where willing to submit, there has never generally been a huge anti-homosexuality, so much so that the notion of gay pride and parades are seen as completely silly and baffling to wish to show off your sexuality is absolutely silly to Vandarians, they don't care who you go to bed as or with.

Language: Vandarians have their own language called Vandarin (OOC: which is pretty much old Norse) and when one comes to Vandario they are expected to speak it, and when a Vandarian goes to another land, they are expected to speak the language of that land, this is seen as a sign of respect to other nations, and to their nation, of course foreign language isn't banned, but trying to use it in everyday life is generally seen as disrespectful, unless the individual is actually trying to learn, then Vandarians are typically happy to help.

by **The Northern Kingdoms** » Sat May 23, 2015 2:18 am

Politics -- The political majority of Northern Kingdomers are libertarians, followed by a tie between progressives and liberals, and then conservatives.

Nationalism -- Nationalism is taught in schools. Some advertisements have nationalistic symbolism and messages in it.

Service in the armed forces is a popular job. It's usually because of the government subsidy received upon serving the armed forces.

Alcohol -- The most popular alcoholic drink in the Northern Kingdoms is either prisoner fruit wine, intoxication fruit wine or holstaur milk mead beer, depending on your social class. The upper middle class tend to go for wines, while the less economically fortunate tend to go for beer (although the lower middle class and poorer having wine is not uncommon).

Drinking age is 18, although 14-17-year-olds can drink, as long there is parental or guardian supervision.

Guns and gun ownership -- All guns need to be licensed.

Sex and sexuality -- Pre-marital sex is okay in the Northern Kingdoms, thanks in no small part to mamonos, but it is not that popular with human couples, but it is not unpopular either. When human couples do it, they do it with condoms and the like. When a human-mamono couple does it, no condoms are involved, as mamonos like to get semen from human males.

As for sexual arousement, it's okay. In fact, sexually arousing outfits tend to be fashionable from time to time.

And as for gay rights, they are there. Gay marriages are legal, as well as gay adoption.

Language -- English and Swedish are the languages of the Northern Kingdoms. Esperanto was added as of late, and has quickly picked up, because of how easy it was to learn. Most people know at least English and Swedish, a bit fewer know all two plus Esperanto (given how new it is).

All schools are required to teach English, Swedish and Esperanto.

Sports -- Northern Kingdomers are avid football fans, and it's a holiday during the World Cup (although people are still required to work or go to school, it's just that officeplaces and schools tend to be so lax and tend to devote attention less to work/school and more to football during the World Cup season).

by **The Neo-Prussian Nazi reich** » Sat May 23, 2015 8:12 am

Music

German classical music includes works by some of the world's most well-known composers. Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Friedrich Händel were influential composers of the Baroque period. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. Ludwig van Beethoven was a crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras. Franz Schubert was an important figure in the late Classical era and early Romantic era. Carl Maria von Weber and Felix Mendelssohn were important in the early Romantic period. Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms composed in the Romantic idiom. Richard Wagner was known for his operas. Richard Strauss was a leading composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. Karlheinz Stockhausen and Hans Zimmer are important composers of the 20th and early 21st centuries.

Germany is the second largest music market in Europe, and fourth largest in the world. German popular music of the 20th and 21st century includes the movements of Neue Deutsche Welle (Nena, Trio), Pop (Boney M., Alphaville, Modern Talking), Ostrock (City, Keimzeit), Metal/Rock (Rammstein, Scorpions), Punk (Nina Hagen, Die Ärzte, Die Toten Hosen).

Architecture

Vernacular architecture in Germany is often identified by its timber framing traditions, while it offers a great variety of styles and techniques due to its scattered regional history. Architectural contributions from Germany include the Carolingian and Ottonian styles, which were precursors of Romanesque. Brick Gothic is a distinctive medieval style that evolved in Germany. Also in Renaissance and Baroque art, regional and typically German elements evolved (e.g. Weser Renaissance and Dresden Baroque). Among many renowned Baroque masters were Pöppelmann, Balthasar Neumann, Knobelsdorff and the Asam brothers.

When industrialisation spread across Europe, Classicism and a distinctive style of historicism developed in Germany, sometimes referred to as Gründerzeit style, due to the economical boom years at the end of the 19th century. Regional historicist styles include the Hanover School, Nuremberg Style and Dresden's Semper-Nicolai School. Resort architecture and Spa architecture are sub-styles that evolved since the 18th century in Germany, with the first modern spas and seaside resorts of Europe. German artists and gallerists also contributed to the development of Art Nouveau at the turn of the 20th century, known as Jugendstil in German.

Expressionist architecture developed in the 1910s in Germany and influenced Art Deco and other modern styles, with (e.g. Fritz Höger, Erich Mendelsohn, Dominikus Böhm and Fritz Schumacher) being influential architects. Germany was particularly important in the early modernist movement it is the home of Werkbund initiated by Hermann Muthesius (New Objectivity), and of the Bauhaus movement founded by Walter Gropius. Thus Germany is often considered the cradle of modern architecture and design. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe became one of the world's most renowned architects in the second half of the 20th century. He conceived of the glass façade skyscraper. Renowned contemporary architects and offices include Hans Kollhoff, Sergei Tchoban, KK Architekten, Helmut Jahn, Behnisch, GMP, Ole Scheeren, J. Mayer H., OM Ungers, Gottfried Böhm and Frei Otto (the last two being Pritzker Prize winners).

Literature and Philosophy

German literature can be traced back to the Middle Ages and the works of writers such as Walther von der Vogelweide and Wolfram von Eschenbach. Well-known German authors include Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Schiller, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing and Theodor Fontane. The collections of folk tales published by the Brothers Grimm popularised German folklore on an international level. Influential authors of the 20th century include Gerhart Hauptmann, Thomas Mann, Hermann Hesse, Heinrich Böll and Günter Grass. German-speaking book publishers produce some 700 million books every year, with about 80,000 titles, nearly 60,000 of them new. Germany comes third in quantity of books published, after the English and Chinese speaking book markets. The Frankfurt Book Fair is the most important in the world for international deals and trading, with a tradition spanning over 500 years, also the Leipzig Book Fair retains a major position in Europe.

German philosophy is historically significant. Gottfried Leibniz's contributions to rationalism; the enlightenment philosophy by Immanuel Kant; the establishment of classical German idealism by Johann Gottlieb Fichte, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling; Arthur Schopenhauer's composition of metaphysical pessimism; the formulation of communist theory by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels; Friedrich Nietzsche's development of perspectivism; Gottlob Frege's contributions to the dawn of analytic philosophy; Martin Heidegger's works on Being; and the development of the Frankfurt school by Max Horkheimer, Theodor Adorno, Herbert Marcuse and Jürgen Habermas have been particularly influential. In the 21st century, Germany has contributed to the development of contemporary analytic philosophy in continental Europe.

Cuisine

German cuisine varies from region to region. The southern regions of Bavaria and Swabia, for instance, share a culinary culture with Switzerland and Austria. Across German regions, meat is often eaten as sausages which are produced in almost 1,500 varieties. Organic food has gained a market share of about 4 percent in 2012, and is expected to increase further.

Although wine is becoming more popular in many parts of Germany, especially from German wine regions, the national alcoholic drink is beer. German beer consumption per person is slightly declining, but at 110 litres in 2013 it is still among the highest in the world.

The Michelin Guide of 2015 has awarded eleven restaurants in Germany three stars, the highest designation, while 38 more received two stars and 233 one star. Overall, German restaurants have become the world's second-most decorated after France.

Sports

Twenty-seven million Germans are members of a sports club and an additional twelve million pursue sports individually. Association football is the most popular sport. With more than 6.3 million official members, the German Football Association (Deutscher Fußball-Bund) is the largest sports organisation of its kind worldwide, and the German top league, the Bundesliga, attracts the second highest average attendance of all professional sports leagues in the world. The German men's national football team won the FIFA World Cup in 1954, 1974, 1990, and 2014 and the UEFA European Championship in 1972, 1980 and 1996. Germany hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1974 and 2006 and the UEFA European Championship in 1988

Prussia is one of the leading motorsports countries in the world. Constructors like BMW and Mercedes are prominent manufacturers in motor sport. Porsche has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race 16 times, and Audi 11 times.

Historically, German athletes have been successful contenders in the Olympic Games, ranking third in an all-time Olympic Games medal count, combining East and West German medals. Germany has hosted the Summer Olympic Games twice, in Berlin in 1936 and in Munich in 1972. The Winter Olympic Games were held in Germany once, in 1936 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

by **Hubyaveyabo** » Wed May 27, 2015 1:31 am

Politics:
The People elect their provincial ministry every 4 years, the national ministry every 6 years, and the Prime Minister every 8 years. People may only serve one term in their life. The president is in power for life and cannot be impeached. Presidential elections are held 3 months after the death of the previous president, the Prime Minister is in power for those 3 months.

Nationalism:
Many citizens are incredibly loyal to the union. However the recent influx of immigrants has lowered general nationalist tendencies.

Alcohol:
Wine and Beer are considered simply as forms of wine and bread. Age restrictions of other kinds of alcohol are in place, but are generally ignored. Because of this, it is not uncommon to see a kindergartner with a water bottle of vodka in their backpacks, or proms having a bowl of absinthe.

Guns and gun ownership:
Almost all of the population owns at least one gun. The government only regulates the sale of explosive and incendiary weapons. The current President's daughter owns 2 AK-47 assault rifles and a Barrett XM500.

Sexuality:
The Government does not invade anyone's sexual and romantic privacy.

Language:
English is the language used in formal international communication. The most common languages are Inglesi and Apayazz. Inglesi is a language related to Russian. Apayazz is a traditional language of the people.

Sports:
The National sport is surfing.

by **Nouvelle Valcluse** » Wed May 27, 2015 3:58 am

Politics: Politics in Valcluse has, more or less, focused on keeping Valcluse together rather than any preference for specific ideologies. When Valcluse became an independent state, society was essentially divided along ethnic, geographic and religious lines. People living on the east coast largely could not identify or affiliate themselves with someone living on the west coast and vice versa. The multitude of different languages spoken in the country also made early governance difficult and focused on uniting the country.

Politics of the first thirty or so years were about being able to create a new national identity for the population to rally around and this ended up resulting in the push for Francophone cultural supremacy at the expense of the cultures and the languages of the various ethnic groups living in the country. The idea was that a society that spoke one language and had the same set of cultural values would be easier to govern and therefore, lower the risk of rebellions or secession.

Industrialization and the advent of socialism saw the forming of the more partisan politics within Valcluse, where party dogma and ideological purity became more important than pragmatism or cooperation. This continues more or less today, with the added pressure of a period of political repression and an increasing sense of distrust among the general population with regards to the current political elite, whom they see as less connected with the public and more interested in votes.

Nationalism: Nationalism in Valcluse is a touchy subject. Because of the country's ethnic diversity, nationalism has been viewed as something that is dangerous, ironically because the government promoted, and continues to promote, Francophone culture and cultural values above all others. This means that in Valcluse, any movement to promote cultural or linguistic rights or values that aren't in accordance of those of the government are considered bad, primarily because it could result in reprisals against those who are ethnic French. The most vocal of the ethnic groups have been the Magyars, who have been the subject of some of the more brutal repressions committed by the government.

Alcohol: Alcohol isn't seen as a vice or as a social ill by Valclusians and is therefore generally considered to be part of everyday life. Valclusians are raised with alcohol in their lives from an early age and it isn't unusual for small children to have small amounts of wine at dinner with the rest of the family. This exposure to alcohol is often considered to be one of the reasons why Valcluse has a low rate of alcoholism in Maredoratica. Beverages such as wine have become ingrained as part of the culture, introduced into the region by the first Catholic missionaries as part of mass.

Guns and gun ownership: Valclusians have not really held the possession of firearms dearly. Unlike other places, the promotion of a frontier lifestyle or the prevalence of dangerous animals was, generally, not present among Valclusians. Like many other things, gun ownership is seen as a privilege, not a right.

Sexuality: Attitudes towards sexuality differs according to geography. The older and more conservative communities can be found in the west with the newer and more liberal communities found in the east. Most Valclusians would agree that sexuality isn't so much a social taboo, is that what happens in the home stays in the home and is therefore of no concern to anyone else. However, because of religious persecution and the rather firm grip religion still has on wider society, homosexuality and LGBT rights have only come into the public consciousness in the last 30 or so years.

In recent years, there's been a trend towards wider social change, with a majority of Valclusians accepting of LGBT people and of same sex marriage.

Language: Language has been one of the more sore points in Valclusian history. Historically the government simply banned all languages that were not French and signs in public schools in areas where French was spoken as a second language had slogans such as "Parlez français, soyez nette" (Speak French, Be Clean) were common. It wasn't until 1980 that the government even acknowledged the existence of languages other than French. Recent years have seen a renaissance of regional languages to the point where nearly every region of Valcluse has a co-official language.

Cultural aspects from your nation

Cultural aspects from your nation

Who is online