Rosan Culture

The Rosan culture is the dominant culture in the nation of Nova Rosa. It is a true hybrid culture, taking many aspects, ethics and celebrations from the varied cultures and races that have joined the nation. This continuous syncretism means the culture is constantly shifting and adopting new ideas from the people of Nova Rosa. Most citizens welcome it, expanding their practices and enjoying the many festivals, the varied diet and the sense of wider community that it brings.

Early history
Rosan developed by the intermingling of the cultures of the first settlers of Nova Rosa from the lands of Rathnir. The nation saw migrants from all over and over time they shared their cultural dishes, celebrated their festivals together, and bought each other's cultural dress.

Commercial practices
Rosans are avid businessfolk and will always attempt to gain the upper hand in a bargain, unless they see the value in conceding profit for the promise of future trade. Haggling is essential in a deal and one who does not haggle is seen as rude and aloof. Bartering is often preferred over monetary exchange.

The quality of the goods in question is always a valuable point, with the prestige of a producer being important to the price of their goods. Reputation is always taken into account in a deal and merchants ensure that their deals take this into account, being a reputable producer of fine goods is always seen as more valuable than mass producing low-quality items.

It is not uncommon to use iron or gold nuggets as a means of exchange for goods or services and many in-person deals take place using these when other items are not used for barter.

Literature and the arts
Rosan places an emphasis on the careful keeping of their history and the telling of stories. It is not uncommon to find historical scenes acted out in their theatres and stories being told around tables in taverns and inns. Through this the culture endeavours to remember their great heroes and important happenings for generations to come. Historians are venerated and accurate tellings of histories are very important. Historical figures are not whitewashed and are described including their flaws and enemies are not barbarised but spoken of fairly and with understanding.

Art is very important to the Rosans as they see the the recording history and feelings as pictures to be the highest form of expression. It is rare to find a Rosan home without at least one piece of artwork on the walls. Common depictions are of historic battles and landscapes.

Plays and performances are celebrated by the Rosan people. Famous stories being retold will draw large crowds and good-natured heckling of the cast is not uncommon, similar to the vein of the audience participation in a pantomime.

Poetry is popular among the upper echelons of Rosan society where they see a well-crafted verse as true art. Poetic topics are wildly varied and range from the description of a beautiful phase of the moon to the feeling of being struck down in a battle to the taste of a particular food.

Music is seen as a valuable commodity and those who own jukeboxes and records are often the most wealthy of people. Note block composers become very famous in Rosan societies and the performance of a piece of note block music is seen as a special event.

Food
Rosans enjoy a rich and varied diet, often staying away from simple foods and instead preferring heavily spiced or well-baked dishes such as spiced meats and fish, pies, cookies and cakes. Meals are informal affairs among families and feasts can become very rowdy as they each attempt to impress the assembled guests with the most outlandish story or the most moving poem.

There are often multiple courses to a meal, with soups and vegetables being a common starter then moving on to meats or fish and finishing with cookies or cake to fill up. Rosan chefs take pride in serving quality food and unprepared foods are seen more as travel rations or quick snacks.

Relations
Rosan families are typically monogamous, as wider ones are seen as leading to internal struggles. Weddings are grand affairs and vary wildly in practice due to the many different religions followed by the people. It is normal to invite strangers and foreigners to weddings and it is seen as a general celebration by all. It is common to adopt children into families as a way to grow their strength and succession is not always by primogeniture but can be by choice of an heir. As families are changeable in this way relation by blood is not seen as any more or less valuable, and children out of wedlock are seen as equal to ones from in it and to those that have been adopted into the family.

Relations with outsiders are always courteous and any foreigner in Rosan land is treated as a guest and as such can enjoy free temporary housing at hotels and often free meals from strangers, although shops will still require payment for their services.

Festivals and Celebrations
The culture has adopted many festivals and celebrations from its citizens and often adapts them in its own way. Celebrations are seen as events for the whole community and even those that do not follow the particular practices are invited to join in as a social event.

Carnevale
The Carnevale is the favourite celebration among the Rosan people and is celebrated once every 6 months. On this day people gather in the Piazza to dance, drink, eat, see firework shows and watch performances by skilled artisans. Traditionally attendees wear mob heads as masks to disguise themselves and may use a pseudonym to blend in. All classes attend this festival and it is seen as important to bring together every citizen in celebration.

Solay
Solay is held on the day of the summer solstice and takes it roots from the Niedene culture. Lanterns are often hung outside of houses or on strings across streets on this day as a celebration of light and the sun and it is traditional to gift close relations a golden carrot or golden apple, due to gold's lustre being associated with the radiance of the sun.

Day of the spirits
The day of the spirits is held on the day before Halloween. It is held to remember those who have passed and those who once lived in the Rosan culture, and traditionally a feast is held with much drinking and stories of the ancestors. In many homes a black candle is also lit to commemorate the dead.

Cultural symbols
The Rose is the most important of symbols to the Rosans as it represents the courage of the people and symbolises the growth and beauty of the culture.

The sun is seen as being related to gold, and particularly sunny days as lucky and a good time to make lucky deals and settle disputes.