 |
| My Hobgoblin Avatar. Image By: Megan Hall |
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
ENVIRONMENT
Hobgoblins live in the dense woods of the north. The climate varies greatly from season to season. In the summer, it tends to be hot and humid which presents many opportunities for fishing in the rivers and hunting for small birds or collecting bugs of different sorts for eating. The fall is cool and crisp, allowing for the hunting of smaller animals during the afternoon, such as baby rabbits and small weasels. The winters can be brutal and we do not blend with the snow, so we tend to hibernate underground for the months of December and January until the weather warms up more. The springtime is our favorite time of year because mud is produced for building our small living huts. It is also a good time for hunting birds migrating to the north and for fishing in the cool river.
The terrain of the area we live on is mostly flat with mud, rocks, and a few grassy knolls. We are located next to a small river so they can fish and bathe, even though they rarely do bathe. The area is surrounded by towering trees, which provides shade in the hot summer and protection from the elements. The tree's branches and twigs are used to build tools, small rafts, and bridges. They also provide structural support for the huts. There is always rain during the spring, and we enjoy collecting the rain in bowls made of green leaves for drinking.
The terrain of the area we live on is mostly flat with mud, rocks, and a few grassy knolls. We are located next to a small river so they can fish and bathe, even though they rarely do bathe. The area is surrounded by towering trees, which provides shade in the hot summer and protection from the elements. The tree's branches and twigs are used to build tools, small rafts, and bridges. They also provide structural support for the huts. There is always rain during the spring, and we enjoy collecting the rain in bowls made of green leaves for drinking.
.jpg) |
| Arial View of the Hobgoblin's Village (not to scale). Image By: Megan Hall |
.jpg) |
| A Hobgoblin Mud Hut, approx. 4' by 3.5'. Image By: Megan Hall |
SYMBOLS
Each of us have different symbols for how old we are in our village, and they are represented by different types of leaves. We must wear our leaf every day to let everyone else know where we stand in our society. Leaves are changed with age, and there is one reserved for status. There are four types of leaves worn: oak, maple, birch, and fern sprigs. An oak leaf (like the one I wear) represents the adults, which is the majority of the hobgoblin population. Big maple leaves are worn by the younger hobgoblins, so they are easily disguised when they hunt. A birch leaf is worn by the elder hobgoblins, representing their higher knowledge of nature. Fern sprigs are reserved for the leader and the servants, representing status and authority. The leaves that our families wear are also placed on the outside of our huts when they are built to signify who lives inside. Lastly, the poison oak leaf is worn by a hobgoblin that has been outcast and must redeem themselves before returning to the village.
There is a special symbol that represents the Nature Gods. It means that the Nature Gods have been to the place where it was found and they have blessed that place. We must take a moment to pray to them if one of these symbols are found in the forest.
The sun and rain droplet symbols are arbitrary symbols - they are simply what they look like, and it is common for a hobgoblin child to draw such things. Other symbols include the symbol for danger and the symbol for peace, which are represented through hand signals. When the fingers are all spread apart from one another, this indicates peace. Danger is represented through closing all the fingers together and pointing the palm towards the direction of the danger.
There is a special symbol that represents the Nature Gods. It means that the Nature Gods have been to the place where it was found and they have blessed that place. We must take a moment to pray to them if one of these symbols are found in the forest.
The sun and rain droplet symbols are arbitrary symbols - they are simply what they look like, and it is common for a hobgoblin child to draw such things. Other symbols include the symbol for danger and the symbol for peace, which are represented through hand signals. When the fingers are all spread apart from one another, this indicates peace. Danger is represented through closing all the fingers together and pointing the palm towards the direction of the danger.
 |
| The Symbols. Image By: Megan Hall |
WORLDVIEW
We believe that the weather is caused by the Nature Gods. Bad weather is a sign of misfortune or punishment for something that a hobgoblin has done. Good weather means good luck or it is a reward for an achievement of a hobgoblin. The Earth and all of us were also created by the Nature Gods, and it is their duty to maintain the Earth's health so we can survive off of it. Knowledge is learned over time from different hobgoblins, but knowledge of nature is given to us from the Nature Gods when we are born. My role as a hobgoblin is to help maintain and protect the Earth, especially all aspects of nature itself, to provide a better place for the next generation of hobgoblins to live. Death occurs because the Nature Gods need you so you can serve them in the forests of the sky.
VALUES
As a hobgoblin, I value trust, community, friendship, love, peace, and achievement. Not only do I value these things, but everyone else in the village values them too. Trust is very important to the culture because we live so close together, so you have to trust one another to not steal things or to lie about anything. Community is crucial because everyone provides their skills to the community to better it as a whole, and without this, there cannot be a functioning village. Friendship and love are important as well. Without friendship, there are only enemies, and without love there is only hate surrounding us. Peace is also vital because fighting leads to negativity and distrust, making our community unorganized and chaotic. Finally, achievement is important because we enjoy celebrating the achievements of other hobgoblins, which brings our community together and makes us stronger as a whole.
CLASSIFICATIONS OF REALITY
There are a few ways in which us hobgoblins classify our family members. My mother is called mother, my father is called father, my mother's sisters and brothers are called aunts, and my father's sisters and brothers are called uncles. My cousins and siblings are both siblings, and my close friends are brothers or sisters. These terms can be used more than once when I refer to someone. For example, my mother's sister is also my close friend, so she is my aunt and my sister. The Nature Gods are classified based on the different elements that we believe in: Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. We simply call them that as well.
Different parts of the village are classified in different ways. The leader's hut is always in the center of the village, and it is called the House of the Leader. The trail leading to the House of the Leader (also the biggest trail in the village) is referred to as the Main Trail. Huts surrounding the House of the Leader are called the Outer Huts, and the individual, smaller trails that lead to them are called the Outer Trails. There are also three different parts of a hut that we classify as the living space, the cooking space, and the sleeping space. The living space is a place to socialize or discuss certain matters of importance, the cooking space is used for cooking and preparing meals, and the sleeping space is used for sleeping at night and resting in the afternoons (or for when one of us is ill).
When talking about the weather, there are only two ways in which we classify it: Bad Weather or Good Weather. Bad Weather includes thunderstorms, heavy rain, high winds, thick cloud cover, extreme heat or cold, or dense fog. Good Weather refers to bright sunshine, clear blue skies, moderate temperatures (not too cold or too hot), light breeze, or light rains in the spring. Discussing the weather with another hobgoblin is when we discuss it in detail. Otherwise, it is just referred to as Good or Bad when we talk about it in general.
Different parts of the village are classified in different ways. The leader's hut is always in the center of the village, and it is called the House of the Leader. The trail leading to the House of the Leader (also the biggest trail in the village) is referred to as the Main Trail. Huts surrounding the House of the Leader are called the Outer Huts, and the individual, smaller trails that lead to them are called the Outer Trails. There are also three different parts of a hut that we classify as the living space, the cooking space, and the sleeping space. The living space is a place to socialize or discuss certain matters of importance, the cooking space is used for cooking and preparing meals, and the sleeping space is used for sleeping at night and resting in the afternoons (or for when one of us is ill).
When talking about the weather, there are only two ways in which we classify it: Bad Weather or Good Weather. Bad Weather includes thunderstorms, heavy rain, high winds, thick cloud cover, extreme heat or cold, or dense fog. Good Weather refers to bright sunshine, clear blue skies, moderate temperatures (not too cold or too hot), light breeze, or light rains in the spring. Discussing the weather with another hobgoblin is when we discuss it in detail. Otherwise, it is just referred to as Good or Bad when we talk about it in general.
NORMS
Everyday norms for us hobgoblins would best be explained by walking through a day of how we live. In the mornings, it is customary for the female hobgoblin of the household to wake everyone up at 5 am so the children may begin hunting and the adults may begin cooking, cleaning and organizing things around the hut. We always greet one another with a high five and it is important that we look into each other's eyes to ensure trust, otherwise it sends a message that one of us has done something wrong, has lied to someone about something, or that the hobgoblin has recently betrayed another's trust. When saying goodbye, we quickly hug one another, which signifies closeness and proper mannerisms. Simply waving goodbye is taken as an offense to us and it shows that you do not want to be close to the person you are saying goodbye to, nor do you have any trust in them. Failing to follow the customs of greetings will result in having all of us ignore the hobgoblin who failed and do so until they improve their manners.
When hunting, since I am not a child any longer, I will explain how a child should act when they hunt. Before embarking on a hunting trip, a hobgoblin child should pray to the Nature Gods for prosperity in their trip and for good luck. After making a kill, a hobgoblin child should approach the animal, make a bed of ferns around it, and pray to the Nature Gods to thank them for the kill opportunity and for the luck that they were given. If this is not done, a child will be looked down upon by the Nature Gods and contract an illness or bad luck until they redeem themselves. They will also be outcast by all of us and forced to live across the river in seclusion until they redeem themselves.
It is customary that before dinner (and only dinner), we all pray to the Nature Gods to thank them for our gift of food and our general well-being. On the second Wednesday of every month at dinnertime, we all gather around the fire for our universal Day of Thanks to the Nature Gods. All of us must bring an offering of food to be thrown into the fire so the Gods will be pleased. Traditional dances and songs are performed at this time, and a large feast is held with the finest foods in our village served. If someone is not in attendance at the Day of Thanks, then they are permanently outcast from the village and are never to return.
When hunting, since I am not a child any longer, I will explain how a child should act when they hunt. Before embarking on a hunting trip, a hobgoblin child should pray to the Nature Gods for prosperity in their trip and for good luck. After making a kill, a hobgoblin child should approach the animal, make a bed of ferns around it, and pray to the Nature Gods to thank them for the kill opportunity and for the luck that they were given. If this is not done, a child will be looked down upon by the Nature Gods and contract an illness or bad luck until they redeem themselves. They will also be outcast by all of us and forced to live across the river in seclusion until they redeem themselves.
It is customary that before dinner (and only dinner), we all pray to the Nature Gods to thank them for our gift of food and our general well-being. On the second Wednesday of every month at dinnertime, we all gather around the fire for our universal Day of Thanks to the Nature Gods. All of us must bring an offering of food to be thrown into the fire so the Gods will be pleased. Traditional dances and songs are performed at this time, and a large feast is held with the finest foods in our village served. If someone is not in attendance at the Day of Thanks, then they are permanently outcast from the village and are never to return.
STRUCTURE AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
As mentioned when I was explaining the symbols of my tribe, the leaves that we wear represent our age, if we have been outcast, or if we are a servant or leader for the month. The leader leads the tribe for the month, and they are elected every first day of the month by the all of us. Their election depends on what and how many good deeds they have performed over the course of the previous month. The servants of the leader stay the same, unless one dies and they have to be replaced. Class among us does not matter because it defines who we are based on wealth in our community, which can lead to war and conflict amongst all of us.
Our demographics only are of our age. About 30% of our population is children, 40% are adults, 20% are elders, and the last 10% are the leader and the servants.
There are several types of rituals we hold. The marriage ritual cannot occur between people with maple leaves, as they are children and are not to be married at that age. We hold a dancing celebration and feast around a fire to celebrate the marriage of the two hobgoblins. The two that are getting married can be man and woman, woman and woman, or man and man. They wear the Flower Bands of Marriage when getting married and perform a Dance of Union around the fire to signify eternal love. We also pray to the Nature Gods for their good health and fortune in marriage. The Day of Thanks is held on the second Wednesday of every month, and this is where we hold a large feast and give food sacrifices to the Nature Gods to thank them for all that they have done. The Leaf Change Day is held when someone is to get their leaf changed. I had mine when I moved from child to adult and got my leaf changed from a maple to an oak. They are also held when a new servant is appointed to serve the leader or when a new leader is elected to lead for the month.
When one of us dies, everybody must pray to the Nature Gods to treat them well on the day they die at every meal instead of just the normal practice of only praying at dinner. The body of a fellow hobgoblin will be carried across the river and deep into the woods by servants to be buried underneath the roots of the tree that their leaf came from. While there, hobgoblin servants must pray to the Nature Gods for their well-being in their service to the Nature Gods themselves.
We are a hunting and gathering society. The children hunt and gather most of the food deep in the woods, and the adults can only gather food and not hunt. We can trade with other tribes of hobgoblins nearby, and children are usually the ones that perform this task.
The life cycle can be explained through what will happen to me throughout the time I am alive. When I was a child, I grew to be older and became an adult and got my leaf changed. When I become an elder, I will also get a leaf change. I have not yet been elected to be leader for the month, but I will also get a leaf change then as well. When I die, I will be prayed for by all the other hobgoblins for my good fortune in serving the Nature Gods.
Our demographics only are of our age. About 30% of our population is children, 40% are adults, 20% are elders, and the last 10% are the leader and the servants.
There are several types of rituals we hold. The marriage ritual cannot occur between people with maple leaves, as they are children and are not to be married at that age. We hold a dancing celebration and feast around a fire to celebrate the marriage of the two hobgoblins. The two that are getting married can be man and woman, woman and woman, or man and man. They wear the Flower Bands of Marriage when getting married and perform a Dance of Union around the fire to signify eternal love. We also pray to the Nature Gods for their good health and fortune in marriage. The Day of Thanks is held on the second Wednesday of every month, and this is where we hold a large feast and give food sacrifices to the Nature Gods to thank them for all that they have done. The Leaf Change Day is held when someone is to get their leaf changed. I had mine when I moved from child to adult and got my leaf changed from a maple to an oak. They are also held when a new servant is appointed to serve the leader or when a new leader is elected to lead for the month.
When one of us dies, everybody must pray to the Nature Gods to treat them well on the day they die at every meal instead of just the normal practice of only praying at dinner. The body of a fellow hobgoblin will be carried across the river and deep into the woods by servants to be buried underneath the roots of the tree that their leaf came from. While there, hobgoblin servants must pray to the Nature Gods for their well-being in their service to the Nature Gods themselves.
We are a hunting and gathering society. The children hunt and gather most of the food deep in the woods, and the adults can only gather food and not hunt. We can trade with other tribes of hobgoblins nearby, and children are usually the ones that perform this task.
The life cycle can be explained through what will happen to me throughout the time I am alive. When I was a child, I grew to be older and became an adult and got my leaf changed. When I become an elder, I will also get a leaf change. I have not yet been elected to be leader for the month, but I will also get a leaf change then as well. When I die, I will be prayed for by all the other hobgoblins for my good fortune in serving the Nature Gods.
Monday, February 10, 2014
CULTURAL EMPHASIS
My culture emphasizes the weather, nature, family, and the Nature Gods. There are many words that we use to describe the weather specifically when talking about it to another hobgoblin, but when we are just referring to it in general, we say that it is either good weather or bad weather. On days of good weather, we describe the sun, wind, and temperatures to one another. On days of bad weather, we describe the amount of precipitation, the type of precipitation, the types of clouds, the wind, the temperature, and whatever other bad weather is happening that day. For example, when I was discussing the bad weather with one of my siblings, I described it as being very cold with high winds, a lot of heavy rain, puffy black clouds, and the possibility of hearing thunder later on.
Nature is also important in my culture. We emphasize on what parts of nature we are in, what forms of nature we see around us, and what types of nature we enjoy and dislike. There are many words for different types of leaves, rocks, trees, dirt, and water. This is also important when the children go hunting because it helps them to identify where they are and what they are looking for to kill.
There is a great cultural emphasis on family in my community. There are words for ways in which other hobgoblins are related to you and what purpose they serve within the community. Since everyone is related to one another, family is vastly important in my culture. It also stresses the importance of community ties and trust with one another.
Nature Gods are the gods that we worship on a daily basis. We believe that they created this Earth and they protect and maintain it. The Nature Gods are named after the elements: Fire, Earth, Water, and Air. There are many words that describe what they do and how they influence the weather and the nature around our community.
Nature is also important in my culture. We emphasize on what parts of nature we are in, what forms of nature we see around us, and what types of nature we enjoy and dislike. There are many words for different types of leaves, rocks, trees, dirt, and water. This is also important when the children go hunting because it helps them to identify where they are and what they are looking for to kill.
There is a great cultural emphasis on family in my community. There are words for ways in which other hobgoblins are related to you and what purpose they serve within the community. Since everyone is related to one another, family is vastly important in my culture. It also stresses the importance of community ties and trust with one another.
Nature Gods are the gods that we worship on a daily basis. We believe that they created this Earth and they protect and maintain it. The Nature Gods are named after the elements: Fire, Earth, Water, and Air. There are many words that describe what they do and how they influence the weather and the nature around our community.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)