Ave, Sandum Citizens!
Mzatanos Posters
Three posters made by the Sôgmô for celebrating November, Mzatanos in Abenaki,
which is the month celebrating Native American history.
Sandus has made strides in its own self-creation for the expression of a culture synonymous or influenced by that of Native Americans. Sandum policy and most Sandum citizens believe in the autonomous and sovereign rights of indigenous peoples, and Native Americans are no different. Heavily influenced by the Sôgmô’s ancestry from the Western Abenaki, the State of Sandus has become a bastion of Native American cultural renaissance. Though efforts are being made to incorporate this with more Algonquin peoples and make it more broader in the sense of all Native Americans, the emphasis on the Abenaki remain; though the Abenaki and the Iroquois were enemies in the past, today both can be combined in this sense for the sake of the story of all Native Americans in Sandus.
These posters relating Native American cultural arts, traditions, and values are important elements of the Sandum culture.
CCPS Poster
This poster by James Thompson is one which relates the importance of making a new Socialist and Sandum society. Crushing capitalism, the message of the CCPS, is seen with a Maoist Communist destroying elements of the old culture. This is very similar to Sandus which prides itself on making its own culture. This importance of making a new, independent culture has become important in the State and has lead to the creation of the Philia Policy and all the other cultural aspects of the State. This emphasis, as well, on Socialism and Communism is important in Sandus’ political and social culture.
These concepts of self-creating an independent culture and of creating a Socialist society are important aspects of Sandum culture.
Fontinalia Observance
On the past Sunday morning, I conducted a minor religious observance of the Fontinalia festival. Dedicated to Fontus, the Roman god of pure water, wells, and springs, water was taken from a local river in order to be used in the upcoming Armilustrium rite this Friday or XIX Octobro in the Sancta Calendar. This observance is important in the Sandum sense because of the value it places on religious expression coexisting and, in many cases, prompting Socialist behaviour. Furthermore, though Sandus may be more religious than many other micronations, it is an equally free religious micronation. All Sandum citizens are free to choose their faith and I personally endorse each Sandum citizen to find their own path. Though I often speak of my religion, when other Sandum citizens come to me asking if they should join my faith, I often urge them to make sure that this faith is their own and not due to me. This religious liberty in Sandus is very unique as though Sandus is a secular government, it endorses micronational projects with religion for the sake of an independent Sandum culture. Though this secular government is called into question by the fact that I share the role of Sacra Flameno of the Collegio Sacerdae, I make no official policy which restricts other religions or which requires my religion; the most religious expression which will be included in Sandus and her culture will be the future CCPS Party Congress, which will see the creation of an importance on the Buddhist aspect of suffering and desire found in the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and the Middle Way. However, this “Sandum purpose” — known also as the “Sandum value” or the “Sandum virtue” — is more philosophical than spiritual and is being made on the democratic advise of the Party acting in its Sandum value as de facto parliament.
This Sandum importance of religious liberty, cultural creation and independence, secular government, and the Sandum value are important aspects of Sandum culture.
The rest of the pictures can be viewed here on the State of Sandus Facebook page.
Profiteroles
It is rare that I cook or bake, but I did exactly that Saturday evening. I made profiteroles, a puff pastry filled with cream or ice cream. This French dessert that is now enjoyed throughout the world has the future of becoming a holiday dessert for Armilustrium after this upcoming holiday. In many cases, such traditions have to be made simply out of desire for these traditions to be made. Just as Remembrance Day is celebrated with Russian blueberry pies, beef stroganoff, and watching the march down Red Square, the Armilustrium has become a more proper holiday with is legal precedent as the day that Sandum borders close and with the Collegio Sacerdae’s religious rite. One could consider the Armilustrium the beginning of the religious calendar of the Collegio Sacerdae, as well, as this Armilustrium will mark one year of its work in terms of religious prayers, rites, and festivals. However, the creation of food traditions are also just as important. Just as the equinoxes and solstices are marked for their administrative work, the Armilustrium is marked with its cultural and social work for the Winter and state-building. As most things, a dish ought to be created to celebrate and celebrate we shall with a croquembouche made on for the Armilustrium.
This important of traditions of food, the Armilustrium, and all other cultural traditions of the date and other holidays are important aspects of Sandum culture.
— Sôgmô Sörgel.
sandus.org 