Post by Harndon on Jul 27, 2017 12:53:12 GMT
Quechkhonia at a Glance
The first things that stand out when you see Quechkhonia are the massive 5 Temples that are dotted around the city, dominating the skyline; or the large amount of greenery due to every house having a garden, with plenty of space set aside for parks, meadows and forests. Perhaps you may notice the lack of tower blocks and skyscrapers: each Quechkhonian lives in a suitable house with a pleasant garden and amenities . Beyond all that, though, is the culture of the city, which is anchored on the 5 Temples, but not solely; there are other hidden gems ready to be discovered.
The 5 Temples
The 5 Temples are massive places of worship that were originally built by the ancient Haqueri tribe in 1500BC, hewn from the marble of the mountains near Quechkhonia, and the unique mixed colour seams there. As a result, each temple is made from a different coloured marble, which is spectacular to behold, especially on a clear day. As the ancient Harndonians (and some modern ones) were druidic, each of the Temples were dedicated to an aspect of nature: Father Sea, Mother Earth, Brother Nature, Sister Fire and The Void. Each Temple is dedicated not only to an aspect of nature, but also a particular festival where that aspect was traditionally honoured. These five festivals are held throughout the year at important points during the Harndonian calendar, and people flock to Quechkhonia to see and partake in these festivals at the original place of worship. For tourists, it is a breathtaking, albeit confusing, thing to behold. Each of the Temples have been co-opted by each major religion in Harndon, apart from festival times.
Temple of Father Sea. Festival: Uthale
Perched on a small island at the ocean end of Quechkhonia bay, The Temple of Father Sea is constructed of Creole marble that, on a hazy day, means that the Temple can disappear against the backdrop of the sea. The Temple of Father Sea is currently a place of worship for Christians. Uthale is a festival that celebrates the bounty of the sea, and begs the Father’s mercy for the coming winter; Harndonian winter storms are vicious.
At Uthale, a simple service is sung at the Temple, with ancient Harndonian chants and hymns sung a capella or with quiet pipes or drums. Harndonians partaking in Uthale are prohibited from eating fish for a week before the service, and afterwards, a drink made from fermented seaweed is drunk as a toast. The vast majority agree that it tastes foul. A new addition is Gadak i er Quechab (playing in the winter), where a heavy metal band is selected at random before the service, and then plays at the end, from next to the altar at the temple. After all, Harndon is very fond of its heavy metal, and the way the music plays out across the bay is strangely pleasant to listen to. Uthale takes places at the vernal equinox
At Uthale, a simple service is sung at the Temple, with ancient Harndonian chants and hymns sung a capella or with quiet pipes or drums. Harndonians partaking in Uthale are prohibited from eating fish for a week before the service, and afterwards, a drink made from fermented seaweed is drunk as a toast. The vast majority agree that it tastes foul. A new addition is Gadak i er Quechab (playing in the winter), where a heavy metal band is selected at random before the service, and then plays at the end, from next to the altar at the temple. After all, Harndon is very fond of its heavy metal, and the way the music plays out across the bay is strangely pleasant to listen to. Uthale takes places at the vernal equinox
Temple of Mother Earth. Festival: Kiko
Now surrounded by Quechkhonia University, the Temple of Mother Earth is the largest and most impressive of all the Temples: it is a large complex that surrounds a cave filled with luminescent crystals; this is where the altar would be, and is made out of red marble. The crystals shine out of the hole in the ground, and light up the centre of the Temples, so no lights are needed there. People, whether tourists, pilgrims or residents, are welcome to walk through the vast cave system underneath the Temple and that part of Harndonia, but are persuaded to take a guide: there are many twists and turns down there. The Temple, as the home of the most important aspect of Harndonian Druidic culture is dedicated to Harndonian Druidism.
Kiko is held at the spring equinox, and the main ceremony involves the participants making pots out of clay, then filling them with a single colour of dye (gained from various different Harndonian plants), and pouring in oil. All the pots are then placed on top of the temple, and are set alight. The pots then explode, showering the non-flammable dye over the Temple and the gathered people. Parties are then held in the streets and market squares, and involve feasting and drinking from plates, bowls and cups made only from baked clay. The food is that of typical Harndonian cuisine.
Kiko is held at the spring equinox, and the main ceremony involves the participants making pots out of clay, then filling them with a single colour of dye (gained from various different Harndonian plants), and pouring in oil. All the pots are then placed on top of the temple, and are set alight. The pots then explode, showering the non-flammable dye over the Temple and the gathered people. Parties are then held in the streets and market squares, and involve feasting and drinking from plates, bowls and cups made only from baked clay. The food is that of typical Harndonian cuisine.
Temple of Brother Nature. Festival: Popoldi
Surrounded by the natural canals and forests of the river island of Ashurtil, and looking out onto Quechkhonia, the green marble temple of Brother Nature is filled with greenery and even has its own squirrel population. It now is home to the Muslim faith in Quechkhonia, and the call to prayer sounds out across the bay, relayed through large speakers.
Popoldi is the festival held at the summer solstice that celebrates life and nature within the forests at summer time. And by celebrating, I mean partying. Hard. Large tables are set out in the table, and all kinds of Harndonian food cooked with fresh fruit and veg, and washed down with mead, fruit wines or ales. After everyone is satisfied, hymns are sung from within the Temple, and i the streets, with the song about to be sung relayed about by radios, so that all of Quechkhonia erupts into song in one voice. Choqui fights then take place, where a large circle is formed by people holding shields, and then two people fight naked with swords, spears, axes or falxes (blunted) with no real rules. As everyone is inebriated at this point, no-one takes these fights seriously, and it all becomes very silly very quickly; there have been no recorded deaths or serious injuries as of yet due to this custom. Dances similar to the Ceilidh (Kashti) are done, with as many people joining in and laughing as possible.
Popoldi is the festival held at the summer solstice that celebrates life and nature within the forests at summer time. And by celebrating, I mean partying. Hard. Large tables are set out in the table, and all kinds of Harndonian food cooked with fresh fruit and veg, and washed down with mead, fruit wines or ales. After everyone is satisfied, hymns are sung from within the Temple, and i the streets, with the song about to be sung relayed about by radios, so that all of Quechkhonia erupts into song in one voice. Choqui fights then take place, where a large circle is formed by people holding shields, and then two people fight naked with swords, spears, axes or falxes (blunted) with no real rules. As everyone is inebriated at this point, no-one takes these fights seriously, and it all becomes very silly very quickly; there have been no recorded deaths or serious injuries as of yet due to this custom. Dances similar to the Ceilidh (Kashti) are done, with as many people joining in and laughing as possible.
Temple of Sister Fire. Festival: Ferdu
Built on a small natural oil well, the Temple of Sister fire has a burning pit of oil at its heart, which is aid to be impossible to put out. Constructed from pink marble, and fire lighting up its interior and exterior, Quechkhonians joke about it being a better lighthouse than the actual Hashburkal lighthouse. Sikhs currently make this their base of operations in Quechkhonia
Ferdu is a festival rather like the aspect its dedicated to: fiery and spectacular. It involves professionally trained bravados leaping into the pit of boiling oil, and swimming across it, whilst the spectators drink wine and mead spiced with herbs and spices from Harndonia’s forests. Spicy dishes are consumed, usually wrapped in soft dumpling dough. Dancers with flaming bracelets, hoops and sticks roam the streets, performing shows for anyone that wishes to see. Ferdu takes place in the Harvest, at a time dictated in the summer of that year.
Ferdu is a festival rather like the aspect its dedicated to: fiery and spectacular. It involves professionally trained bravados leaping into the pit of boiling oil, and swimming across it, whilst the spectators drink wine and mead spiced with herbs and spices from Harndonia’s forests. Spicy dishes are consumed, usually wrapped in soft dumpling dough. Dancers with flaming bracelets, hoops and sticks roam the streets, performing shows for anyone that wishes to see. Ferdu takes place in the Harvest, at a time dictated in the summer of that year.
Temple of The Void. Festival: Ravov
A stark Temple that represents its aspect, this Temple is currently used by the Jews. It has massive black marble columns and decorations of The Void, leading to a long series of jokes among the Jewish community about lightening up the place.
Ravov is a sombre festival about remembering the dead, and respecting their sacrifice, and chanting is done at a service at the Temple, where people lay winter flowers upon the altar, with tags of their dead loved ones written upon them. These flowers are then left after the service, until they rot and wither away. A toast is drunk to the ancestors with a liquor (normally whisky).
Ravov is a sombre festival about remembering the dead, and respecting their sacrifice, and chanting is done at a service at the Temple, where people lay winter flowers upon the altar, with tags of their dead loved ones written upon them. These flowers are then left after the service, until they rot and wither away. A toast is drunk to the ancestors with a liquor (normally whisky).
Cuisine
Due to Harndon not allowing any shopping centres or the like, Quechkhonia is served by a series of outdoor market squares where people ply their trade, and that, in many cases, is food. Harndonian, and especially Quechkhonian, street food is renowned for its flavour, and panache as to the way its cooked. All food stalls make the food to order, and many cooks see this as an opportunity for a performance, with spinning knives and flipping foodstuffs. Harndonian food tends to be cooked on top of large open fires with woks and spits, with a very liberal use of herbs and spices.
Harndonian food revolves around fresh fruit and veg, so the street food found in Quechkhonia involves things like stir-fires; curries; soups; skewers with veg, fish, and/or meat; steamed dumplings stuffed with veg, fruit or chutneys; or perhaps large flatbreads served with roasted nuts and spices. The street food culture in Quechkhonia is massive, and can not be gotten away from.
Harndonian food revolves around fresh fruit and veg, so the street food found in Quechkhonia involves things like stir-fires; curries; soups; skewers with veg, fish, and/or meat; steamed dumplings stuffed with veg, fruit or chutneys; or perhaps large flatbreads served with roasted nuts and spices. The street food culture in Quechkhonia is massive, and can not be gotten away from.
Mixed Culture and Historical Influences
Quechkhonia was the first settled area populated and ruled by Harndonians, in response to repeated European invasion of the area; the native Haqueri tribe could more easily defend the 5 Temples. As a result of the continued invasion and spreads of European culture by the colonials, Quechkhonia is very much a collision of two worlds – Harndonian architecture and spirituality with European artefacts, coffee shops and churches, creating an incredibly diverse look and feel to the area, especially in the museum district. There you can find Harndonian and European artefacts and writings, and stop by in a traditional Harndonian rest house, complete with mats and native herbal teas, or perhaps a Euro-Harndonian coffee shop, with mats and scented candles as per the Harndonian rest-house culture, but with European pastries and coffee instead of teas and dumplings.
Harndon’s democratic tribal past results in the Haqueri’s debating chamber being placed in the centre of Ashurtil, a large island surrounded by the two forks of the Zhurores river. The debating chamber is open to all, and is still used as a debating chamber in Harndon’s democratic system, as well has being the place of the Hall of Representatives. The debating chamber is on a lake, surrounded by the scared grove, a large park with streams, various animals and flowers, as well as a natural forest. This is a pattern that repeats itself throughout Quechkhonia; a suburban city with traditional wooden and paper housing, surrounded by greenery, parks and meadows, for anyone to use and explore – there is no private land in Harndon. Within these parks are activities that regularly take place, such as historical re-enactments: you could turn up to a park, and end up playing a Harndonian tribesperson in the Battle of the Fallen Mountain.
Harndon’s democratic tribal past results in the Haqueri’s debating chamber being placed in the centre of Ashurtil, a large island surrounded by the two forks of the Zhurores river. The debating chamber is open to all, and is still used as a debating chamber in Harndon’s democratic system, as well has being the place of the Hall of Representatives. The debating chamber is on a lake, surrounded by the scared grove, a large park with streams, various animals and flowers, as well as a natural forest. This is a pattern that repeats itself throughout Quechkhonia; a suburban city with traditional wooden and paper housing, surrounded by greenery, parks and meadows, for anyone to use and explore – there is no private land in Harndon. Within these parks are activities that regularly take place, such as historical re-enactments: you could turn up to a park, and end up playing a Harndonian tribesperson in the Battle of the Fallen Mountain.
Conclusion
All in all, Quechkhonia is weird, but in a good way. It does not fit the norms for any city, and is a melting pot for a culture that is predominantly semi-nomadic, and a selection of other cultures, including Indian, European and American, all leaving their mark on Quechkhonia, both physically and psychologically, all whilst looking like its sprung out of a fairy tale.
We in Quechkhonia hope you will consider us for the Summer 2017 City of Culture contest.
Thankyou.
We in Quechkhonia hope you will consider us for the Summer 2017 City of Culture contest.
Thankyou.
