Mementos & Awards

* Senex Caecilius

Mementos & Awards

This is a scrapbook of souvenirs, keepsakes, and other mementos from AncientWorlds.

June 24 , 2008

Inti Raymi 2008

Posted at 08:00 EST

No wonder I was confused... It's the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere! Inti Raymi 2008 is just getting under way, but I have already had fun. I wrote a caption for a cute picture, stared at a stereogram until it finally popped into view, tested my Quechua --Don't ask!-- and snagged a souvenir at Camarin's shop. It's barely dawn, but it's going to be a great day...

I really like Topi's ad for the festival. Check it out!

June 21 , 2008

Midsummer's Day 2008

Posted at 12:00 EST

Germania is celebrating the summer solstice with a weekend festival. I have not snagged a souvenir yet, but I have enjoyed two of the events being hosted. I just came from exploring the Island Realms and learned a bit about places that I have never been. Earlier I tried my hand at the interactive write-your-own story. The result was not very entertaining, but I liked the idea well enough to copy the code that created it. I might find a way to use it for a game at the Ludi Seniles! It may the longest day of the year, but I have a lot more things to see and do, so I shall cut this entry short. I may be back with some loot later!

I could never get the page linked to the com panel to load with my browser (Safari), so if you have encountered the same problem, you might try this link instead. Thanks to Attila the Hun for providing it.

May 12 , 2008

Beltaine 2008

Posted at 09:00 EST

Celtia hosted another interesting festival, and this time it was focused in Brittany. I did not participate in the Mother of Apples treasure hunt, but I did take the tour of the megaliths. In addition, the Bardic College sponsored a poetry contest, and the prescribed form was a Breton lai, of course. I submitted a poem, which did not win, but considering the subject of my verse, I found this souvenir was particularly fitting.

My thanks go to all who organized and participated in this festival!

April 7 , 2008

Akitu 2008

Posted at 12:00 EST

Senex rarely ventures as far as Mesopotamia, but he did take the tour this year. He was surprised at his score on the subsequent quiz... It was better than he thought! The tour was imaginative and informative at the same time. It was also playful and humorous. I mean the thought of a son of Zig and Cornellia brings tears to the eyes and a stitch to the side! The graphics were gorgeous as the plaque can attest.

March 30 , 2008

Apollona: March 28-30

Posted at 14:00 EST

The only procession in Hellas last night was the stream of people who came and went without knowing that one Apollonian event had been canceled. It does not matter; I managed to snag a nice souvenir anyway. Louisa Agis always provides something to treasure.

February 25 , 2008

Another Gem ... and a Prize

Posted at 21:00 EST

The nominations for gem status have already started for some of the Lunar Festival events. The graphics alone deserve some sort of award; the artists who contributed the plaques, awards, and other items really deserve special recognition. I just picked up another one at the Kublai Khantina that bears the wit of Sankira Qin. Congratulations to all the scribes, volunteers and participants who made this another memorable Lunar Festival.

I managed to reach the Khantina before everyone else had disappeared and learned that I won second place in the Sacred White Mare Treasure Hunt. It was an excellent hunt!

February 24 , 2008

Solnal

Posted at 12:00 EST

The Korean Lunar New Year is being celebrated today. Later I shall take in the various activities, like the storytelling event, but I rushed straight to the gift shop the first thing and found another rat to join the collection. Isn't it cute!

I stumbled across a good resource about various aspects of Solnal, so I am placing a link to it here. Perhaps I shall have time to write the story told to children about Yakwangi stealing shoes.

February 23 , 2008

Tsaagan Sar

Posted at 19:00 EST

Today was the Mongolian celebration of the Lunar New Year called Tsagaan Sar, or White Month. I think it is interesting to note that Mongolians take great pains to deny that the festival was inherited from the Chinese New Year. (Resentment of Chinese hegemony probably enters into it.) It was even celebrated on a different day this year. Here at AW, there were numerous activities to entertain the participants: an interesting treasure hunt, which I entered at the last minute; a quiz on the manly arts of wrestling, horsemanship, and archery, on which I made a passable score; and a gift kiosk to browse, where I found this wonderful souvenir. Thank you, Xena ApilSin!

There is supposed to be a get-together at a bar later this evening, but I may not be able to attend. It was another fine day!

February 22 , 2008

Tet Nguyen Dan

Posted at 23:00 EST

Today the Orient celebrated the Vietnamese holiday commonly called Tet. Among the many interesting activities was honoring ancestors at a shrine. I was very touched by several of the posts; mine was rather flippant in comparison. I thought this plaque was an appropriate souvenir.

In addition there was an opportunity to write spurious reviews of Vietnamese cuisine, to compose parallel verses called cau doi, to get a horoscope reading, and to check your ratitude. Kenji served his usual fabulous array of food and beverages. All in all, it was a good day.

Another souvenir

Posted at 17:00 EST

This one will be a fitting companion to the previous one, I think. The simple design appeals to me very much. What do you think? I'm sure to add more as the Lunar Festival continues, at least one from each of the host countries: Vietnam, Mongolia, and Korea.