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Religion, the World, and lots of parties!

Latten (DE1)Latten (DE1) Posts: 6,246
edited 06.01.2014 in The Chicken Coop
Hey guys,

after a discussion on the topic, I wanted to discuss this a bit further. Please don't antagonize or talk down other people in this thread, it's supposed to be a fruitful discussion. Usually we don't discuss religious topics in any shape or form, so please be nice and understanding, or I will have to close the thread.

Alright, what did we talk about: We usually go for non-religious variants of popular holidays, for example the "commercialized" Halloween, and usually only use worldwide holidays like new year's eve or maybe christmas (even if we don't use "christmas", rather "winter holidays" or similar), only because those festivities are the most celebrated for the majority of users. I can see how this might offend other religions or even non-religious people, though, and the Forums are totally the right place to talk this over.

So, while - for the game itself - probably not much will change in the near future regarding this (and I of course will take this to the devs, so they will be aware of it), we can of course try it in our awesome forum community

Now, and this goes to all areas of the world participating in the EN forums, feel free to post here and describe some of your favourite holidays! If they're not too "edgy" in a religious way and don't offend other people's beliefs and idealism in a hurtful way, we can absolutely do even more partying in here!

We're all a big community, and it shouldn't matter if we're celebrating Christmas, Hanuka or Eid Al-Fitr, as long as we're all having fun!

So, please post a few of your favorite holidays along with a short description for everyone and some dates, and I'll see if I can get a Forum party calendar going!

Preliminary calendar:
Carnival, Portugal/Brazil - Mar 04
Earth Day, worldwide - Apr 22
Talk Like a Pirate Day - Sep 9
May Day May 1st

Flower Day/County Fair - No date set
Post edited by Latten (DE1) on
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Comments

  • edited 01.11.2013
    How about, as it is a farming game. A Harvest Festival. I know it is not a holiday as such in Britain but Thanksgiving in the US has a holiday for it. This is traditionally held on the Harvest Moon, (which is the full moon nearest the Autumn equinox), So towards the end of September/Beginning of October.
  • monica79538monica79538 Posts: 1,932
    edited 01.11.2013
    Oh we like Thanksgiving ;) We celebrate it this year on 28 November. Not exactly certain on Why that date is Thanksgiving--gradeschool was long time ago ;) . It is a day to celebrate that the Native Americans helped us to get through the harsh winters when our country was in its early stages

    In our family, my father-in-law makes a turkey in the smokehouse. And then the rest of the family makes a big dish of whatever else we want to bring. I usually make green bean casserole or make a big dish of sweet potatoes. There is usually about 30-40 people. It is a day where NO one fights and everyone has a good time--petty arguments are left at home. It is a wonderful day :)

    **And thank you Latten for making new thread :)
    **I have often wondered these past few years, whether the Native Americans feel the same way about this celebration. Independence Day is a victory, but only for the country that gains their independence.
    **I don't think this is really a religous holiday, but many churches in this area have a special service because many families return home during this time and they often include attending the services together as part of their traditions.
  • doolittledoolittle Posts: 11
    edited 01.11.2013
    Not sure if posting something here is a good idea or not. I just want to shed some light on the way I feel about this whole conversation. Obviously religions are different everywhere and different cultures also have different traditions. With that said there are many other differences in people. The way I see it is that you can not scrutinize people for being different but embrace it instead. The world will never be a place where everyone is the same or even close. Nobody has to agree with anyone else on the way anyone lives their lives but if that person is ignorant enough to criticize for it that is on them. The more that is discussed about different religions and beliefs, not to a preaching point, but to inform the world of the many ways people celebrate things would make the world a far better place if everyone would be open and learn from it
  • mipie11mipie11 Posts: 130
    edited 01.11.2013
    Nicely said Doolittle, nicely said..
  • RaquelCesar (GB1)RaquelCesar (GB1) GB1 Posts: 55
    edited 01.11.2013
    Being from Portugal, I have to say: Carnival! Kind of Halloween for the living. :D It would be really awesome to have our workers walking around the farm wearing costumes!

    Altgought Carnival is not celebrated in all countries of the world, I'm sure everyone has at least heard of the Carnival in Brazil, or maybe even Portugal. :)

    Next Carnival will take place 4th of March next year.

    According to Wikipedia: "While it forms an integral part of the Christian calendar, particularly in Catholic regions, some carnival traditions may date back to pre-Christian times."

    In Portugal we have a saying: "No Carnaval ninguém leva a mal", which roughly translates to "At Carnival nobody takes anything badly". :)
  • shaheer652shaheer652 Posts: 439
    edited 01.11.2013
    i suggest that there on eid or christmas there are big events where we all chat and message each other and such a big communoty in a coop on these days
    not in forum on game
  • monica79538monica79538 Posts: 1,932
    edited 01.11.2013
    Three ideas:
    OOOh Earth Day: I think that might be more than just a US thing. It really is not a holiday, but we are encouraged to plant a tree on this day. We also have reminders to 'Reduce,Recycle,Reuse' and generally cut down our energy use to help the environment. There has been suggestions of an enviromental themed event previously in other threads.

    We also have an International Migratory Bird Day/Week. There has been lots of research into where the birds go and how they know where and when is the best way. In the spring, about 40 miles from here MANY species of birds gather at a resting spot before they continue their flight to cooler weather in Canada. They are here for only a few weeks and then continue to Canada. Some of them even hatch their young at that location;) .

    There is also a butterfly that winters in South America and returns to Canada similar to the birds, but they fly over Lake Erie. They go through several life stages on their journey, each having a very specific food--My area is that they prefer a plant we call 'milkweed', which now that we understand is part of their essential diet, Most farmers don't kill the milkweed anymore.

    If we really are going to have an event such as this, I can provide links to the places for more information.
  • Kakerullen (SKN1)Kakerullen (SKN1) Posts: 243
    edited 01.11.2013
    We have Earth Hour in Norway and it is on the second Earths Day. And they encouraged us to turn off lights at home. It is in the March i think, and always on a Saturday. And it is glabal event.
  • mipie11mipie11 Posts: 130
    edited 01.11.2013
    Mars? That confused me.
  • Kakerullen (SKN1)Kakerullen (SKN1) Posts: 243
    edited 01.11.2013
    Sorry I mean march. Have edit it in the post to. (ch in word in norwegian we often use s thats why I have to edit mars to march. )
  • mipie11mipie11 Posts: 130
    edited 01.11.2013
    Oh okay thanks. I was beginning to think you were a Martian.
    Just kidding. xD
  • Kat Nip (GB1)Kat Nip (GB1) GB1 Posts: 3,796
    edited 02.11.2013
    To throw another idea out there - September 9th which is the international Talk like a Pirate Day. :D

    Kat. Kittie_by_otomosc.gif
  • dragonpridedragonpride Posts: 574
    edited 02.11.2013
    i can see where all this is going. this probably wont be a very popular post but im addressing this to the CMs directly.please dont let the negativity from the handful of people who didnt like the halloween theme ruin any plans for future holiday events.the halloween theme was brilliant and fun and i hope we have more to come in the coming months.haters will hate no matter what so just let em and keep up the awesome work ggs.
  • Kat Nip (GB1)Kat Nip (GB1) GB1 Posts: 3,796
    edited 02.11.2013
    It's not going anywhere negative at all dragonpride, and I'm really happy to be able to say that. :D

    I'm hopeful that we'll get many more ideas in here so that the Dev's can have us partying on our farms on a regular basis in some form or another. :)

    Kat. Kittie_by_otomosc.gif
  • justme1232justme1232 Posts: 157
    edited 02.11.2013
    Ok I know this post won't be popular, but I'm throwing it out there and hopefully too many rotten tomatoes won't be thrown back at me. ;)
    I think too many ppl would dislike participating in "parties" of different religions. What if we were simply allowed to voice our celebrations in a thread . And the mods could protect the threads. Allow that if a Muslim wants to celebrate EID in a thread with others of the same belief, that they could speak of their religion, and holiday openly in that thread. And the Mods could help protect their religious freedom. I don't want to hold anybody back from celebrating their holidays, but I sure wish there was a way I could opt out. I have no interest in Halloween, Christmas, or EID. Likewise a Muslim would probably be highly offended if you had them participating in my Jewish holidays. Like if for Hanukkah you had a candle appear somewhere each day, adding one each day that passed (First day- 1 candle, 2nd day- 2 candles... etc.). Although I would love this, it's not everyone's cup tea, and I wouldn't want anyone to feel about my holidays the way the Easter eggs and ghosts have made me feel. I haven't complained once about any of these, and this is not a complaint either. It's just that I really don't think adding more parties is the answer... maybe just a little more religious freedom in specific holiday threads. Other than that, sticking primarily to season related themes. A harvest party I'm fine with just don't tie it to Halloween.
    I really don't want to offend anyone but I'm not seeing this going well! I wish I could. :(
    Or at least give people the option to opt out of "Special Parties".
    Actually I didn't have a problem with the pumpkin hunting, because they were just pumpkins and not jack-o-lanterns. To me it was seasonal not Halloween specific.
  • shaheer652shaheer652 Posts: 439
    edited 02.11.2013
    i say that on these days we all members on server who are online chat with one another
  • SpljushkaSpljushka Posts: 67
    edited 02.11.2013
    I can't see any harm in celebrations. I like to see people being happy and having fun. And if I'm invited I'd gladly join. Having lived and worked in multicultural environment all my life, I see those celebrations as a good occasion for people to gather together, have fun, and maybe learn something about people around you, get better understanding of them, which is never a bad thing.

    Some time ago we were celebrating Catholic Christmas, New Year, Christian Orthodox Christmas and Chinese New Year - that took us a month, lol.

    In the Big Farm event it would be nice to see Christmas/New Year celebration (hopefully, a horse will come on the Chinese one :0)) ).

    In the end of February beginning of March there is a spring welcoming festival that is celebrated from pagan times in many cultures, and I think it is very important for us, farmers :0)). Here, in the Netherlands they make floats and parades (I participated several times - that was a lot of fun!), in other countries they make pancakes and trade fairs, etc.
  • jaystarr2jaystarr2 Posts: 1,657
    edited 02.11.2013
    Spljushka wrote: »
    In the Big Farm event it would be nice to see Christmas/New Year celebration (hopefully, a horse will come on the Chinese one :0)) )

    Yeah! Year of the Horse! ;)

    I think specific cultural/religious events should be limited since those have the most potential to offend. This is probably why we aren't going to have a specific Christmas thing, but we might do a "winter festival" or something. Or why there wouldn't be any military-specific holidays (ANZAC day, Independence Day, etc.) But things that are "International [something] Day" would work! I'm particular down with the pirate one, arr!!
  • Daytona (INT1)Daytona (INT1) Posts: 425
    edited 02.11.2013
    I haven't been following the discussion, but I don't have a problem with genuine festival ie not those created relatively recently for commercial purposes.

    Here's some I've found -
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Festivals
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:International_observances
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:United_Nations_days
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:United_Nations_observances
  • mipie11mipie11 Posts: 130
    edited 03.11.2013
    I think we should have a choice of participating in the holiday events or not. Because I did not like the ghosts on my farm and had to change my computer date to avoid them.
  • Penfold (GB1)Penfold (GB1) GB1 Posts: 252
    edited 03.11.2013
    I'm not afraid of, or offended by, anyone's religious festivals. I find it sad that folk can be so opposed to other people's religious beliefs and practices, particularly where these have no real effect on their own daily lives. I feel that the peoples of this amazing planet that we all live on should be free to worship whatever god(s) they please, in whatever manner their chosen religion prescribes (unless of course that involves either the inhumane taking of life (human or animal) or the intolerance/persecution/extermination of other religions) ... and they should be equally free to worship no god(s) at all.

    If this game chooses to celebrate the festivals/events of any religion or culture, I'll welcome it with an open heart, and an open & inquiring mind. Even if there was one I found I didn't particularly like for any reason, I daresay I could survive it for the short while it lasted without getting in the least upset about it!

    I very much like the earlier suggestion of having some sort of Harvest Festival celebration - very apt for a farming game.

    My own suggestion is that I'd love to see something for May Day next year - perhaps some spring flowers, the workers dressed in Morris Dancing costumes, and a hobby horse - after all, we already have the maypoles ... :p
  • monica79538monica79538 Posts: 1,932
    edited 03.11.2013
    How about the county fair theme?! they are fun! It is a chance for farmers to show off their prized cows and chickens. There could be lots of categories--the most stored leaves, the most poop, the most number of orchards.

    We could have production competitions to see who can grow the most corn in an hour. There could be events for the co-ops to do this too. Not everyone would have to be online at same time for an event such as this--just start the timer when you are ready and whoever else is participating can start when they are on. This way someone doing this competition at 7 am can still play against someone that doesn't log in til 10 am.
  • Penfold (GB1)Penfold (GB1) GB1 Posts: 252
    edited 03.11.2013
    Lovely idea, Monica :) The county I live in has a long history of agricultural shows, and my home town has one of the oldest (and biggest) flower shows in the country - I'd be delighted if BigFarm incorporated an event along the lines of your suggestion :)

    Just checked on Google - Shrewsbury Flower Show dates back to 1836!
  • monica79538monica79538 Posts: 1,932
    edited 03.11.2013
    OHH yes! a flower show :)

    I think it will be no problem to build an event that will not offend :) I can't wait to see what other people have for ideas too :)
  • justme1232justme1232 Posts: 157
    edited 03.11.2013
    I 'm not judgmental of how others live, believe, or celebrate. I just don't necessarily want to have to participate. Another thing most people aren't aware of is that a lot of our "non-religious" holidays actually started within a religion, and then lost it's historical context.
    I really like the idea of an opt out button. Then Big Farm can go wild inventing new parties and celebrations to their heart's content, and everyone else's; But if some don't like the particular event they can easily (and happily) opt out.
    I think there has been an equality stated between not wanting to have to participate in the holidays, with not wanting to learn about them or discuss them. I respect everyone's differences and have no angst against them enjoying themselves through them. In our co-op we have all different walks of life; Christian, Messianic, Jewish, Pagan and Wiccan. We have fun discussions about all these from time to time. I have learned a lot and enjoy participating in them. But that does not mean I would go to their house (yes I know this is a stretch) and participate in their celebrations.

    But if the devs can connect an event to our computer clock, they should be able to program an opt out button for each event. It really would allow them so much more freedom for the enjoyment of all. Those that want to "party" can, and those who don't want to, can farm happily without the intrusion.

    Please!!! please!!! Consider the freedom that this would give to all!!!! 8) ;)
  • Lilypaddle (INT1)Lilypaddle (INT1) Posts: 614
    edited 04.11.2013
    Well I personally don't care what holidays they use here. I am good either way. And who knows, I might learn something interesting about another culture, religion etc and there is nothing wrong with that.

    There is absolutely no way to do these things without offending someone. That is just the way the world works.
  • Latten (DE1)Latten (DE1) Posts: 6,246
    edited 04.11.2013
    I edited the ones we have so far (I think) into the Opening Post :)

    Just to clarify, this is NOT about the game itself, it's about having a thread and a little event and celebration in the forums, so everyone who wants to can join the party :) If there's a holiday or event you don't want to participate in, you don't have to at all!
  • monica79538monica79538 Posts: 1,932
    edited 04.11.2013
    What is that day called that it is the 'shortest day' of the year? Equinox?



    ***2nd sunday in May is Mother's day.

    ***3rd sunday in June is Father's day.
    Both are days that we show love and respect for our parents.

    *******
    Oh another one could be "last day of school". I always liked that day!
  • maestro6maestro6 Posts: 2
    edited 04.11.2013
    just a quick note, what about an Olympics theme to it, you could have so many dif events,
    made up to suit well anything. Just a drop in the bucket out of endless possibilities events could be
    geared towards ie-veg olympics....etc
  • Kakerullen (SKN1)Kakerullen (SKN1) Posts: 243
    edited 04.11.2013
    In norway motherday is 2nd sunday i february.
    And fathersdag is 2nd sunday i November. And fathersday in Sweden og Finland is the same according to Wiki
    Morthersday in Sweden is last sunday i May.

    I think mothersday and fathersday often is different from contry to contry.

    And I like the idee about OL, and may be Football WC, and Tour de France....:D
This discussion has been closed.