Nevarran Culture

[Faust]

Nevarran Culture

Overview
Nevarrans are the natives to the nation known as Nevarra and exist predominantly in the Granarha Desert, though, there are many of the people who don't root themselves in the nation and have migrated to other parts of the world for their own reasons whether it be for work, familial reasons, etc. Stereotyped for their hot-bloodedness and their sexual licentiousness Nevarrans are a passionate and prolific people  that are very family-oriented and yet, simultaneously, fiercely driven by their independence. The people of Nevarra are often very spiritual or, if not, identify strongly with the culture of their faith and practice the customs of their faith out of comfort and community even if they personally don't identify with all doctrines of their faith. They have a reputed history for being particularly idealistic, bold, romantic, and sometimes a bit self-righteous and these notes have echoed and made themselves apparent through many facets of the society with their art and music being the lens through which many first come into contact with Nevarran culture. 

Ethnicity
In Nevarra, descent from the various Veracized Nevarran provinces are the strongest. These people were known for their dark hair and eyes, existing largely in the de jure Kingdom of Nevarra which successfully repelled total subjugation from the Veraki Imperium and provided refuge for fleeing Nevarrans of annexed provinces where the people mixed more with members of other nations then part of the empire. Overtime, however, as Nevarra came into its own as a nation it has received visitors and migrants alike from across the continent and though there are identifiable traits for the stereotypical Nevarran there are no doubts that there are people within the desert nation of innumerable features and qualities that claim Nevarran descent, perhaps aided by the culture's inherent eclecticism and cosmopolitanism. 

Culture
Nevarran culture today is somewhat of an eclectic mass borrowing traditions from each of its neighbors and then synthesizing it with their cultivated Nevarran foundations. The influence of a 'popular' custom can be felt throughout the culture and much of it is often exaggerated by observers who romanticize or stereotype Nevarran tradition as previously mentioned. In Nevarra there is little distinction between sons and daughters, though it has been a Kingdom since its inception both sons and daughters have succeeded as nobles and the royal dynasty has frequently shifted between patrilineal and matrilineal succession numerous times. And though Nevarrans are a very tradition-oriented people there are other customs and behaviors which separate it from a strictly conservative society such as their views on sexuality where Nevarrans tend to encourage and focus on fruitfulness and passion while avoiding depravity. Intercourse and conception before marriage aren't looked unfavorably upon in Nevarra and children born out of union are more often than not just as legitimate as those born in a married household. On the topic of homosexuality as well, many Nevarrans have a neutral or mixed attitude toward it where in more conservative groups they tend to see it more negatively as it getting in the way of family values whilst in more liberal groups they see very literal difference in it and any other relationship.

Nevarrans are a very religious group, or at the very least, prefer to identify culturally with the religion they were raised in rather than outright profess indifference for the sake of comfort and conformity. Furthermore, Nevarrans tend to be communal as evidence by much of the population living in larger cities and settlements where there is access to necessities such as food, water, and shelter of course a long with bustling commerce. Because of this, Nevarrans also tend to be more thrifty and many of them are raised with to understand price and value and develop skills to barter or haggle for things that they need or want. Perhaps the biggest things that Nevarrans are culturally known for is their reverence to festivity. Nevarrans very much take festivals and holidays seriously and anything from dinners, to feasts and parades are always going to be extravagant and filled with numerous activities and events to encourage people to celebrate so much so that the Kingdom has appointed numerous times a national Master of Ceremonies to organize special events for certain holidays throughout the year. 

Language
The Nevarran language is a synthesis of regional dialects over generations combined with influence from other nations, especially Verak and Amali. Their speech is soft and many of them tend to roll their words or augment them in other ways like stretching out vowels or lilting some words. From an outside perspective, Nevarran tends to sounds almost musical and words tend to flow quickly with those attuned to the language with there being instances that it can become indecipherable to those who are not aware of subtle influxes and space between words. Nevarran speech is also capable of conveying great emotion and tone. The language features a lot of words which are described as being gendered with there being masculine and feminine words that may mean separate things depending on the context. 

Religion
Today, many Nevarrans identify with Aldeism whether faithfully or culturally. Temples and churches tend to be one of the most important buildings within a Nevarran community and they serve a variety of purposes such as providing service and sermon, sheltering the poor, attending to the hungry, and acting as a meeting and safe space within a given community. Priests tend to take on more of a role than just a spiritual leader but also serve as a secular leader within communities as well which was especially prevalent in earlier centuries when new cities, villages, and townships were founded temples. With the rise of secularism in the world and a population becoming more capable of independent education and literacy more Nevarrans are beginning to turn away from the church or at the very least, secularize their worldview and focus on more pragmatic and tangible things. 

Fashion
Fashion in Nevarra tends to vary depending where one is in the nation, though typically, the climate in Nevarra calls for some standard concessions. With large access to cotton and animals products such as silk, wool, leather, and other material Nevarrans enjoy a wide catalogue of textile variety. The culture of Nevarra tends a wide variety of clothing as well though they tend to be airy and loose to allow for catching and circulating air in the heat and covering as well to prevent continual direct exposure to sunlight from burning their skin. Veils and scarves are also popular and largely made use of in Nevarra where they help prevent harsh sunlight and also to keep sand out of their faces. In popular culture, dark colors (black predominantly) used to compliment and contrast with warm colors are favorable and in numerous events, formal wear and celebratory wear often go hand in hand where men tend to wear black suits accented by warm colors and inversely women wear warm-colored dresses accented by black or dark and cooler colors. This rule tends to apply for many occasions with the sole exception being for weddings and funerals. 

In weddings, white is the most common color and is worn by both the bride and the groom where depending on the location the bride where wear either a long white dress in especially hot locations or a shorter ankle-high white dress in places that more airy. Similarly the groom will wear white pants or shorts complimented by either a formal short or long-sleeved button-up  and the bridesmaids and the groomsmen will typically match the style of who they are in concert with. Everyone else attending wears black and white, black and blue, or just black. In funerals, everyone attending wears black and regardless of the conditions they tends to dress conservatively and avoid color except for red, orange, or white flowers which are given to the one who is being interred during a wake.

In tribal and nomadic communities known as the Mahadoun, it is customary for children coming of age to receive culturally significant tattoos on their face.  

Culinary Arts
The culinary traditions of Nevarra aren't so varied in ingredients but there is a lot of ways in which the ingredients are prepared that make Nevarrans known culinary innovators. Because of the dry, desert climate a lot of arable land is scarce and because of this the Nevarran diet largely depended on hearty grains, vegetables, and fruits and animal products such as meat, eggs, and dairy. Nevarrans are considered adept with spices and many of their recipes call for approximations of numerous spices, herbs, and powders to add flavor and depth to a dish no matter how simple it may be. A lot of Nevarran dishes revolve around bread, specifically, flatbreads wherein meats and other ingredients are stuffed inside and prepared in that manner such as chicken, beef, pork, and even fish and insect, complimented with a variety of cheeses and anything from peppers, onions, tomatoes, etc. The two biggest spices in Nevarra are Chili and Cinnamon, and though they don't always share a dish they are a predominant ingredient in many of their meals. 

Outside of the domestically produced menu, Nevarrans are avid fans of Amalian dishes and are content with producing many recipes that are native to their neighboring nation with lasagna perhaps being the most popular food import with many a fan of both how it tastes and also its practicality in feeding larger households with many easy to prepare portions. 

In regards to beverages, Nevarrans have a strong alcohol culture but they are temperate in its consumption. The desert is dry and drinking alcohol can make one warmer and even more dehydrated and so while alcohol is popular it is often consumed more specifically at home or in taverns, and drinking tends to be more of a social thing and isn't so much done alone with Nevarrans. That being said Nevarra is the home of several spirits such as Sangria and Tequila, and the country is a considerable producer of vintage through regular wines, spiced wines, and brandy in the more southern areas while the north enjoys importing and producing whiskey, beer, rum, schnapps and other liqueurs. Perhaps more popular than alcohol, however, are sodas, tea, and especially coffee. Sodas in Nevarra are a bit more reserved and harder to come by, existing mostly in urban centers and it isn't so much considered a common drink yet as much as its more like a candy drink that you treat yourself to every now and again. Tea and coffee on the other hand, are incredibly important in Nevarra and the two have played an important role in the history of Nevarra with many early gathering spots originating as coffee or tea houses where members of noble and common origin would come together considering the distance between these places in the vast desert. Even today these places often serve as impromptu forums to discuss the goings on in Nevarra and for socialites to engage in one another about a variety of manners.