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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/9740
Fantasy: September 04, 2019 Issue [#9740]




 This week: Birthday customs around the world.
  Edited by: Prosperous Snow celebrating Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Happy Birthday


Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor

Have you considered having one of your fictional characters celebrate a birthday? How would a wizard celebrate a birthday? How would unicorn celebrate a birthday? How would an alien from another planet celebrate a birthday? Let us look at some of the intriguing, weird, and odd ways birthdays are celebrated here on Earth. Birthday celebrations vary by culture, nation, religion, and family. Following are some of the more interesting and (perhaps) unusual ways to celebrate a birthday.

*Bullet* Full Moon Naming Celebration: This is a Chinese custom called Mun Yuet. This occurs on the day of the first full moon after the child is born. During this ceremony the child is presented with symbolic gifts that are intended to bring it good luck.

*Bullet* Sweeping the Front Steps: This one comes from Germany. On an unmarried man's 30th birthday, he sweeps the steps of a public building. The idea of this custom is to show off the man's housekeeping abilities to all the single women.

*Bullet* Flour Shower: This custom is practiced in some parts of the Caribbean. This custom requires flour to be thrown at the birthday person by friends, family, and sometimes total strangers. A variation of this custom is to soak the person with water before throwing flour on them.

*Bullet* New Year's Birthday Celebration. In this custom everyone in the village or nation celebrates their birthday on New Year's Day. If a child is born at 11:59 p.m. on New Year's Eve, that child officially become 1 year old at 12:00 a.m. on New Year's Day.

These are only a few of the numerous and interesting ways to celebrate a birthday. What are some of the customs of your family or cultural? Have you used a birthday celebration as part of a short story or novel plot? If not, how about writing a story about an unusual birthday custom? Remember, most of the birthday customs practiced today arose because they were intended to bring the bring the birthday person good luck.

The deadline for submitting anything to my next edition of the fantasy newsletter is Thursday, September 26, 2019. Any stories must be rated 18+ or lower.


Editor's Picks

 
Image Protector
STATIC
Visitors  Open in new Window. (18+)
Strange happening in the Australian desert
#2178324 by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: The Kimberley moon shone, illuminating the isolated desert road.

 Crow Moon Open in new Window. (ASR)
A short story with a touch of menace and a sprinkling of folklore.
#2197765 by hullabaloo22 Author IconMail Icon

excerpt: You’ve got to admit it; you never realised quite how dark the night could be. An unbroken blackness never before experienced. It’s okay to admit it. I already know that you are scared.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2186301 by Not Available.

Excerpt: "We're crazy to be freezing. Out in the wilderness, miles from home," my little brother complained. "I should be playing World of Warfare with my friends." Joey tried to pull the zipper of his coat higher. He had started complaining as soon as Father insisted that Joey should have his first winter campout with me.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2198268 by Not Available.

{excerpt: Rick and Dennis agreed that no record would be made of their visit to the planet Pie. They were wise enough in the ways of the Space Exploration Authority to know that the likely response to a truthful account would be a padded room and a battery of psychiatrists. Some strange things had been reported in the last hundred years or so of exploration but nothing came even close to the mysteries of Pie.

 
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The Sorcerer And The Head Open in new Window. (ASR)
A poem of heads and tales...
#986117 by W.D.Wilcox Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: Beneath shadowy spires and golden domes,
         within a labyrinth of dust-laden streets,
         a ghostly stillness runs before dawn,
         like an evil eye that never sleeps.

Image Protector
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Mechanical Sutured Minds Open in new Window. (13+)
Human's face a cyber race of artificial intelligence
#2078759 by Alexi Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt:They met on the internet he and she
         Modern technology like a spider’s web
         Coiled delusion round their head
         Wires and codes seduction map
         Wedding confirmed computer read

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2194156 by Not Available.

Excerpt: There's a planet called Heartjo that exist's that's overfilled with multicolored flowers and multicolored heart seeds that are from the flowers. The only species that exists here that gets to love, see and enjoy all of this are the flower tailed ostress birds. Only seven of them exist, and one is only born once per year. They're so rare only because this planet was recently created by the Father. Whatever flower or heart seed the ostress bird likes the most will be the color their flowery tail will change into.

 
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Word from Writing.Com

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Ask & Answer

Beholden Author Icon writes: Thanks for choosing two of my troll stories as Editor's picks, Prosperous. Funnily enough, in another troll story I mention that cave trolls exist on a diet of grubs and bugs!

In Africa, just before the rains come, flying ant season begins. For a few days, the skies are filled with thousands of flying ants (they're actually male termites and potential queens on their mating flight, after which the queen will find a place to start her nest). This is feasting time for the locals. They collect the flying insects in their hundreds and eat them. They can be eaten raw but some prefer them fried. I never built up enough courage to try them but I'm told they taste like (you guessed it) chicken.

The occasional swarm of locusts are also a windfall of food for Africans. Almost pure protein, they are an important food source and, again, can be eaten raw or fried. Since locust swarms are a scourge on plants, including crops, it seems only fair that we should eat them in turn.

{auawe:thekindred} writes: How funny you write about this. At this moment I have a vial of Orange Dreamcicle flavored roasted crickets They are high in protein. They are still in the vial, and even though I'm on a diet I haven't gotten so desperate to eat one. Maybe this week.

{auawe:alockwood1} writes: People eating insects aren't even "so last season" - try "so B.C.E.".

You want something crazy - look up the fetish known as vore - it's macabre, to say the least, given what's it's about. But, surprisingly, if done right, with a good story, it can be quite interesting. Now, if the idea of sapient beings eating other sapient beings is a turn-off for you, DON'T look it up - trust me on that one, as it can be quite graphic, depending on how it is done. On the other hand, as stated, it can be rather interesting, especially if, as with any fetish, there is a decent story, which makes vore seem plausible, it can be quite the read - trust me on that one.

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