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TRANSNOX
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WHAT IT IS AND WHEN
When Transnox Is On The Ehoah Year Wheels
For the Gregorian calendar the date it
falls on is
November 5-6 for Borealis (Northern Hemisphere)
May 4-5 for Australis (Southern Hemisphere)
Click on images to view in greater detail
November 5-6 for Borealis (Northern Hemisphere)
May 4-5 for Australis (Southern Hemisphere)
Click on images to view in greater detail
Gavia ('Loon') - Borealis Kalendar ('Northern Hemisphere Calendar')
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Sphenisci ('Penguin') - Australis Kalendar ('Southern Hemisphere Calendar')
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When is Transnox?
Transnox is midway between the Equinox ('Equal Night' - when the days and nights are equal going into longer nights) and Nox ('Night' & 'Darkness' - the longest night of the year going into longer days).
It can be celebrated throughout the entire mensis (month) it falls on. That being Artiodactyla - Cervid (Artiodactyla means 'Even-toed ungulate' and is the globus ('global') mensis - Cervid means 'Deer' and is the borealis ('northern hemisphere') mensis) for Borealis, and Anura - Hyla (Anura means 'Frog' and is the globus mensis - Hyla means 'Tree Frog' and is the australis ('southern hemisphere') mensis) for Australis. In the Gregorian calendar this would be between mid-october and mid-november for the northern hemisphere, and between mid-march and mid-may for the southern hemisphere.
The high time is during the two days of Transnox which is Cervid 15 through the night onto the 16 (which would be November 5th into the 6th in the Gregorian Calendar) and Hyla 15 through the night onto the 16 (May 4th and 5th in the Gregorian Calendar)
It can be celebrated throughout the entire mensis (month) it falls on. That being Artiodactyla - Cervid (Artiodactyla means 'Even-toed ungulate' and is the globus ('global') mensis - Cervid means 'Deer' and is the borealis ('northern hemisphere') mensis) for Borealis, and Anura - Hyla (Anura means 'Frog' and is the globus mensis - Hyla means 'Tree Frog' and is the australis ('southern hemisphere') mensis) for Australis. In the Gregorian calendar this would be between mid-october and mid-november for the northern hemisphere, and between mid-march and mid-may for the southern hemisphere.
The high time is during the two days of Transnox which is Cervid 15 through the night onto the 16 (which would be November 5th into the 6th in the Gregorian Calendar) and Hyla 15 through the night onto the 16 (May 4th and 5th in the Gregorian Calendar)
Transnox Symbolism & Activities
The days are shorter with nights growing longer; it is a time for acknowledging things that are associated with the literal dark along with the trying times ahead and the figurative dark. It is also the end of the growing season and the beginning of the hunting season for temperate regions.
For the literal dark we consider the night sky, how to accept the darkness and be wise with our light, how to over come what struggles lay ahead, what night creatures there are in our area, their activities and how to respect them:
For the literal dark we consider the night sky, how to accept the darkness and be wise with our light, how to over come what struggles lay ahead, what night creatures there are in our area, their activities and how to respect them:
- Stargazing sessions are made for the meteor showers during this time, and to learn about our celestial neighbors with associated games and competitions played.
- Elders reminisce about the their experiences with their winters and youngers listen to learn what they can to be better prepared.
- People dress up and play at being nocturnal creatures to become comfortable with their unfamiliar nature since humans are diurnal and may become irrational or fearful because of our inability to fully engage with them. This in turn encourages understanding and respect for our nocturnal neighbors.
For the figurative dark we consider old age, death and taboos:
For the End of Growing Season and Beginning of Hunting Season:
- A skeletal character named Viridos ('green bones') represents this time of year. Its bones overgrown with vegetation and possibly colonized by small creatures, it uses dark humor to bring up uncomfortable topics such as death, decay and cultural taboos, even acting them out sometimes. The character is somewhat apathetic, but takes pleasure in its potential to nourish other life, sometimes offering up parts for use. (Image: Viridos Offering Limb for Broth. Pencil drawn and colored by Rua Lupa)
- Discussion about typically uncomfortable topics are encouraged in general as a way to over come them. To aid in this a Taboo Draw Box can be used where individuals can place questions or statements to answer and discuss.
- Consider those who have come before us and what they have imparted on the next generation; and for really thinking about things that you may have not considered before.
- A Transnox Tree filled with unmarked paper leaves is put up on the Equinox and each day until Transnox Eve each person of the household takes a leaf and writes what they have learned that day on it and hangs it on the garland. On Transnox Eve, when a community feast is held, the household garlands are hung in the hall so that everyone can share in what they learned - bringing the figurative light into each other's minds.
- Everything used for the Transnox Festivities is compostable, and is buried by the end of the evening or mensis as a way of practicing letting go because everything eventually dies.
- Prepare for your own death with funeral plans and wills.
For the End of Growing Season and Beginning of Hunting Season:
- Surplus foods from the growing season are prepared to be gifted, usually as treats, for door to door goers this time of year
- Home hosted feasts are held throughout the Transnox mensis with the community feast held on Transnox Eve. These feasts depicts the food as the cycle of life & death because all we eat was indeed alive and was killed to be consumed, and all that dies becomes nutrients for new life.
- Seed Gifts are exchanged where the seeds are wrapped in such a way that depicts the plant they come from.
- Hunting based Skill Games are played throughout the Transnox Mensis, but the big events are the highly competitive games on Transnox Eve.
Transnox Activities in Detail
Since winter is on the horizon the food you have in surplus and the resulting seeds is shared with family, friends and neighbors along with a feast of seasonal foods and what extra there is of the stored items from summer.
Door to Door
Much of what is in surplus is made into treats for handing out to door to door goers that come by throughout this mensis. A fun element to this is the option to dress as nocturnal creatures as a homage that their domain is ever more present with the longer nights and that they have as much need as we do for food for the coming cold and dark.
Pumpkin Seed Gifts & Transnox Mask
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Some poems for going to door to door during the Transnox mensis: (Poems may vary. Other poems may be used that are not mentioned here) "Summer's end and around the bend is a time of being hungry. So we come and ask before winter's grasp to share your Summer's Bounty." "Nox is nigh, so we swung by, hoping for some treats to try" |
Seed Gifts
Virid-os Costume and pumpkin lanterns used for Transnox Eve disposed of in garden at the end of Transnox. Symbolically placed in the form of a human to rot away throughout winter for use as base for next growing season's crops.
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MORE INFORMATION WILL BE ADDED OVER TIME
©
Rua Lupa
TRANSNOX DECORATIONS
TRANSNOX FESTIVAL
OPENING CEREMONY
AFTER OPENING CEREMONY
THE MAIN EVENTS
PERFORMANCES
GAMES & COMPETITIONS
CLOSING CEREMONY
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