Motsatte's culture plays a pivotal part in the daily lives of Motsatte's citizens and in Motsatte's history.
Population and Ethnic Groups
The Vikinger
The Vikinger were originally a clan of Vikings who invaded Motsatte. However, their boats all broke leaving them stuck on the island. They settled and enslaved the indigenous people. However, through many hard-fought battles the Native Motsattions and the Vikinger have beaten out a peace and today there is little political tension. Vikinger are identified by their blonde hair and fair complexions.
The Motsattions
The indigenous people of Motsatte. Unfortunately, the Native Motsattion language has been lost and most Motsattions today speak English due to oppression by the Vikinger and other European influences. Motsattions are characterized by a light brown complexion with large noses. Today, few pure Motsattions exist because most Motsattion blood is mixed with Vikinger blood.
Other
A small percentage of the population is made up of Icelanders, Greenlanders, and a mix of several European countries.
Religion
The Brotherhood of the God Who Was Broken
The Brotherhood of the God Who Was Broken, or the Brotherhood for short, is a religion indigenous to Motsatte. The Brotherhood believe that, like their god, they are broken and work to commit good deeds in order to restore themselves and their god to a state of wholeness. The believe they must restore their god because he broke himself creating them. In the beginning, their god, known simply as "The Broken One" broke a piece off of himself and used it to create the world and those who live in it. In order to repay the deed of their own creation they do good acts. These good works are believed to slowly restore The Broken One. They also believe that when The Broken One is made whole, he too will make them whole and all will ascend to a level of perfect, unbroken peace and enlightenment. They believe that sins are committed because we are broken and those who commit sins are broken. The Brotherhood is small today due to persecution and the disappearance of Native Motsattion culture due to Westernization.
A Chapel of The Brotherhood.
Other
Aside from The Brotherhood, Christianity and atheism are quite prevalent in Motsatte.
Disappearance of The Brotherhood
The Brotherhood is slowly diminishing in size and may disappear in the impending future due to persecution and Westernization. Read: (www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/162/27594.html) for more information on how Westernization affects other countries.
Holidays
Feiring Ov Gode
Feiring Ov Gode, or "celebration of good", originated as a holiday thrown by The Brotherhood to celebrate all of the good deeds they did. Today it has been adopted outside of The Brotherhood and is a national holiday where families gather together and eat traditional Motsattion dishes. Feiring Ov Gode is celebrated March 25th.
Selvstendighet
Selvstendighet is the Motsattion day for independence from their short-lived colonial captivity. Fireworks and alcoholic drinks are customary for celebrating this momentous day in Motsattion history. It is celebrated May 15th.
Some people celebrating Selvstendighet.
Freedom Day
Freedom day is celebrated on September 2nd to honor the end of WWII and those who were persecuted or killed in it. Many Motsattions were killed and oppressed by the USSR during Motsatte's time as an military base for them. This day honors those who died and sparks hope for a peaceful future for Motsatte.
Other
National Sales Day, an unofficial holiday where many stores in Motsatte dramatically lower prices is a widespread unofficial holiday. Additionally, Christmas has been starting to be celebrated more and more in Motsatte.
Language
Most Motsattions speak English. The native Motsattion language was lost long ago, and aside from English most people speak Norwegian or Icelandic.
Food
Fiskpotet
Fiskpotet is a dish of fish and potatoes, usually served as a soup. Fiskpotet is popular among the winter months.
Kyllingulrot
Kyllingulrot is a whole chicken baked and served with carrots. Mashed potatoes are also commonly eaten with this.
Kjeks-rot
Because of the lack of conventional sweeteners on Motsatte, carrots are used as sweetener. Kjeks-rot are fried cookies usually made with carrots.
Roaring Bear Tea
Roaring Bear Tea is made by steeping Roaring Bear blossoms in hot water. This drink was thought to give you the ferocity of a bear by the Native Motsattions.
Sports
Aking
Aking is a form of competitive sledding where two teams of five people on sleds compete to get the most people to the finish line before the other team gets there. The sleds used for Aking are usually circular and you must remain on your sled at all times. If you fall off, you are not allowed to move again until you are back on it. Ramming other players is not allowed, but snowballs are able to be thrown in order to mess up or knock your opponent off their sled. Aking is usually played on treeless slopes for obvious reasons. It is also customary to wear protective gear. Professionally, scores are determined by averaging your entire team's times together and the overall lowest time between the teams wins. However, casually and among children, it depends as there are many ways to keep score. A joke amongst players of Aking is: "Aking is how you will feel after playing."
Some children after an game of Aking.
Other
Hockey is popular as a winter sport in Motsatte. In the summer, baseball is also popular.
Other Social Traditions
Respecting Elders
In Motsatte, elders are greatly respected. When an elder or other important person talks to you, immediately look them in the eyes and listen diligently. You do not break eye contact or end the conversation. That is the elder's job. As well, you always open doors for them and in general, they go first.
Greeting
Similar to a handshake, Motsattions greet each other by interlocking their fingers while keeping their palms open. As you can imagine, this is quite difficult for strangers to do. This way, the handshake doubles as an icebreaker for meeting strangers and allows people to easily perceive people's relationships by how well they handshake with each other.
A Motsattion "handshake".
Being a Guest
When visiting someone's house you must always take your shoes off before entering. To wear your shoes in someone's house insults their hospitality and insults their possessions. It's like saying that their floor isn't worthy of touching your bare feet. Additionally, it is always wise to be polite in people's houses and not touch things you aren't given permission to, or go into rooms unauthorized.
Table Manners
Eating is the most relaxed of Motsattion customs. It is a place where all are equal, for all share the same hunger for food. The only thing considered rude in Motsattion etiquette is eating before the host arrives or before everyone has their food. Eating food loudly is okay, and advised in some situations. If you eat loudly, it shows that you are enjoying your food and serves as a compliment to your host or chef.
Clothing
Traditional
Traditional Motsattion clothing consists of warm, long-sleeved bearskin clothing packed with feathers. Pants are also made of bearskin and feathers. Shoes are often made of sealskin. Traditional Motsattion clothing bears a slight resemblance to traditional Eskimo clothing. Traditional Motsattion clothing is usually embroidered with patterns of purple diamond shapes. It is also common to see hats made of bear heads, with the bear mouth open so you can see out of it.
Modern
Today most Motsattions wear Western clothing, such as jeans and sweatshirts or hoodies.