Diabola ([info]diabola79) wrote in [info]bloodshedverse,
@ 2006-08-23 09:10:00
Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Dennis
During a discussion in the tag a while ago, the idea to give Dennis a place of honor on the site came up. After all, he has been haunting us pretty much since the beginning of the BSV. *lol*

Selene was kind enough to put together some Dennis-graphics, and you can see the "plain" version below the SOTM box. (I'll find a better place, don't worry.)

Why "plain" you ask, well, he'll dress up for the holidays. So far we have Christmas, Easter, St. Patrick's Day and Halloween Dennis. Some of our Australian members already told me about ANZAC day, so that one will be added as well.

And now you come in.

Leave a comment and tell me which holiday you think should be added. I'll need the official name, the date (or the rule for it, like "second Sunday in May") and the best way to dress Dennis up accordingly. (Fireworks, Bunny-teeth, a Santa's hat, ...) Links to pictures would be great, as would be a short explanation what the holiday means (or a link to an article about it, I'm willing to read up on it).

They don't have to be completely politically correct. So what if not everyone celebrates Christmas? It's well known enough that everyone can recognize it. If it is important in your corner of the world we'll make Dennis celebrate right along with you. - The only thing I don't want to see are holidays with a racist or anti-minority spirit. But I doubt any of you would suggest something like that anyway.

And don't worry if your favorite holiday clashes with that of someone else. If that happens we'll put up a vote later on.

(Post a new comment)


[info]spikeslovebite
2006-08-23 07:40 am UTC (link)
4th of July! Dennis needs a big stars and bars Tophat and an Uncle Sam beard. I'll do a search for the approriate graphics and send them over when I'm more awake LOL
what a cute idea LOL

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]diabola79
2006-08-23 07:49 am UTC (link)
*headdesk* See, that's what happens when you have an European set up something like that, I completely forgot about that one. If it wasn't for Selene we wouldn't have Halloween and St. Patirck's Day either, I'm sure.

Thanks, and glad you like the idea.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]slaymesoftly
2006-08-23 04:02 pm UTC (link)
My thought, exactly! Well, except for the whole searching for graphics and offering to do it part. :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]debris4spike
2006-08-23 04:10 pm UTC (link)
How about Nov 11th - The English remembrance of the finish of the First World War - Either called Remembrance Day, or Poppy Day

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]diabola79
2006-08-23 04:20 pm UTC (link)
Sounds good. Esp. since it is also known in USA, Canada and some other countries. At least that's what Wiki tells me. Can you think of what we should do with Dennis for that day? The poppies themselves are prolly the best option. Are they significant in all the countries that observe that holiday? (Sorry but we don't have it here, so I don't know anything besides what Wiki says.)

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]debris4spike
2006-08-23 06:54 pm UTC (link)
Yes - Poppies are "sold" to raise money to support veterans and their families - We wear the poppies in our lapel(with any medals, if we have them)
At 11am on the 11th we observe 2 minutes silence, as that was when the actual cease-fire came into effect. The 2nd Sunday in November is a special ceremony at The Cenotaph in London where the Queen(etc) lays a wreath.
So - poppies are the normal representation!

(Reply to this) (Parent)
November 11th
[info]lisfayte
2006-08-23 06:56 pm UTC (link)
Here in the U.S. we call Nov. 11th Veterans Day, and poppies do have significance here. Veterans sell paper poppies to raise money for the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars). I love Dennis, and I am glad he is getting his due.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
New Holiday?
[info]lisfayte
2006-08-23 07:13 pm UTC (link)
Sorry to post again so soon, but I thought of a new holiday, how about a "Spuffy Day", it could be on 20 November, that is the day that they first aired "Smashed" in 2001. I don't know about the rest of you, but when that happened my daughters and I were jumping up and down in my living room shouting at the TV, my husband had thought we had gone crazy.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]spikes_slayer2
2006-08-24 06:09 am UTC (link)
yeh.. thats the same in Aussie.. its rememberance day, the "11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" and yeh they poppies are a good idea.. we get to buy little badges and stuff for it to raise money :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]angelic_amy
2006-08-24 12:47 pm UTC (link)
Australia celebrates Remembrance Day as well.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]debris4spike
2006-08-24 03:40 pm UTC (link)
I was pleased to learn this - as I thought you only kept ANZAC day- Hadn't realised it was still so widely commemorated.
Thanks for letting me know

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]angelic_amy
2006-08-25 12:29 am UTC (link)
No problem!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]bloodytearslife
2006-08-23 07:25 pm UTC (link)
I think a better placement for Dennis would be above the birthday list, that way whatever he wears could possibly reflect what month it is.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]diabola79
2006-08-23 07:33 pm UTC (link)
There are some things I have to consider because of some of the boxes not having a fixed heigth. Don't worry about it, I have some ideas; I just didn't want to fiddle with it today because it was busy at work, and I didn't want you guys to end up with some chaotic test-version while I had to deal with customers.

As for his clothes/surroundings reflecting the current month. I don't think that's possible, since my winter is someone else's summer. Better keep the BSV as international as possible.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Six holidays
[info]jane_potter
2006-08-23 07:37 pm UTC (link)
Well, speaking as an actual Wiccan, as well as from a BtVS point of view, what about the Wiccan holidays? Halloween and Christmas (Samhain and Yule) are already covered, but there's still six more sabbats to cover, right?

Imbolc- Feb 2. A celebration of the earliest days of Spring. Mostly it's symbolized by new growth of plants and such, so... ChiaPet Dennis?

Spring Equinox- March 21. The day and night are equal length on this day, and it's about winter turning to the first day of spring. Yin-Yang Dennis, maybe, or something else that symbolizes spring's beginning.

Beltane- April 30. Ahh, yes. May Day. Maypole Dennis, I say! Cover him in red and white ribbons.

Summer Solstice- June 21. The longest day of the year, it's also the high point (and end) of summer, usually celebrated in rituals with bonfires, or at least lots of candles. A pyro Dennis, with fire as a main theme.

Lammas- August 1. Near when the harvest of summer's bounty begins. It's like a Wiccan Thanksgiving, and the symbolization that everything must end eventually. Give our ghosty friend the harvested fruit and grains of the season, I think. I'm not too sure on how to represent this holiday because it's an awful lot like Thanksgiving (which in itself has a lot of pagan symbolism in it).

Autumn Equinox- September 21. The day and night are the same length once again, as the year is about to die in preparation for Winter. Cover Dennis in fallen leaves- because on a happier note, who doesn't like raking them all up and then jumping in the piles!

That's it for me, really... hope I didn't write too much.

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: Six holidays
[info]diabola79
2006-08-23 07:49 pm UTC (link)
Awesome! This is exactly what I had hoped for. Thank you so much. I'll add those to my list.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Re: Six holidays
[info]diabola79
2006-08-23 07:51 pm UTC (link)
Oh, question. I wanted to add a little message for the actual day of the holiday. (Merry Christmas, Happy Easter, ...) Is there anything special you say for the wiccan holidays? Or is it just Happy ... ?

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: Six holidays
[info]jane_potter
2006-08-23 08:08 pm UTC (link)
Usually it's just 'Happy...'. The Spring and Autumn Equinoxes are also named Ostara, and Mabon, respectively, and the Summer Solstice is Litha, so if you wanted to use those names instead... I could be wrong, but mostly there's no special greeting to go with the holidays.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: Six holidays
[info]diabola79
2006-08-24 07:55 am UTC (link)
Great, thanks.

Some more questions though *lol*
I looked those holidays up, and it says that Yule is actually sometime between the 21st and 23rd of December. Is it common to just celebrate it at the same time as Christmas? And on all two (or in my case three, because for us Christmas starts on the 24th) days, or only on one of them?

Also, how strickt are Wiccans about those holidays? Am I gonna insult anyone by using the dates for the northern hemisphere? I could put "Happy Beltane/Samhain" in the message and thus cover both, but Dennis will still wear his Beltane-dress even though in Australia they will celebrate Samhain.

Ugh, I guess I'm putting too much thought into this, but I wanna avoid hurting anyones feelings just because I didn't know better.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: Six holidays
[info]athenewolfe
2006-08-24 03:19 pm UTC (link)
Yule is always celebrated around the 21st of december. I normally celebrate Yule with my husband because it is our belief and then go to my mom's for christmas presents because that is her beliefs. But it is not celebrated at the same time.

No clue on the other hempisphere issue lol...

If you were leaving the dennis costume up for several weeks (or the month of december) you could say Happy Yule, Hanukkah and Christmas ....That covers pagan. Jewish and christian - not sure about other faiths lol

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Re: Six holidays
[info]jane_potter
2006-08-25 12:08 am UTC (link)
It is on the 21st, but I supposed it might be easier for you to just sort of combine it with Christmas, as the iconology is rather similar (mostly because almost everything Christmassy was originally pagan). I guess it really depends about how strict one is concerning the holidays- I may have offended some Christians by making that pagan comment, but then others might not mind. It's really a matter of personal preference. In my opinion, however, if the Bloodshedverse is run by someone in the northern hemisphere, I think they'll understand about using northern dates. If you're really concerned, maybe when Beltane/ Samhain rolls around, you could make a little comment in explanation and/or apology in advance, just in case anyone does take offence.

I don't mind answering questions!

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: Six holidays
[info]jane_potter
2006-08-25 12:11 am UTC (link)
Ugh, I'm having issues with sentence subjects today.

'It' at the beginning is 'Yule'.

The 'I guess...' etc is about the hemisphere issue.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Re: Six holidays
[info]diabola79
2006-08-25 06:23 am UTC (link)
I'm not gonna put them up by hand, and for writing the script that puts them up it doesn't really matter if I add the 21st or not. So I can just use the real date. I know about the pagan origins of christmas, wasn't that how the date was chosen in the first place. I'd have to look it up, but I think I remember that if you take away the irregularities caused by the calender-reform and the "not quite right" julian calender you'll end up with Christmas at the day of the winter solstice. ;-) (Atheist here, hard to offend.)

I think I'll add a short article about Dennis on the Help-page anyway. Say which holidays we have so far and give a short explanation to each. Maybe someone besides me will find that interesting. *lol* And that way I have a place where I can mention the hemisphere-thing.

Thanks for all your help.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]zanthinegirl
2006-08-24 12:03 am UTC (link)
I'm just surfing through, checking for updates but what a clever idea! i never actually noticed Dennis before.

I'd recommend cinco de Mayo (may 5th) AKA Mexican independence day. Big party, fireworks, Dennis could wear a sombrero or something!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]diabola79
2006-08-24 07:59 am UTC (link)
*scratches head*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_Mayo
Is that article right? About Cinco de Mayo NOT being the Independence day? Don't want to upset our Mexican members.

And if it is, do you know if the Mexican Independence Day is celebrated as well? We can just add both...

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]zanthinegirl
2006-08-24 09:29 am UTC (link)
I've never heard of Mexican independence day being celebrated as such; though perhaps in Mexico.

Cinco de Mayo is a big deal in the US; more a celebration of ethnic heritage than anything else. Probably analogous to St Patrick's day or Columbus day. In some parts of the US-- mostly border areas-- Dia de los Meurtos (all soul's day or November 2nd) is a big festival; sugar skulls and lots of ghoulish things. People have picnics on the grave-sites of family members. Obviously that's only popular where it's a lot warmer in November!

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]diabola79
2006-08-24 09:52 am UTC (link)
Ok, so I'll add Cinco and leave the Mexican independence day alone, at least as long as no Mexican member comes along and suggests to add it too.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]liz_a_summers
2006-08-24 05:41 am UTC (link)
How about Thanksgiving with him dress as a Turkey? ^.^ That would be the third thursday in November, I believe. I just know its always the week after my bday, hehe.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]liz_a_summers
2006-08-24 05:44 am UTC (link)
Oh! And forgot St. Valentine's Day! He can be a little cupid!

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]spikes_slayer2
2006-08-24 06:11 am UTC (link)
ooohhh... how cute.. little cupid dennis! :)with like flowers and a bow/arrow and heart and stuff :D

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]diabola79
2006-08-24 08:04 am UTC (link)
Good one. I'll add it to the list.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]diabola79
2006-08-24 08:02 am UTC (link)
Good idea, but I think we might need to vote on this one. I checked, and it is the fouth Thursday in November IN THE USA - but the second Monday in October IN CANADA. I'll need to know which one (or both) I should use.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]athenewolfe
2006-08-24 03:20 pm UTC (link)
In Belgium (cause we have so many americans and canadaians at my shcool) we celebrate both -- Canadian Thanksgiving at my friends house and American Thanksgiving at my house lol

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]zanthinegirl
2006-08-24 09:32 am UTC (link)
BTW Thanksgiving is always the 4th thursday of November! This year it's November 23rd.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]alwaysjbj
2006-08-25 12:42 am UTC (link)
Melbourne Cup day... first Tuesday in November. The whole of Australia stops for the running of the Cup.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]diabola79
2006-08-25 06:26 am UTC (link)
That's with horses, right? *lol* Don't worry, I looked it up. (Have to admit my first thought upon hearing "Cup" was racecars. *blushes*)

I'll add it to the list.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]spikes_slayer2
2006-08-30 05:55 am UTC (link)
LOL yeh... its hilarious!! the entire country stops.. my school has like a minute of silence just to hear it over the P.A system.... hehe....


umm... what about australia day? it might have been mentioned already... or um.. do we celebrate the queens birthday?.. the june long weekend one? hmmm not sure.. will get back to you on that.. :P

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]lilachigh
2006-08-27 10:44 pm UTC (link)
Must have Dennis celebrate November 5th, Bonfire Night. Huge celebrations over here to celebrate the Gunpowder Plot when Guy Fawkes and friends almost blew up the Houses of Parliament. We have bonfires, fireworks and burn replicas of poor old Guy. Actually, in places such as Battle and Lewes, they have street processions and drag fire through the street in metal trays. Teenagers run across burning coals - if the police can’t stop them - and it all becomes very wild.

Children still beg for money by making a guy and standing on corners asking “Penny for the Guy”. You are a bit worried if you give them less than £1.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]spikes_wish
2006-10-09 05:12 pm UTC (link)
Oooo really good idea! I love bonfire night, as my b.day is 4 days later :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]willowmouse02
2006-08-29 10:18 am UTC (link)
Australia day - January 26th :)

(Reply to this)


[info]spikes_slayer2
2006-08-30 05:57 am UTC (link)
what about boxing day?... the 26th dec... is that everywhere or just Aussie... ? hmmm

im not italian but La befana is a holiday similar to christmas... thats in january..

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]spikes_wish
2006-10-09 05:09 pm UTC (link)
Nah, we have boxing day in UK as well :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]basilio_the_cat
2006-09-03 02:52 pm UTC (link)
Great idea! :D

Now, if only I could think of something besides the ones already suggested. I know there were some I wanted to mention....



PS! Could you make a list of the ones already gathered? Or would that be too much trouble?

(Reply to this)


[info]pretty_in_fangs
2006-09-26 07:03 pm UTC (link)
I was just skimming through and the comment about Cinquo de Mayo (which is huge where I live) made me think of another no-one's mentioned: Mardi Gras, or Carnivale. Big celebrations in a lot of the Catholic areas of the world. Not sure how you'd want to dress him up, though. Mask and beads? Or is that too New Orleans specific?

(Reply to this)

Mothers Day
[info]lisfayte
2006-09-27 03:30 am UTC (link)
I am not sure Dennis would want to celebrate this holiday due to the fact that it was his mother who killed him by bricking him alive in a wall :D

(Reply to this)

St Georges Day
[info]spikes_wish
2006-10-09 05:06 pm UTC (link)
23rd April- St Georges Day-that's the English patron Saint :)- thanks.

spikes_wish
xxxxxxxxx

(Reply to this)


[info]tisca
2006-10-12 09:49 pm UTC (link)
There's Diwali and ID but both follow lunar calender. Google for more information. Try 123greetings.com for an idea of what is associated with the festivals. Anyway this year Diwali's on Oct 21 and ID on Oct 24. How about wishing the Buffy stars Happy Birthday?

(Reply to this)

Create an Account
Forgot your login or password?
Login w/ OpenID
English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…