Culture of Cartadania
Many aspects of Cartadanian culture can be traced back to the early cultures of Western Levantia and the Latinic Empire of the 16th century and their collision with Cartadania's native civilizations. The Latin brought Catholicism, Punthites, and the feudal encomienda system. After the fall of the Latinic empire, the Cartadanian people attempted to establish a pluralistic political system, between conservative and liberal ideals, however it was not without difficulty. The conservatives supported the involvement of the Catholic Church in the state, while liberals favored the separation of these. Some aspects of Cartadanian culture are contributions of Caphirian, Coscivian, Pelaxian, and other immigrants. Native people and Punthites played a large role in the formation of Cartadanian language, cuisine, music, dance and religion. The famous elements of Cartadanian culture are its art, music, style, and iconic food. Popular tastes in drama in Cartadania have long favored comedy; the improvisational style known as the Comédia de arte began in Cartadania in the mid-16th century and is still performed today.
Contents
Influences
Indigenous influences
Multicultural elements
Geography, climate, and immigration
Foreign influences
Education
Education in Cartadania is a foundational pillar of its societal fabric, characterized by a comprehensive and compulsory structure. The system encompasses early childhood education, elementary, and secondary education, providing a consistent trajectory from infancy to adolescence. Public education is universally accessible and encompasses a diverse range of subjects, ensuring a well-rounded academic experience. The educational journey begins with early childhood education (anteprimária), offered from infancy to five years of age, providing essential early learning and development opportunities. Elementary education (primária) follows, spanning five to six years and delivering a uniform foundation for students across states. Secondary education, termed Escola secundária, consists of two stages: Escola inferior or middle schools, lasting three years with mid-year and exit exams, and Escola superior or high schools, spanning four years with a second-year exam and senior proficiency assessment. Students are required to fulfill diploma requirements before exiting school. This three-tier structure ensures a gradual transition through different academic stages. Private school attendees also adhere to their state board of education's curriculum.
While education is primarily regulated by state and territorial governments, a federal framework guides curriculum standards to ensure consistency and quality across the nation. The Department of Education oversees these standards and provides financial support to schools and districts that comply. In practice, all state and territorial governments mandate adherence and conduct auditing to ensure funding is maintained.
Students engage in a diverse curriculum, including mathematics, history, biology, and Cartadanian language and composition. Foreign language learning is compulsory, with Pelaxian and Latin being popular choices due to their linguistic proximity. Some states have a mandatory second language that must be taught, while others may give students options to choose from. The starting point for linguistic attainment varies from state to state, with some starting as early as first year of attendance, while others may start in later years. Schools operate on a calendar-year system throughout the country, with breaks structured around holidays and seasons. In practice, most states maintain a school year that begins in mid- to late-January and ends in early- to mid-December, with breaks between. This scheduling is in contrast with the University schedules in the country, which usually runs from August of one year to May of the following year (the international standard), so many students will work or find other activities to participate in from their graduation in December until they begin university in August of the following year. While this eight month gap has been criticized by some as potentially causing an education retention issue for students, most students appreciate the break as a moment to breathe from 12-17 years of education. Some students will also enroll in a Fall term (January-May) at the university they intend to attend.
Public universities in Cartadania, with the exception of those situated in the capital, fall under the purview of state and territorial administrations. This decentralized approach empowers regional authorities to tailor higher education to their specific contexts, fostering diversity and specialization in the post-secondary landscape. As a result, Cartadania's post-secondary education system comprises a rich tapestry of institutions, each characterized by unique admission prerequisites and a spectrum of academic offerings. This multifaceted arrangement ensures that students have access to a broad spectrum of educational pathways, enriching the nation's intellectual and professional tapestry. Unlike primary and secondary schools, universities have no prescribed curriculum that they must adhere to. The Office of Post-Secondary education under the Department of Education makes recommendations to each university in the country, but the responsibility of implementation falls to the respective state, territory, and in some cases, the universities or university systems themselves.
Science and technology
Cartadania has positioned itself as a prominent hub for scientific advancement and technological innovation, cultivating an environment conducive to the flow of modern discoveries. Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, numerous groundbreaking technological innovations have either originated within its borders or emerged in close proximity, subsequently being widely adopted by Cartadanians. Pivotal inventions like the transistor, nuclear power, the personal computer, online commerce, and the foundational development of the Internet found their roots in nearby Occidental countries, often in collaboration with Cartadanian teams.
The nation's resolute commitment to scientific progress escalated into a global undertaking, particularly evident during the Space Age when Cartadania pioneered cutting-edge methodologies for space exploration and travel. The advent of the Information Age marked a pivotal juncture, ushering in not only the personal computer but also the interconnected realm of the internet and its diverse services. This digital revolution seamlessly connected individuals across continents in mere seconds. While Cartadania may not have spearheaded the invention of the internet, it stands among the early adopters, comprehensively integrating its use throughout the country and presently maintaining some of the world's highest bandwidth connections. Moreover, Cartadania has nurtured a robust domain in health and physical sciences, fostering holistic advancements.
A significant catalyst behind Cartadania's array of pioneering achievements in STEM fields can be attributed to its open immigration policies and effective assimilation practices. The principle that each individual possesses valuable contributions gained traction around the onset of the 20th century, coinciding with a wave of immigration that included a significant cohort of scientists and scholars engaged in STEM disciplines. Despite evolving immigration dynamics over time, particularly with the prominent Crona community representing a major immigrant group outside of Sarpedon, Cartadania remains a favored destination for individuals seeking new opportunities. This continuous influx of diverse talents fosters an ongoing crucible of innovation and novel approaches within STEM domains. The nation also diligently nurtures diplomatic relations to foster collaborative STEM advancement not only domestically but on a global scale.
The crucible of the Great War accelerated Cartadania's drive to push technological boundaries, culminating in the development of cutting-edge atomic weaponry, advanced aviation technologies, and pioneering strides in biotechnology and chemical warfare. This concerted effort by the scientific community propelled Cartadania to the forefront of military prowess, yielding one of the world's most sophisticated defense forces. With the oldest independent air force on record and a navy and army steeped in tradition, Cartadania boasts well-equipped armed forces at the forefront of technological innovation.
The nation's steadfast emphasis on STEM disciplines is palpable across its educational landscape, where a robust curriculum underscores the intrinsic value of scientific knowledge and technological proficiency. This commitment resonates through various academic institutions, ensuring the cultivation of a future generation capable of perpetuating Cartadania's legacy of pioneering innovation.
Family
Political attitudes
Food
Festivals in Cartadania
Carnival
Carnival is an annual festival held between the Friday afternoon before Ash Wednesday and Ash Wednesday at noon, which marks the beginning of Lent, the forty-day period before Easter. During Lent, Catholics and some other Christians traditionally abstained from the consumption of meat and poultry, hence the term "carnival", from carnelevare, "to remove (literally, "raise") meat." The largest of the Carnival festivals in Cartadania is Sierra Carnival, with an average two million people celebrating Carnival. Other large carnival festivals include Carnival of Vila Real, Carnival of Santa Domenica, and Amar Carnival. Many Cartadanians also visit Pelaxia to attend the Carnival of Fátima, another very popular celebration.