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
There is a regard for scientific advancement and technological innovation, resulting in the flow of many modern innovations. Many of the technological innovations of the 20th and 21st centuries were either invented in Cartadania, first widely adopted by Cartadanians, or both. Things like the transistor, nuclear power, the personal computer, online shopping, and the development of the Internet were originally developed in Cartadania.
Cartadanians drive for the advancement of science became very strong and eventually an international endeavour. With the arrival of the Space Age, Cartadania began to develop modern ways to facilitate space travel and exploration. The Information Age was important because it saw the development of not only the personal computer, but also the internet and various interconnected services. It allowed people continents apart to connect in just seconds. Cartadania also has a strong development of health and physical sciences.
One of the many reasons Cartadania was capable of having so many firsts in STEM fields is because of its ease of immigration and assimilation. The idea that everyone has something to contribute was popularized around the beginning of the 20th century when Cartadania saw a surge in immigration, many of the immigrants were scientists or studying in some related STEM field.
The Great War threw the nation into overdrive with the development of atomic weaponry, advanced aircraft, biological and chemical weapons, and many other ways to defend itself. As a result of the efforts of many scientists, Cartadania has one of the most advanced militaries on the planet.
There is great emphasis on STEM in many schools throughout the country as a result of its value.
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.