Web Fed News Yearbooks - December 2000

THE MONTH IN BRIEF

Christmas loomed, and plans were made for festive fun and frolics in Fed, with Christmas events such as Fedpardy and a Scavenge Hunt, and a holiday decorating contest judged by Hazed. Players organised their own events, too including parties and carol singing.

Hazed reminded everyone about the origins of Diesel, and pointed people to the Diesel's Dump humorous web site where two new articles had been published. The articles are about the design flaws in the human body, and about upgrading a computer using ordinary household implements, and live at http://www.chezdiesel.demon.co.uk/index.html. Warning: Some of the articles are not suitable for children.

NewsDroids rejoiced at being given two weeks off over the holiday period, so there were only 3 news bulletins in December, making this a shorter Yearbook than normal.

THE HOLIDAY SEASON
by our Special Reporter, Qaxlor

Well, that time is once again upon us, its hard to believe that 687 days have passed already! I am, of course, talking about Finorla season, a time when Martians and Martianphiles alike celebrate the Martian New Year. Shops are already packed with all the traditional symbols of the season. Bakeries are churning out freshly-made hoolixa pastries filled with sweet, gooey marsmal filling,and you can barely walk anywhere without that heavenly scent catching your nostrils. The 5- and 10-groat stores all have festive hats, emblazoned with the tri-pointed Martian givlik, a symbol of peace and rejuvenation. And nobody's Finorla party would be complete without fresh marsrat, which the butchers shops have stocked in abundance, ready for marsberry stuffing and slow roasting.

Legend has it that the ancient Martians celebrated this same holiday, although little is known about how they celebrated it. I asked Dr Andrew Capscott, a professor of folklore and folk studies at Mars University about the ancient celebration.

Dr Capscott began, "We know surprisingly little about how this holiday was celebrated by the ancient Martians. We have a few inscriptions which were placed to commemorate the passing of another year, many in conjunction with the building of a temple, so we know the day was invested with ceremonial significance.

"It's likely that ancient Martians participated in more festive activities in addition to the solemn ones the inscriptions indicate. Most cultures tie concepts of renewal and rebirth to the passing of a year, even if its placement is arbitrary. So, your average Martian probably ate some favorite and traditional foods, participated in community activities and reflected upon the previous year."

Dr Capscott concluded, "The modern celebrations of Finorla may bear little surface resemblance to the ancient ones, but the basic themes of preparing for a new year and a new start, while giving thanks for the joys of the previous year, are probably the same."

Whether you intend to follow the old tradition of writing Finorla promises on slips of paper to be scattered to the wind, or simply to spend some time reflecting on the successes and failures of the year gone by, this is certainly a time for peace and togetherness.

So, as you gather around the klystron and sing 'Z'latoc Am Gerk', remember the bonds of friends and family that nurture you throughout the year.