This week: Symbols of Spring Edited by: Prosperous Snow celebrating  
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| I began editing this newsletter in March of 2008. This is my thirteenth year as an editor of the writing.com fantasy newsletter. The obvious theme for this newsletter would be something about thirteen; however, March 20 is the vernal equinox. Spring and March are always special times for me, therefore I am going to write about the symbols of spring, many of which lend themselves to fantasy. |
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What are some of the symbols of spring? The Easter bunny is the first one that comes to my mind. This is because when I was a child, I got the ideas that the Easter bunny laid the colored eggs that were in my Easter basket. I don't know where I got that idea, or how long I held it. At the time, it seemed like a logical conclusion. It was only when I became an adult that I learned that the Easter Bunny is a symbol of fertility.
The next symbol that comes to mind is colored or painted eggs. I can remember coloring Easter eggs with my Grandmother. As a young child, I did not equate those eggs with the eggs found in my Easter basket--apparently children get some very creative ideas when they are young. I recently discovered that ancient Sumerians and Egyptians honored their dead with decorated ostrich eggs. In different parts of the world, there are other customs and traditions about colored eggs.
Giving Easter candy is a tradition that comes from the Victorian age. At that time, candy making technology had advanced to the point where high-quality, hollow chocolate sculptures were inexpensive to produce. This meant that more people could give that type of gift at Easter or any other time of the year.
Other symbols of spring are lambs, maypole dancing, and water. The use of water varies in different parts of the world. One custom is to soak your friends, usually while they are asleep, with a bucket or cup of water. Other ceremonies use floating lanterns or floating on a river in water ceremonies. I can remember dancing around a maypole is when I attended Vacation Bible School in Blackwell, Oklahoma.
What are some of your spring cultural symbols? Can any of them be used in a fantasy story to assist the movement of the plot or reveal something about the characters? Do you think that the Victorian custom of giving candy can be used in a steampunk story? Do you have any fantasy or science fiction stories that use some of the symbols of spring?
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Excerpt: I have a hat called Grumpy;
I wear it all the time.
It may not be my cleanest hat,
but it suits my mood just fine.
Excerpt: Edgar paused at the door, taking a deep breath. Months of his life had spent getting to this door. He'd broken laws, invested thousands of dollars, and spent hundreds of hours for this moment, but finally, he was here, at the heart of the conspiracy. He raised his hand and knocked.
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#1973116 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: Here I stand, alone in the midst of you.
I move in silent vigil upon the winds of time.
Excerpt: It was the end of the season, dark clouds were gathering in the sky over the sea and the wind drove enormous waves against the shore as if it wanted to swallow my little camp with all my appliances and devices that were lying around in the sand. I was sitting on a rock, hiding in the lush vegetation at the far end of the beach and waiting.
Excerpt: Writing comes from a secret realm.
I close my eyes, pages fill.
Fantasy images arrive like wishes.
A genie bottle of treats,
treasures arise from a mystery well.
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#2238291 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: In the silence of the moment, Ruby knew on some deep, primal level that this was wrong.
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s  writes: Cryptids are a fascinating topic. I've done some research and found around 400 different cryptids from around the world that people genuinely believe exist. I've used cryptozoologists as characters in stories. It's a great topic.
(And FWIW - I don't actually believe...)
Quick-Quill  writes: My story about a cryptid
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Fantasy: March 17, 2021 Issue [#10666]
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