Giovanniland

In the interest of continuing the series, I've offered to UA about handling the forum poll hosting for a while until there's someone else interested in taking over (let me know if you are!) For this poll, since a lot of holidays have already finished while others see their end soon, tell us about how you celebrated this year and if you want to continue that way or change it for the future!

Culture The culture of Giovanniland is very rich and diverse, with influences from the ancient Lavandulan city-states, the Abrentans and their Markan heritage, neighbor nations such as Blue Bubble and Minsu, and most recently immigrants from various continents. The concept of an unique Giovannese culture came into being during the start of the Empire, specifically the reign of Augusto. He sought to create an unified national culture with elements from the Abrentans and Lavandulans, for example expanding the Lavender Festival to the entire country, building more Iantenist churches, introducing Abrentan music and cuisine to the Lavandulans, and creating a law code incorporating costumes from both cultures. Cuisine Giovannese cuisine is home to several famous dishes, most notably pizza. It was created in southern Abrento during the medieval republican era, soon spreading to the entirety of Giovanniland and then the world. The Pizza Abrentana has a round shape with a raised edge, baked in traditional style within a wood-fired brick oven. The two most common styles are Pizza Iuliana, with hand-crushed peeled tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fragrant basil leaves, and extra virgin olive oil; and Pizza Nauti (sailor’s pizza) which has tomato sauce, extra virgin olive oil, oregano and garlic. In the coastal regions of Prinvalli and Lavandula, Pizza Eskomarini (seafood pizza) is common and can include species such as fish clams, shrimp, octopus, and squid. Meanwhile, in the capital Giovannia a common topping is the Pizza Dui Stationi (two seasons pizza) whose vegetables allude to the two tropical seasons. Pasta is also a Giovannese staple and comes in diverse varieties such as spaghetti, fusilli, penne, ravioli, fettuccine and lasagna. The Lavanda ed Eskomarino (lavender and seafood pasta) is the official dish of Porto Violeto, with seafood from the city’s harbors and a forest lavender seasoning. Another pasta recipe is the Lasana Tropicale, including not only the traditional ragù but also adding pesto sauce made with tropical nuts, such as macadamia and cashew. Besides pasta and pizza, other renowned dishes are Padella, saffron-colored rice with seafood; Tiramisù, featuring layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers and creamy mascarpone cheese; and Gelato Giovannese, offered in tropical flavors such as passion fruit, guava, watermelon, dragonfruit, papaya and tamarind. Pizza Iuliana and Lavanda ed Eskomarino respectively. Visual arts In the field of visual arts, some of the earliest preserved paintings in modern-day Giovanniland were made by the Lavandulan artist Paldeno of Karpo. He lived between 760 and 702 BF during the golden age of the Lavandulan Empire, usually painting about the diverse nature in the rainforests of northern Lavender Island. After the Abrentans' arrival in the island, they produced artworks with themes such as wars with other peoples, political life in their Republic, and the Abrentan landscape. The Giovannese Renaissance occurred during the early and middle Giovannian Empire, when artists were prominently financed by merchants and the government, marking a golden age in painting and sculpture. Artists such as Giorgio Massimiano, Anna Gepelli Santi, and Iulia Urbano-Vekellio used techniques of perspective and color in order to capture the urban and rural landscapes in the Empire. The magnificent artworks of the Renaissance coincided with the development of Giovannese architecture. The intricate medieval Abrentan castles and villages gave way to a more modern and grandiose style, and new Iantenist temples were built across the Empire with some new touches added to the traditional Lavandulan buildings. A prime example is the Palatio Smaraldo, built during the reign of Emperor Kesare shortly after the capital was moved to the new city of Giovannia. Kesare chose the empire’s best architects and artists to build and decorate the palace, including Massimiano who made many of the famous frescoes still there today. Pictured themes included the expanding cities, biodiversity, the nobility, colonial expansion, thriving commerce, overseas expeditions and life in the colonies. During the 12th and 13th centuries, a new movement called Verdenism celebrated the dynamism and emotional depth within the natural world. They experimented with color and form, besides using vibrant hues and exaggerated forms. One of the defining Verdenist works is The Dance of the Spirits by Erasmo Ambrosio, which depicts vibrant figures moving through a forest and shows the harmony between humanity and nature. More recently, Giovanniland became a hub of avant-garde movements, in particular the Ecofuturism movement. Inspired by the rapid changes in technology and its effects in society and the environment, artists such as Zodena Fagundi and Silvio Rubellio-Quieti sought to break with the past and picture the new world. Some of Giorgio Massimiano's famous works, and the Palatio Smaraldo. Literature Records of written Lavandulan language begin in the city-states era, serving not only as communication between the different cities, but also as a way to describe historical peoples and events. The Lavandulans were notable for their poetry and philosophy; some of the famous names being Nima of Quorivo and Dargio of Gimussa. Later, the Abrentans arrived into the island and created a literary tradition centred on chivalric romance, love stories, palace drama and other medieval aspects, known as the Akallian genre. They also translated and were influenced by the ancient Lavandulan classics, helping to preserve many impressive works for the modern day. The Giovannese Golden Age happened from the 8th to the 11th centuries. Poets captured the essence of their tropical surroundings in works such as Ode to the Rainforest by Marko Traiano and Lavender Island by Gialla Zerdano Poska, celebrating the rich biodiversity of the Giovannian Empire and emphasizing the connection between nature and spirituality. The development of a Giovannese identity was also present and culminated in the writing of the Epic of Giovanniland by Fulvia Silvanio-Belmari in the early 10th century, writing a detailed founding myth and then extensively describing the national history of several millennia. In a similar vein, valuable historical writing about the culture of the imperial era was encouraged and serves as an important source for modern-day studies. Newer literary styles continued developing afterwards. Narrative and short stories by authors such as Neurina Linari and Gigero Altada explored the lives of common people in the diverse landscapes of Giovanniland, while a wave of philosophical writing occurred concurrently, and various intellectuals wrote essays on society and governance. More recently, the advent of industrialization and technology in the last two centuries has introduced these themes and their social impacts into the national literature. The contemporary literary scene in Giovanniland is vibrant, and authors such as Arabella Gialla-Galzeno and Tommaso Kelesti continue to explore themes of ecology, cultural heritage, and social justice. Sports Giovanniland recently hosted the II Summer Esferiad of Quorivo and Kharventhin together with Blue Bubble, topping the medal table with 26 gold, 21 silver and 22 bronze for a total of 69 medals. Meanwhile, the national sport is chess, and the city of Sonserino is considered the national chess capital, hosting the annual Giovannilandian Chess Championship. The two most successful Giovannese chess grandmasters are Vespasia Serentelli and Plinio Amafinia-Lampo, who dominated the national chess scene in the mid-14th century, and are respectively ranked 1st and 2nd for most championship titles. Current notable players include Guillermo Urido-Amorino, Dezeno Purparboni, Karlo Neurino-Sousa, and the defending champion Raffella Quadrigaro. Participants of the annual Giovannilandian Chess Championship, and the logo of the II Summer Esferiad. Music Lavandulan archaeological sites have musical records dating back to the Lavandulan imperial era, whose instruments included xylophones, panflutes, horns, lyres and organs. The Abrentans later added their own influences and music theory, setting the stage for music to flourish during the Giovannian Empire. The style of Giovannese classical music arose starting from the 9th century AF, featuring new instruments like the piano and violin, and new musical forms like symphony and opera. Emperor Giovanni II's reign from 953 to 983 was the zenith of this style, when notable composers such as Agrippina Quintilio and Neurino Fulvio-Abroni created renowned operas, exploring themes of Lavandulan mythology and the period’s aristocratic society. Opera remains popular in the modern day, and opera houses in major cities have stunning architecture and acoustics. The 14th century saw the introduction of multiple modern styles such as jazz, rock, pop and electronic music in Giovanniland. Furthermore, a distinct Tropical genre arose in the 1360s from the mixture of various earlier traditions and gained immense acclaim, coinciding with the emergence of film scores that highlighted Giovanniland's cinematic talent, with composers like Ottavio Nasselli creating memorable soundtracks for both local and international films. Annual music festivals are hosted in cities such as Abrentopole and Ioseppole, celebrating the country's musical heritage and contemporary talent, and drawing crowds from around the world. Festivals and holidays The most prominent festival is by far the Lavender Festival, which happens during the week before New Year, starting in December 25th and ending on January 1st. The forest lavender is commonly seen in Giovanniland as a symbol as prosperity and renewal, hence the festival's date just before another year begins. The nation celebrates the holiday through various events, such as the planting of lavender in home gardens some time before December so they can be fully grown by the time of the event, and decoration of houses with lavender bunches and perfumes, which is said to give good fortunes for the upcoming year. Food recipes featuring lavender are also common, such as pasta, cupcakes, tea, and lemonade, among others. The Lavender Festival is not only very important but also ancient, dating back to the 11th century BF when it was founded in Urido during the Lavandulan Empire, although nowadays it’s celebrated nationwide. Other important dates are the Empire Day (January 16th), when the Giovannian Empire was founded in 560 by Iulio of Abrento and Nima VII of Lavandula; Giovandolian Day (April 23rd), when in 724 the fleet led by Admiral Flavio first landed in the mainland of modern-day Giovandolia; Kingdom Day (June 15th), when the Kingdom of Giovanniland began after Anna II’s reforms in 1225; Abrentan Day (August 29th), when the Abrentan Republic was founded after several decades of Abrentan migration from Saint Mark to the Lavender Island; and Constitution Day (October 30th), when Giovanniland’s first constitution was completed in 1228. Lavender products for sale in Urido during the Lavender Festival, and Empire Day banners in Giovannia.

Homemade, since the personal touch can mean a lot to the recipient!

10 smaller gifts, for the surprise and joy feeling when opening each one.

A colorful TWP seems the choice for most people!

Colors are lovely, I usually use a combination of white, red and green.

Could @Flauschi918 be masked as Newspaper for access to the private forum?

SPORTRAVEL Around Giovanniland through Football Stadiums: 2nd World Cup Special II Posted 17/11/1422 We're back at SporTravel with another post about the 2nd World Cup of Football tournament! While the Giovannilandians prepare to face off the Landslag from Fujai, after beating the teams of Alchera and Kurabis and most recently losing to Cambria, we will present two more iconic stadiums. Kampo Vetto Uridano, Urido, Lavandula Capacity: 45,300 People think of the Stadio Abreo-Florino when the question of a football stadium in the northern city of Urido is given. I mean, that's fair considering its highlight during the II Summer Esferiad last year and its prominence in the city center, but it's actually not the first stadium in this city of five hundred inhabitants! The title goes to the Urido Old Field, one of the first football fields in the entirety of Giovanniland, founded in the early 13th century. The home team is called the Lampi Lavanduli, which sadly haven't been as strong as they were in the early years of Giovannilandian football. For example, they had back-to-back titles at 1320 and 1321 followed by a few more in the next decades before declining, although new management and stadium modernization may mean a brighter future ahead. Stadio Montano L'Apertura, L'Apertura, Kordelleria Capacity: 9,500 The Giovandolian Mountains of the southern Andolian Territory are not where you'd usually look for a football stadium, but in the largest city of this sparsely-populated region, travelers are able to find a quite iconic arena with a breathtaking view from the nearby mountains! The city name itself comes from its strategic location at a valley within the mountain chain, and is the main route for people looking to pass through the north into the Violet Valley or south into the Emune Valley. One of the main aspects it's known for, however, is the altitude of over 2,000 meters that often makes players from the coastal regions take some time to adapt.

SPORTRAVEL Around Giovanniland through Football Stadiums: 2nd World Cup Special Posted 15/11/1422 Remember our posts about iconic Giovannilandian stadiums this June? Well, welcome to SporTravel once more, because we're now back with a special post themed on the 2nd World Cup of Football! As we've already wrote, football is praised by a majority of Giovannilandians that like sports, and we have a country with many powerful national teams competing in leagues that get millions of fans every year. The peoples of Giovanniland like attending football stadiums even when they're not actively having games, to appreciate these beautiful buildings and the sport itself. Therefore, this list will hopefully be a several-part series over the next few weeks, and for Part One, we have chosen to showcase one stadium in Aura and one in Andolia. Flore Violeta, Porto Violeto, Prinvalli Capacity: 65,000 The Flore Violeta is a beautiful tourist attraction of the largest city in Giovanniland, with beautiful color tones mixing purple, violet and lavender. For some historical background, the home team Bellatori Violeti was founded in 1370 and recently gained attention as they were bought by Giovannilandian giant Macaw Technologies, who invested in the team not only through the beautiful infrastructure but also by hiring famous players, earning a rightful spot among the most famous Giovannilandian teams. Andoliarena, Andoliavilla, Lido Flavi Capacity: 83,700 An iconic tropical stadium near the coast fits the Arare Andoliavillesi (Andoliavillese Macaws), one of the most famous, if not the most famous and successful football team in the entirety of the Andolian Territory of Giovanniland. The Arare are an old team in Giovannilandian football, having been founded over a century ago in the year of 1306, and are currently the defending team of the national tournament's first division. Their stadium, the Andoliarena, features a transparent dome that allows for air conditioning during the summer for players to stand the heat, and a large capacity that makes it one of the largest stadiums in Giovanniland! Not only that, but the area that encircles the stadium has several beautiful trees and even a small lake, while on the other side of the photo one can see the houses leading to the center of Andoliavilla, the beaches of the Flavian Coast, and the great Darkesian Sea.

Sports Report Newsroom, Giovannia—10:00 AM International Atomic Time, 14th November 1422 Good morning Giovanniland! I am Ottavio Volseno-Edrensi, the main host of the Giovannilandian Sports Report and of its special football edition that aims to keep Giovannilandians informed of the latest happenings of the 2nd World Cup of Football. Today, we'll be covering the results of the first two matches played by our football team and how they went! Matchday 1 - Giovanniland 1-0 Alchera (Halftime: 1-0) Goals: Valentina Heleni (30') The first half of the match was the more active part of both halves, and also when the only goal of the match happened! The match started with fair attacks from both sides, and a very good performance from the strikers of Giovanniland: Gustavo Zapata, Petro Takeda, and Iulio Ventomari. However, it was not any of them who scored the Giovannilandian goal, but rather the center midfield Valentina! With assistance from Iulio, she received the ball in the small area and was no match for the Alcheran goalkeeper, who was successfully confused by Hortensia's distraction and did not catch her ball at the left corner of the net. Matchday 2 - Kurabis 0-1 Giovanniland (Halftime: 0-0) Goals: Iulio Ventomari (89') Unlike the match between Giovanniland and Alchera, the Giovannilandian and Kurabi teams together contributed to a far more interesting and fun game to watch! One can see this by the fact there were no goals at all during the first half of the match. One of the closest attempts was Lorentio Santo-Ferrari's strike that ended up hitting the goalpost, and a Kurabi launch into the net that was annulled because the striker was offside. During halftime, coach Tiberio outlined a more offensive strategy for the second half. This strategy, while continuing with the same starting eleven players, resulted in a more active confrontation of the opposing players and more ball possession by the Giovannilandian teams, leading to more shots and shots on target as well. The match was looking to be a draw, but yet, none of the teams gave up the chance of getting those 3 points from a win! Striker Gustavo launched a strong attack that required a fierce defense from the Kurabi goalkeeper, sending it backwards and gaining the Giovannilandians a corner. From there, Sergio sent the ball to Iulio's feat, who successfully launched the ball into the net on the dying minutes of the match!

Giovannilandian National Football Team Esquadra Nationale Giovanniterrana Pedesfere Team Information: Style mod: +5 Home Stadium: Arena Abrentana, Giovannia Manager: Settima Amaliana-Kesari Coach: Tiberio Lozunio Main Players: Name Age Position Home City Klaudio Spindola 26 Goalkeeper Urido Galbina Fulviani Velito 25 Center Back Baiabella Tommaso Liamo 22 Center Back Imperano Helvia Lodeno-Geminiana 23 Left Outside Back Giovannia Sergio Ianteni Faustiano 28 Right Outside Back Porto Violeto Lorentio Santo-Ferrari (C) 29 Defending Midfield Annavilla Valentina Heleni 26 Center Midfield Sonserino Iustino Nottua-Glabrio 24 Attacking Midfield Abrentopole Gustavo Zapata 22 Striker Giovannia Petro Takeda 23 Striker Giovannia Iulio Ventomari 19 Striker Andoliavilla Backup Players: Name Age Position Home City Renato Prudentio 26 Goalkeeper Giovannoria Augustino Opiterno-Lumini 25 Goalkeeper Isula Magna Aurelio Dargi 21 Goalkeeper Urido Nikoletta Dorunesi 22 Center Back Klaudiano Manuella Iakobo 26 Center Back Porto Violeto Teodoro Sonserina 20 Center Back Kastellavando Andago Tellonia 24 Left Outside Back Iuliopole Aulo Aproni Pelio 26 Left Outside Back Annavilla Emilia Artena Lurtoni 22 Right Outside Back Portovini Nikolo Veranio 18 Right Outside Back Gigero Urbano Kergani-Gormo 25 Defending Midfield Ioseppole Arabella Viatore Nima 27 Defending Midfield Lampo Paloma Abrentana 24 Center Midfield Giovannia Iordana Gavio-Kelzano 22 Center Midfield Markelli Herminio Liamo 20 Attacking Midfield Urido Fernando Ofelio-Sengia 24 Attacking Midfield Urbevittori Zodena Granvino 24 Striker Osellio Ottavio Laquo-Tertulli 21 Striker Annavilla Klementina de Abreo-Florino 26 Striker Quorivo Tullia Ferenni 25 Striker Porto Violeto RP Permissions: Injure my players: no Assign my players yellow cards: yes Assign my players red cards: yes Godmod injuries: no Godmod scoring: no Godmod other events: no

Welcome back!! Even during the time between these two posts, it's been nice to see your name regularly in the RMB.

Thank you for the update!

Yay, thank you very much! TWP Armed Forces mask can stay, after all Wyvern is still a member - just not the commander anymore.

There's also a second request in relations to changes in government as announced in the RMB: Commander of TWPAF: demask @Wyvern, mask @United Adaikes Guardian: demask @United Adaikes, mask @Varanius and @Bhang Bhang Duc Thank you in advance for both of them!

Thanks Winni, the following aren't newspaper staff anymore and can be demasked: @Comfed, @Fhaengshia, @MarisalaTriumvirate, @Mia, @The Royal Urchin And these are newspaper staff that aren't on the list: @Overthinkers, @Clarkov, @Varanius, @SamIAm

Thanks for sharing, interesting interview!

May I ask who is currently masked with access to Newspaper forum? So I can request masking for newer, unmasked members and see if there's anyone who isn't a writer anymore still masked.

Thank you, it was nice to participate on the ROTW operation!

Thank you for delivering the update!

This embassy has been revived from the dead! Welcome once more, please ensure that it stays updated.

Hey there Hulldom, nice to see you here

Thank you for the update!

Woohoo!

Isula Magna, Altana Region—21:30 International Atomic Time, 4th August 1422 Klaudia kept waiting in the room, but no answer came. A question came from staff member Quinto Rufino-Petri, who had just arrived: "Still nothing?", to which Klaudia unfortunately nodded. Meanwhile, Amando intervened with the thought: "Remember when I said I did have an idea of who it may be?" Quinto asked, "Who do you have in mind?" "Varanius," Amando proposed. "I mean, we can't be sure, but the fact it's on our western border and that they seemingly ignored the request strengthens the possibility." "Good thought," Klaudia added, "although it could also be a mishap in the unknown ship's crew." "That's two mistakes already...", Quinto replied, "entering Giovannilandian waters and not answering our request for identification." Klaudia pointed out, "Do remember that there isn't officially a territorial water agreement in Esferos, so other nations may not recognize our claim, which is important to have in mind if we seek further contact. Although we're still acting on it, thoughts on contacting once more?" Amando and Quinto both nodded in agreement, although the latter inquired, "what if they keep ignoring our request for the ship to identify themselves?" "Well," Klaudia explained, "then we may have to resort to confronting the ship directly with a presence of a Giovannilandian one. She'll notice the company soon enough..." "That's worst case, since I am hoping this is a misunderstanding," she added. Quinto responded, "Let's hope so. In the meantime, are the Takore coast guards aware of this? They're the closest to the ship as things stand, but it's a lesser facility in comparison to Isula Magna." "Oh, yes, they are aware. I've let their chief officer, Gabriello Ratteno, know about this incident, and they are also conscious of the support that we can provide." "And our command in Porto Violeto?", Amando remembered. "That I shall contact soon, once I send the message to this unruly ship. I mean, they've most surely got a notification, but I shall notify them that our Andolian facilities are already dealing with this case." A few minutes later, the unknown ship was contacted for the second time, and the Giovannilandian Navy's leadership was now cognizant of her."