Snarsisian - Ethnicity

Snarsisians are the people and culture from Snarsis, which are mostly from the Snarsisian species.

Snarsisian culture, between the arid desert environment of Snarsis and the light sensitivity of the Snarsisian species, developed for living underground hidden from the sun in dim damp subterranean communities. This underground environment has affected many aspects of their culture such as fashion and architecture as well as their dualistic spiritual traditions.

It is quite rare for non-Snarsisians to live on Snarsis, as such traditional Snarsisian culture is alive and well on the home planet, with most modern adaptations being technology based rather than idea based. It is Snarsisian immigrants that are more likely to adapt coalition culture into their lifestyles and fashion, although many will live in Snarsisian neighborhoods where traditional culture is still practiced.

Social structure

Kinship

Snarsisian kinship is very focused on extended family, with people often being able to trace their lineage back to a specific town that their family has lived in for generations. These large extended families form clans and extensive kinship networks.

Clans will often live communally, with the entire or majority population of a town traditionally all being members of the same clan and extended family. In larger towns and cities multiple clans are common, though each clan typically sticks to their own neighborhood.

Pregnancy & Infanthood

For more Info see: Snarsisian Pregnancy & Infanthood

Snarsisians are an egg laying species and as such have a pregnancy state, and egg stage, before the offspring finally hatch and enter infanthood. These stages are each different and have different forms of medical care and care providers. The most important of these stages is the egg stage, when the offspring is still in the egg.

Parents will often keep the egg shells and sometimes the egg tooth, and can make sentimental jewelry. Jewelry made out of egg shells is especially common and often worn by parents.

Architecture

Most buildings in Snarsisian architecture are multilevel and share walls with neighboring buildings. In traditional architecture towns are built in a round circular town layout with businesses and workshops on the bottom most floor and living spaces on the upper floors.  In smaller villages and towns the shape is more round and circular but in large cities the shape may become oblong and over time connect multiple circular towns together making a winding abstract shape.

When more living space is needed, builders will expand outwards, carving deeper into walls and in ancient towns developing complex tunnels of alleys and connected rooms.Each family will have their own living unit, expanding back into the walls when needed, but the open courtyard area in the center of town is a common space used by all members of the community.

Due to their subterranean habitat, Snarsisian architecture is almost completely carved from the earth they live in, with focus on the removal of stone and dirt to create rooms and open spaces rather than building up walls to contain and separate. 

Fashion

For more Info see: Snarsisian Traditional Fashion

Snarsisian traditional fashion has both aboveground styles, worn for sun protection, as well as subterranean styles worn as daily wear in the subterranean cities on Snarsis. It is common for Snarsisian expats to wear the above ground styles as they are often living in bright environments not built with them in mind.

Subterranean outfits tend to be made up of tunics and short trousers, meanwhile the above ground outfits tend to add robes, hoods, and headcoverings that cover and shade as much skin as possible.

There are also forms of jewelry worn including things like earspacers and nose rings, with the latter being a feminine fashion style. There are also some forms of formal headwear that are worn for special occasions or by the wealthy.

Farming & Pastoralism

Much of the farming on Snarsis consists primarily of insect farming - a main food source- as well as the farming of lichen, fungi. Slugs such as the Bonrat Slug may also be farmed, not only for food but also for the silk threads they wrap their eggs in, a main source for textiles on Snarsis. 

Slugs and insects are typically kept and raised in habitats that are situated in shelflike layers, the farmers will provide the insects and slugs with the appropriate food and care. The creatures can then be harvested -or their eggs harvested- with ease. When the eggs of the Bonrat Slug are harvested they will then be boiled and processed for the silk they are wrapped in, with their cooked eggs then being used as a food source.

Lichen and mushrooms are grown in both intensive controlled farm environments and in larger lightly managed semi-wild environments where the fungi are allowed to grow wild while farmers still cull rival plants and weeds. Oftentimes farmers will provide decaying organic materials like wood or compost so that the fungi will have a food source.

In cases where plants or fungi require sunlight, the farms are located nearer to the surface so the plants get their needed sunlight but often have a partial or closeable roof so the Snarsisian workers will still have some shade and sun protection. This allows the Snarsisians to grow some types of cactus, tubers, and sunlight needing lichen.

Food

Due to the underground nature of Snarsisian culture and history, much of the food is made from things that can be found underground. Most of their staples are things like bugs, tubers, and various forms of lichen. Snarsisian Pale Lichen is one of the most popular lichens to use. Many food sources are raised or grown underground but some require sunlight and as such need to be farmed above ground.

Snarsisians tend to eat lots of bland and flavorless foods due to their very sensitive taste buds. They also have a cultural taboo towards eating hard shelled eggs due to their being an egg-laying species; certain kinds of eggs however, like those of the Bonrat Slug, are eaten.

Notable Dishes Include

Snarsisian Lichen soup - a meal made from the dried and powdered edible lichen that grows in the caves and caverns of Snarsis. The powdered lichen is mixed with water and cooked over a fire until it thickens and turns into a thick porridge soup. Other ingredients may be added for flavor though Snarsisians typically prefer it bland.

Spirituality

Snarsisian spirituality is often very dualistic with worship and adoration of the benevolent deities, associated with moisture and the dark, and fear and placation of the malevolent deities, associated with the sun, dryness, and bright light. Some deities are widely worshiped while others are more local or even family deities.

Each clan has their own shrine dedicated to the clan’s patron deity. These shrines are typically located in the central courtyard in the Clan’s hometown, and there are many traditions revolving around these shrines, its maintenance, and the rites held there.

The Arts

Traditional Crafts

Much of Snarsisian traditional craftsmanship revolves around their stone-cutting techniques used to carve out the subterranean tunnels and towns that they live in, and the Snarsisians are responsible for many modern digging and tunneling technologies. They also practice many other traditional crafts like weaving, metalwork, and gem carving though many modern technologies have become incorporated into the craftsmanship.

One popular craft is the act of Snarsisian egg shell carving, where the eggs shells of children will be carved into jewelry then worn by the parents. It is typical for parents to bring the shells to an expert artisan rather than try to do the carving themselves. The shells are typically incorporated as an inlay in the final jewelry pieces.

Another traditional art is the making of Bonrat Silk, fabric made from threads produced by the Bonrat slug. This fabric is traditionally made by hand on looms, but modernly machine looms and factory production has become more common. Traditional methods of raising and harvesting the silk are still commonly practiced, with silk farming being a common job on the planet.

On Snarsis many of the traditional methods of craftsmanship are maintained, with many artisans also incorporating modern methods and technology to make the production easier and quicker.