Novembering

  

A Continental naming ceremony taking place in Landonopolis, Florida, 2006

The Continental Naming Ceremony, often nicknamed "Novembering", is a tradition within the United Commonwealth of Continentalist States that developed after the Continental Revolutionary War, in which a newborn, child, or new Continentalist is given a new name to mark their introduction into Continental society. The practice is characterized by its use of unique names of Continental origin, which often include references to revolutionary leaders, famous Continentalists, and utopian imagery.

Unique given names in the United Commonwealth appeared in the early history of the Continentalist States. The practice of adopting a pseudonym became popular before and during the Continental Revolutionary War among revolutionaries, either to conceal their identities from Federalist authorities, or to demonstrate their dedication to the Continentalist cause. As part of the country's "revolutionary transformation of society", the adoption of new names, terms, neologisms, and acronyms was seen as a way to replace "bourgeois" remnants in society. Names given after famous Continentalists became popular, as did creating new names that referenced Landonist concepts. The concept of a Continental Naming Ceremony developed organically after the Revolution but later became supported by the Continentalist Party, as it was seen as a way to encourage civic engagement and to replace the religious tradition of christening.

History

During the Continental Revolutionary War, a number of prominent revolutionaries adopted a pseudonym or nom de guerre. This was done for a number of reasons, including to conceal their identity, to show their allegiance to the Continentalist cause, or to replace birth names that carried a poor connotation. One trend was to favor names from antiquity and history, especially those that alluded to popular folk legends, represented a civic ideal, or came from figures that "stood up to unjust authorities". Examples of popular historical names include Cincinnatus, named for the Roman figure Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, who was viewed as representing service to the greater good and humility (e.g. Cincinnatus Scott), the Greek hero Odysseus/Ulysses (e.g. Ulysses Clark and Seamus Callahan), Spartacus, and Robin Hood. Another popular trend was to use the name of a working-class town, river, or natural feature from their home region (e.g. Winston Ashtabula was named in reference to Ashtabula, Ohio). This was the case for Nikita Neosha, who adopted her name from the Neosho River where she became dedicated to the cause of Landonism, writing: "It was on one fateful day in the hot summer months, as [Warren] was speaking to a crowd of about 2,000 that I found my cause. There on the banks of the Neosho River I underwent my baptism ... born again, I was fully initiated into the Continentalist cause from that day on. Forever after, I would be known as Neosha."

By the end of the civil war, everyday people began to adopt such names to show their loyalty, and various rites and traditions emerged, especially among brigades of the Continental Revolutionary Army and other armed detachments. After 1922 the Continentalist Party began to encourage such practices. Along with other initiatives such as Landonography, the People's Commissariat of Education sought to replace pre-revolution symbols, traditions, and practices with new ones that represented Landonist values. A civic naming ceremony was seen as one possible way to replace the popular practice of christening done by Christians within the nation, especially as Seamus Callahan initiated measures to curb the power of the church. The discussion about a formal ceremony also sparked discussion on other aspects of Continental life, such as ways to commemorate births, deaths, and other major events. With no consensus being reached among government officials, no formal procedure was ever prescribed, but this did not stop individuals from recommending and popularizing practices themselves. The naming ceremony was popularized in the publications of the Union of Continental Nonreligious and the Continentalist Youth League, the latter creating their own procedure written largely by Mel Otisco. A notable mass naming ceremony occurred in January 1923 at Red November Tobacco Factory in Concord, North Carolina. The factory workers voted amongst themselves to hold a ceremony where a number of workers and their children received new names, and Aeneas Warren was posthumously elected an honorary tobacco worker; his salary would go toward constructing a statue outside the factory entrance. This ceremony was wildly reported in the Daily Worker and other publications, popularizing the practice and the name "Novembering" in reference to the factory's name, which was itself renamed after the key month in the Revolution.

Description

There is no required procedure for a naming ceremony, but most modern ceremonies follow some popular trends. The naming ceremony can take place in the weeks after a baby is born, although most ceremonies are for young children or adults, especially as part of a coming-of-age ceremony upon joining the Continentalist Youth League or Continentalist Party.

They are often held as part of a banquet and during holidays, and take place at a red corner, which is the room or area of a room specifically designated at popular gathering places for political education. Many red corners, especially those in barracks, schools, camps, and factories, also function as or contain honorary dorms or "Warren rooms", which are designated ceremonial quarters for honorary workers such as Aeneas Warren, where posters, portraits, busts, and other memorabilia is stored. The ceremony is usually led by the chairman of the village council, a local party head, an organization president, or other influential local member of the Continentalist Party. The recipient of the naming is usually accompanied by one or more sponsors, who are close friends, relatives, or mentors who pledge to guide young recipients in their ideological journey. The recipient usually receives gifts of Marxist literature, revolutionary portraits, or quilts. A common naming ceremony consists of the following events:

• A procession into the hall by the recipient, accompanied by parents, relatives, sponsors, or dignitaries, and a banner of the collective, factory, or town.
• A procession by local members of the Youth League or Young Mountaineers carrying in a large red star.
• The master of ceremonies delivers a short speech regarding the bond of working people around the world.
• A candle is lit at the base of the red star.
• He/she takes the recipient's hand, and asks "do you swear to be an honest and faithful son/daughter of the working people?" The recipient affirms and the master of ceremonies continues: "On behalf of the working people of the United Commonwealth of Continentalist States I grant you the name of..."
• The recipient is draped in a crimson cloth and handed over to their sponsors.
• The sponsors/parents promise to raise the recipient and guide them "in devotion to the cause of working people all over the world".
• The recipient is congratulated as a new citizen by present dignitaries and given gifts.
• The ceremony is concluded by the singing of revolutionary songs, last of which usually being The Internationale.

Common new names

• Aelita - from the communist science fiction novel of the same name
• Aeneas - from Aeneas Warren and the Roman hero of the same name
• Aexin - from Aeneas Warren and Zhou Xinyue
• Aida - from the opera character of Aida from the opera of the same name by Giuseppe Verdi
• Arlan - from Army of "Landon, homonymous with the name Arlen of Celtic origin
• Astra - from the Greek for star
• August/Augusta - from the August Revolution
• Aurora - from the polar lights
• Barricada - from the revolutionary activity of setting up a barricade
• Bebelina - from German socialist August Bebel
• Cal/Calia - from Seamus Callahan
• Communa - from "communism" or "community"
• Conesus - from Dorian Conesus, who is himself named for Conesus, New York
• Crim/Crimson - from the color of the Continentalist Party
• Curie - from the scientist Marie Curie
• Dahlia - from Gregory Dahl
• Dawn - from "dawn" in reference to the rising sun
• Democratus - from the common word "democracy"
• Diamara - from dialectic and Marxism
• Eklee - from ECLI, meaning "Executive Committee of the Landonist International"
• Elem/Elan - from a combination of Engels, Landon, and Marx
• Garrison - from William Lloyd Garrison
• Guarlan/Garlan - from "guard Landonism"
• Hammer - from the hammer and sickle symbol
• Holliday - from Emalia Holliday, or in reference to leisure time
• Helian - from the Greek word "helios" meaning "sun"
• Herola - from "Hero of Labor"
• Imel - from "Institute of Marx, Engels and Landon"
• Interna - from "international"
• Jaures - from the French socialist Jean Jaurès
• Jored - from John Reed
• Karlan - from Karl Marx and Landon
• Laneas - from Landon and Aeneas
• Landon - from Isaiah Landon
• Lanus - from Isaiah Landon, or from Landon and Seamus Callahan
• Laurant - from the Latin word for "worker"
• Libert/Liberta - from the French liberté meaning "freedom"
• Lin - from Landonist International
• Lana/Landa - from Isaiah Landon
• Lena/Lenin/Lenina - from Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin
• Lovis - from Superian union organizer and militia leader Karl Lovis Erzfeldt
• Lysander - from Lysander Hughes, and the ancient Greek figure Lysander
• Mara - from Jean-Paul Marat who was also known as Mara
• Marlan/Merlan/Mardon - from combinations of Marx and Landon
• Marx/Marxa/Marxana - from Karl Marx
• Marxen/Marxena - From Marx and Engels
• Mel/Mela - from Marx, Engels, Landon, or from "ML" (Marxism–Landonism)
• Neosha - from Nikita Neosha, who was in turn named for the Neosha River
• Nera/Nerra - from "new era", or from Warren spelled backwards
• Nova - from the Latin for "new", or short for "November"
• Olympia - from the Olympic Games
• Prolia - from "proletariat"
• Rambo - from the acronym "revolution and mechanization begins this October" and other variants
• Red/Reda - from the color red
• Rem/Rema/Remo - from the acronym "revolution, electrification, mechanization", or for "revolution of Engels and Marx"
• Rev/Revia/Revus - from "revolution"
• Revolun/Revoluna - from "revolution"
• Robal/Roubal - "labor" or "labour" spelled backwards, not to be confused with the character of Robball
• Samson - from Samson Zima, and the biblical character of Samson
• Seadon/Sealan - from Seamus Callahan and Isaiah Landon
• Spartacus - from the Roman figure Spartacus
• Staria - from "star"
• Thalmann/Telmina - for German socialist Ernst Thalmann
• Thorez - from the French socialist Maurice Thorez
• Ulylan/Ulydon - from Ulysses Perry and Landon
• Vanguard - from the "Vanguard Party"
• Victory - from "victory"
• Volun/Volan - from "volunteer", or alternatively from "revolution"
• Warren - from Aeneas Warren
• Xindon/Xinlan - from combinations of Zhou Xinyue and Isaiah Landon
• Zima - from Samson Zima
• Zidon - from Samson Zima and Isaiah Landon