Culture of Überstadt

The culture of Überstadt is a Western culture influenced primarily by American culture, but nevertheless remaining unique to those who identify as Überstadtis. This culture's earliest origins were found in the first community of supporters of the new nation, and it was the atmosphere of this community and the succeeding new state that laid the basis for later Überstadti society. Learning and self-expression are key virtues, and drive the evolution of this cultural identity.

Literature

The highest and most distinctive form of Überstadti literary expression is poetry. Alliterative verse inspired by that of the Anglo-Saxons is the favorite form. Scenes of history and nature are the usual themes of these poems. The longest and most notable Überstadti work is The Song of Foundation, which narrates a romanticized (and occasionally inaccurate) history of Lake Ballinger and the foundation of Überstadt. It was originally intended to form part of a national epic, but is now appreciated as the most influential text in native literature.

Music

Most Überstadtis have learned multiple musical instruments, and some are formally trained in vocal performance. Überstadti musicians often participate in ensembles at schools and churches, although individual skill on keyboard instruments is prized. Classical and sacred music form the basis of the musicians' general repertoire, but the live performance of patriotic music has recently grown in importance. Music is an important aspect of Überstadti nationalism, with the several historical national anthems playing a major role in patriotic holidays.

Überstadtis are also avid music listeners with diverse tastes. Classic rock and jazz are enjoyed among all segments of society. Handel and Holst are popular historic composers, with more contemporary favorite artists including Macklemore, the Beatles, and Daler Mehndi. Music that has gained popularity in the United States via the internet, such as that of Russian crooner Eduard Khil and Korean rapper Psy, is also widely appreciated.

Art

Überstadti art originated during the Monarchical Era. Some of the earliest samples that can be considered native artworks are portrayals of important events in both recent and distant history, such as the 2010 foundation of the state, the coronation of King Adam, and a summit with King Franklin of the Band Room Realms. These historical scenes use stick figures and simplified scenery to portray the location and people present at these events, with the key participants labeled with their names and titles in red Spanish text. The king has discussed commissioning other patriotic and historical artwork for display in the Royal Residency.

Science and technology

The history of Überstadti scientific endeavor is even shorter than that of its art, but historical experiments in engineering were successful, most notably the construction of the dam in Creekbed Colony. Today, the King's College is the leading scientific research institution, its flagship project being the launching of rockets into trees to research the canopy. Foreign technological progress is also highly acclaimed in Überstadt, where the use of modern advances is important to the everyday functioning of the government, academia, and country as a whole. Consumer technology is highly consumed, with most citizens owning a smartphone and all having multiple computers in their homes.

Education

Education is highly valued by Überstadtis, with the pursuit of all areas of knowledge being prized. Überstadt's origins at a school and its mostly youthful demographics have helped fuel this attitude, but it is agreed that a great deal of its population is highly inquisitive about many things. Two-thirds of Überstadtis are enrolled in at least secondary institutions, one-sixth being enrolled in tertiary education. Standard education is obtained in the United States, but a great deal of research, formal and informal, is conducted within Überstadt's borders.

Religion

Most Überstadtis are Christian in belief, and all Christians regular practitioners of their faiths. The majority religion is Mormonism, with two-thirds of citizens identifying as Latter-day Saints. Nondenominational Protestants are the second most populous religious group, with numbers equaling the irreligious. Religion influences the behaviors of Überstadtis through the worldview it provides, but a point is made to keep spiritual matters separate from micronational commerce, law, academia, and politics. As a result, its citizens are publicly religious, but do not attempt to influence official processes on the basis of their private beliefs. Ancient Anglo-Saxon festivals, however, are often reenacted as homage to the ancestral group that has had one of the greatest influences on Überstadti culture. Seasonal observations are the most significant, especially those accompanying the solstices.

Holidays

A variety of holidays are celebrated in Überstadt. Some are religious in nature, such as Christmas and Easter. Others are cultural remnants of American heritage, such as Thanksgiving. State holidays, however, have helped define and refine the Überstadti identity and serve as unifying events in which the national culture is expressed.

Since late 2013, it has been common for social (as opposed to government-sponsored) celebrations of Anglo-Saxon pagan festivals to be held. The solstices are observed, especially the winter solstice and the corresponding Yule season.

State holidays

Date	Name	Flag display	Notes
January 1	New Year's Day	No
January 8	Norton Day	Alongside Stars and Stripes	In recognition of Norton's self-proclaimed status of Protector of Mexico.
March 6	Independence Day	Yes	Marked by a formal dinner, a ceremony at the Independence Spire, and the performance of former anthems.
April 22	Earth Day	No	Official national cleanup projects are organized.
July 4	Day against Imperialism	Yes	Coincides with American Independence Day.
July 29	Day of Fire	No	In remembrance of the Great Fire of 2009.
August 29	Prince Roy's Birthday	Alongside flag of Sealand	In memory of Prince Roy of Sealand, the man who inspired Überstadt's foundation.
September 1	Coronation Day	Yes	The anniversary of the coronation of King Adam.
October 26	Topin Wagglegammon	No
November 18	Kingdom Day	Yes	Celebrates the November Revolution, and more specifically the ratification of the monarchist constitution.

Costume

Überstadtis normally dress in the typical American casual style, with blue jeans and t-shirts being the default outfit. More formal clothing is readily donned, however, owing in part to the performance and religious backgrounds of most citizens. When dressed up for a special occasion, women typically wear a single-colored blouse and a skirt past the knees. Men wear the standard collared shirt and necktie, usually with a dark-colored jacket and matching trousers.

Robes are employed frequently in ceremony. During inductions into the Order of the Fir, the Monarch and all attending members and inductees don robes, the style of which is left to the wearer's choosing. A similar practice is seen at ritual reenactments. It has become increasingly normal, however, for dark academic-style robes to be worn by officials presiding over governmental functions, whether judges over courts or the Monarch over Parliament. These robes are also worn in academic settings.