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Gender, a term that originates from the same source as genre and genesis, is a wholly imagined construct. Protagoras, a pre-Socratic Sophist, is credited by Aristotle to have created the use of grammatical genders seen in romance languages. In the last fifty years, gender as a social construct has been explored in social sciences, drawing distinction from biological sex and even rejecting the notion of feminine and masculine as genders on either end of a spectrum.

Many cultures all over the world acknowledge Third Genders, like India’s hijras or the Native American muxe.  Although awareness of non-binary, gender neutral, and non-gendered identities grow in western countries, those outside traditional male/female gender roles are continually faced with discrimination, intolerance, and hatred.

As an inclusive community, the Longest Night Midwinter Masque honors Preferred Gender Pronouns (or PGP’s). With Pride Month in full swing, supporting gender pronoun conduct is a powerfully effective way to be an ally.

These pronouns continue to develop and information on them is slowly gaining traction, so we understand if these concepts are new to you. The following resources are a great way to learn more:

https://uwm.edu/lgbtrc/support/gender-pronouns/

https://lgbtqia.ucdavis.edu/educated/pronouns.html

The Gender Reveal Podcast http://gender.libsyn.com/

Happy Pride Month to all and Love as thou Wilt!

From the Dowayne, Rosanna Baphinol nό Valerian:

 Were I to compile all that speaks to me of Valerian House, I could easily say this quote from Kushiel’s Dart would do nicely: “That which yields is not always weak.”  

Of the thirteen houses of the Court of Night Blooming Flowers only two deal with pain, and as one of those who finds pain to be a kind of pleasure I am often confronted with misunderstanding. It is through the acceptance of such sharper delights that I find a certain sort of peace, just as Phédre does – with the right patrons. The adepts of Valerian House not only take pride in what they do, but they also challenge themselves with their art. That challenge manifests, for me, in the pushing of my own personal boundaries, in many aspects of life, from which I return stronger each time.

When I contemplate the motto, “I Yield,” I know that it is done with the knowledge that I am the one who gives it. At any moment the signalé can be used, and the power of the situation is truly revealed. To yield is a choice. Such devotion is a gift, allowing me the full control of whatever or whoever I deign to submit to. Valerians are delicate flowers with spines of iron. Let not the surface appearance dictate just how strong a person can be, you might be surprised what is hiding underneath.   

 

From the Second, Tryphosa Katseros nό Valerian:

“Love is hard, harder than steel and thrice as cruel. It is as inexorable as the tides, and life and death alike follow in its wake.” ~Jacqueline Carey, Kushiel’s Chosen

This quote more than anything embodies for me why Valerian is so important to me. While not about Valerian itself it speaks to the dichotomy of how we who belong to Valerian live. While seemingly soft and demure we revel in being challenged and brought to the edge and beyond of what we can stand. We love our patrons for the pain and cruelty they inflict on us and that love at times can be very hard, but in the end is worth it.

Another core of Valerian is trust. Without a solid core of trust there can be no yielding and without yielding those of Valerian do not achieve what we crave. Through the trust that is required I have learned much of myself and the many different aspects that make me who I am. The ability to give up all control and trust someone else so completely has shaped me into the person that I am. And this is a lesson that came hard and over a long period of time. I am thankful for the values of Valerian and how I can continually learn from them as I grow, yield, and trust in love.

In Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel’s Legacy and Naamah trilogies, it is explicitly stated, over and over, that any sexual or physical interaction without consent is heresy. Because all that Naamah did for Elua was done consensually, the courtesans of the Night Court and their patrons consider consent a holy part of their ideology. On their many travels, our heroes and heroines struggle with how cultural norms differ from the Precept of Elua that d’Angelines hold sacrosanct. This important theme is one of the major reasons these trilogies remain powerfully relevant today and will remain so for decades to come.  

What is consent culture? As a rebuttal to rape culture, consent culture is the normalization of consent and communication. We support the consent culture of Terre d’Ange and the international movement to normalize consent and communication in our present world.  

We believe rape and sexual assault victims/survivors should be believed and supported, not blamed or ignored. We believe every single person has the right to their bodily autonomy, which includes the right to not be hugged, tickled, or touched in any way without enthusiastic consent. We believe consent is not merely the absence of “no.” We believe that consent is unambiguous and free of coercion. We believe in vigorous self-education on unlearning rape culture and creating consent culture. We believe in consent advocacy.  

There are thousands of website, blogs, podcasts and books regarding consent culture. Here are a few jump starters for continued education: 

https://www.creatingconsentculture.com/ 

http://veganwarriorprincessesattack.com/?s=consent 

Ask: Building Consent Culture, edited by Kitty Stryker 

We Believe You: Survivors of Campus Sexual Assault Speak Out, by Annie E. Clark and Andrea L. Pino 

Yes Means Yes!: Visions of Female Sexual Power and A World Without Rape, by Jaclyn Friedman and Jessica Valenti 

I Never Called It Rape: The Ms. Report on Recognizing, Fighting, and Surviving Date and Acquaintance Rape, by Robin Warshaw 

I Have the Right To: A High School Survivor’s Story of Sexual Assault, Justice, and Hope, by Chessy Prout 

The Hunting Ground: The Inside Story of Sexual Assault on American College Campuses, by Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering 

Asking for It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture-and What We Can Do about It, by Kate Harding 

Exit, Pursued by a Bear, by E.K. Johnston 

And, of course, Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel’s Legacy and Naamah trilogies.  

As Phédre nό Delaunay and Moirin mac Fainche traversed the world of Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel’s Legacy and Naamah trilogies, they were adorned with gorgeous and unique jewelry at nearly every destination.  Now it’s your turn to wear fantastical adornments like the gifts of the Kore of Kriti, the Pharaoh of Menekhet, and the Queen of Terre d’Ange.

We are excited to announce the first vendor of the Third Annual Longest Night Midwinter Masque: Know Mee The Big Necklace Company!

Founded in 2015 by Rhiannon-Nadine C. Hinnant, this vendor produces extraordinary necklaces for those special occasions when a diaphanous piece simply won’t do.  Her jewelry is diverse, intricate, and eclectic.  These artistic Know Mee pieces are the perfect complement to any Midwinter Masque costume.

Make a statement! Visit www.bignecklace.us to purchase yours today or skim for your favorite to pick up at the Masque! Want to track Hinnant’s new pieces or schedule a runway consultation? Follow Know Mee on Facebook or reach out to Hinnant directly!

ALSO, information on how to reserve your hotel room is now available!

You can book your reservation online by using this portal: https://book.passkey.com/go/LongestNight2019. OR, call the Passkey Reservations team via 888.421.1442. Be sure to mention you are attending the Longest Night Midwinter Masque!

Stay tuned! More exciting announcements to follow.

“We wore sheer white tunics of gossamer to mimic the effect of snow drifting in the wind, with dagged sleeves beaded in glass that hung down like icicles when we raised our trays in offering. Simple white dominos edged in silver, suitable for children, masked our faces, and we wore only a touch of carmine on the lips for colour. An apprentice ribbonnaire bound our hair, and did a very fine job, too, plaiting our locks with white ribbons to evoke a tumbling fall of snow.” ~ Kushiel’s Dart, Jacqueline Carey

The Longest Night Midwinter Masque is an evening of mystery and frivolity. Your House theme or individual costume can be as complex as those of Cereus House on Phédre’s first Masque and as simple as a doublet and breeches.  The beauty of a masquerade is that you may be whoever you wish.

As you create your ensemble, please keep these guiding principles in mind:

• Costumes and masks are required for the Masque. Imaginative costumes are highly recommended.
  • Costumes are not mandatory for the Private Reception with Jacqueline Carey and Brunch on Night’s Doorstep.
• Consider Jacqueline Carey’s expansive Kushiel and Naamah trilogies, historical lore, and medieval/fantasy France for inspiration!
• Although the Masque is a private event in an exclusive ballroom, the venue itself is a public space.
• Only prop weapons will be allowed into the event and are subject to inspection at any time by event staff or Hyatt Regency personnel.

Have questions about your costume?  Email info@thelongestnightmasque.com so we can address your query.

House Cereus looks forward to your gorgeous creation!

From the Dowayne, Aliksandria nό Cereus:

The motto “All Loveliness Fades” speaks to me. Cereus is a desert night blooming flower. All the cereus in the world bloom in the same night, once a year in mid to late May. They bloom after dusk and wilt before dawn. And that is so sadly beautiful to me.

I think that the fleeting nature of things makes them special. Our lives mean something because they are finite. When you know something won’t last forever, then you appreciate it more. You take it in, try to memorize the colors, smells, and sounds of the moment.

Everything ends, so revel in the majesty of it before it does.

 

From the Second, Petrea nό Cereus:

In Kushiel’s Dart, Cereus House is where Phédre’s story begins.  We are told that: “Of the Thirteen Houses, Night-Blooming Cereus is and has always been First.”

Jacqueline Carey’s description of the Dowayne of Cereus House in Kushiel’s Dart speaks to my heart. “In the general course of things, when beauty passes, the flower bows its head upon the stem and fails. Sometimes, though, when the petals droop, a framework of tempered steel is revealed within. Such a one was Miriam Bouscevre, the Dowayne of Cereus House.”

We see the theme of fragility leading to strength throughout Phédre’s travels.  Whenever Phédre seems at her weakest, when she is most vulnerable, when she seems about to fail – or even die – when her petals are about to droop and fall, her tempered steel framework reveals itself.

When we are at our weakest and most vulnerable, when we feel as though we are about to fail, when we have been traversing our own personal Skaldic winter, or been locked in our own hellish La Dolorosa, we find our mettle.  It is our time of frailty which reveals the tempered steel framework of Miriam Bouscevre, Dowayne of Cereus House.

ALL GA TOKENS PURCHASED BEFORE JUNE 12, 2018 WILL BE ENTERED INTO A DRAWING FOR A FREE COPY OF JACQUELINE CAREY’S NEW BOOK STARLESS! ENTER TODAY!

January 5th – 6th, 2019 ~ 7 p.m. – 1 a.m. 

Hyatt Regency Fairfax, Commonwealth Ballroom

The Longest Night Midwinter Masque is a masquerade ball inspired by a winter solstice holiday tradition in Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel’s Legacy trilogies. We are opening up the event to new vendors this year and hope you can join us.

The ambiance of the event is fantasy/Renaissance France. If your wares include masks, hats, jewelry, trinkets, fairy hair, face/body painting, period costuming, books, and kink-friendly merchandise, apply to be a vendor at the Third Annual Longest Night Midwinter Masque!

Kindly review the Vendor Application Form. It must be filled out, signed and submitted with your payment to be considered for this event. Both credit card and check payments are accepted. To submit credit card payment, please use our secure store portal on the website. Application deadline is November 30th, 2018.

If your application is accepted:

• Your website and wares will be promoted on The Longest Night Midwinter Masque website through April 1st, 2019.
• You will be provided a table in the Commonwealth Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Fairfax that will act as your booth.
• You will be provided the same amenities as the General Admission token, which include food, cash bar, and entertainment.
• Submitting an application and payment does not guarantee acceptance as a vendor. We will get back to you as soon as possible, but in some popular categories we may need to weigh several applications before selecting a vendor.
• If you have any questions, please contact the Vendor Coordinator at 410-271-4310 or vendors@thelongestnightmasque.com.

Join us for a weekend of merrymaking January 4^th – 6^th, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency Fairfax for the Third Annual Longest Night Midwinter Masque and related festivities. Jacqueline Carey, New York Times bestselling author of the Kushiel’s Legacy Trilogies, and inspiration for our event, is returning as our esteemed Guest of Honor! You won’t want to miss a moment of fun.

ALL GA TOKENS PURCHASED BEFORE JUNE 12th, 2018 WILL BE ENTERED INTO A DRAWING FOR A FREE COPY OF JACQUELINE CAREY’S NEW BOOK STARLESS! ENTER TODAY!

Spread the word! And, most importantly, love as thou wilt.

The City of Elua is already abuzz and the winter solstice is still eight months away.  This year’s Longest Night Midwinter Masque is rumored to be the most opulent House Cereus has ever hosted.  Already the ateliers are overbooked with orders and adepts on Mont Nuit speak in whispers between assignations of the coming celebration.

What makes this year’s Masque so much more marvelous than any before it?  Why, because you are invited…

Please join us for a weekend of merrymaking January 4^th – 6^th, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency Fairfax for the Third Annual Longest Night Midwinter Masque and related festivities. Jacqueline Carey, New York Times bestselling author of the Kushiel’s Legacy Trilogies, and inspiration for our event, is returning as our esteemed Guest of Honor! You won’t want to miss a moment of fun.

Visit the event website at: https://thelongestnightmasque.com

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MidwinterMasque

Follow us on Twitter: @MidwinterMasque

Spread the word!

 

And, most importantly, love as thou wilt,

Rachel Zuckerman

Second of Cereus House

Longest Night Midwinter Masque Coordinator

rachel@thelongestnightmasque.com