Spring has sprung in the Northern Hemisphere. Though some of the days my flowers were hidden in the snow, the rain has washed the frigid temperatures away. People are celebrating by wearing shorts even though they still have tuques on, and others are pushing through their rigorous spring cleaning.
Many of our beliefs, myths, and annual events revolve around the changing seasons. Demeter welcomes her beloved daughter back from the underworld and the world grows lush again. Fertile bunnies hide chocolate and colored eggs. Masses gather in the streets of India to throw powered dyes at one another.
But what would the changing of seasons be like on other worlds?
The changing of seasons depend on a planet's axial tilt, but not many other planets have tilts like Earth's. It's rare to have four regular seasons like we do. In fact, most planets have no seasons or wildly fluctuating ones.
It's interesting to imagine what the beliefs and myths in the lives of other worldly beings might be like. Would they even have annual events like we do? Would they celebrate instead things like the passing of a comet in a regular orbit around their solar system or have myths about the great storm that swirls constantly in the south? How would it shape their minds to have no seasons or ones that could not be predicted?
One things for certain, aliens would likely see Earthlings' traditions as baffling and ridiculous. So much of who we are is based on the fact our planet has a little tilt.
What do you think an alien culture would be like based in a world with no seasons or wildly fluctuating ones?
I am particularly intrigued with the concept of a world with wildly fluctuating seasons. I can imagine the seasons being seen as omens and leader's popularity/success/lives becoming the gambling chip at risk.
ReplyDeleteNow that would be really interesting! :)
DeleteThat's an interesting idea to imagine. Kind of want to write something on another planet now. Thanks, Christine. =P
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! I've been wanting to write some sci-fi, but there's so many other stories vying for attention! ;)
DeleteThat's interesting to think about. I would imagine aliens would have a different mythos for their lack of seasons or why they have such violent weather. It'd be worse for the planets that are tidally locked too.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, tidally locked or wild tides with multiple moons. I wonder what their myths would be like. Probably nothing we could imagine!
DeleteHi Christine - I'd need to take time off to think about this idea - but yes ... how would life on another planet cope ... I enjoy my seasons ... and I love that image - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the seasons too. I particularly like the inbetween season parts where we get a taste of two seasons.
DeleteI think about seasons when I create other worlds for my sci fi series. I like creating unpredictable weather events to keep my protagonists on their toes and in danger.
ReplyDeleteIt makes it so much more exciting to have the weather against the heroes too!
DeleteGreat question for fodder. I imagine they'd come up with other reasons to celebrate. But maybe it's just our species that likes to shake up monotony.
ReplyDeleteI've wondered that too. Celebration might be a human thing.
DeleteAh. Thank you for making me look at the universe in a new light. I appreciate it. My current WIP is mainly about teen super-powered individuals, but the back story involves aliens crash-landing on Earth so ... although I'm writing more science superhero fantasy than actual scifi, it helps me to think about these possibilities.
ReplyDeleteWhen we lived in Colorado the hubs and I always had a contest to see who could find the first crocus of spring. I was way better at it than him ;)
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