The Feast of Shatmoy! Are you ready?
A friendly reminder to all my readers!
March 22nd marks the beginning of the 79th annual Feast of Shatmoy, that blessed time of year when we mark the Nativity of the Kirk and the Spock. The Kirk was born on March 22nd, 1931, and the Spock on March 26th, 1931.
In these hurried times, most of us can only manage a single Feast of Shatmoy observation, but in simpler days the Feast of Shatmoy spanned five full nights. Each had a different theme….
First Night - The Glory of Shatmoy
The feast begins on the evening of March 22nd, with the traditional consumption of a glazed ham and pierogi, followed by a screening of Amok Time and/or This Side of Paradise. Montreal smoked ham is also appropriate, though hard to come by in some places. The first night of Shatmoy is a time for appreciation of the genesis of Shatmoy, the golden era of promise and wide-eyed hope.
Second Night - The Dark Times
March 23rd is the night when we remember the long, dark Trekless decade between 1969 and 1979. If a meal is served, it is simple and economical - A tin of flaked ham and some matzo, perhaps. Some use this time for mourning, and wail along to Shatner’s Tambourine Man and Nimoy’s Bilbo Baggins while dressed in torn red shirts. Others choose to symbolically warm themselves around a candle while screening episodes of the animated series, or reading aloud from Alan Dean Foster novelizations.
Third Night - The New Dawn
On March 24th, the mood becomes festive. This is a day of celebration, in memory of the golden age of the films. Rather than having a formal dinner, friends gather to play Star Fleet or one of the RPGs and eat gooey handfuls of warm fiddlefaddle. (Fiddlefaddle has no significance in canon, but it’s good!) Others prefer to watch a marathon of the first six films late into the night. At the very least, a screening of The Wrath of Khan is in order. (Handy tip: Keep tissues on hand. Even the most jaded fans will weep during this film!)
Fourth Night - Passing the Torch
March 25th is marked by screenings of Generations, and mediations on Kirk’s final sacrifice. Favourite selections from the later television series are also appropriate. Earl grey tea and omelettes (as prepared by Kirk in the film) are traditional fare, so some choose to make this a morning celebration. Celebrants use this day to reflect on the passage of time. It can be a bittersweet occasion, but one should strive to focus on the positives - good memories, good friends, and so on.
Fifth Night - Look Forward
All good things must come to an end. Until recently, the final night of Shatmoy was simply marked by a re-screening of favourite episodes from the original series, along with a pleasant dinner of cold ham sandwiches. Others preferred to watch a selection of fan-made New Voyages. Modern celebrants often screen (and nitpick) the most recent film, and toast what may be Nimoy’s final appearance as Spock with a glass of Romulan ale (or something else alcoholic with blue food colouring in it).
However you mark Shatmoy, may it be a time of living long and prospering.
March 22nd marks the beginning of the 79th annual Feast of Shatmoy, that blessed time of year when we mark the Nativity of the Kirk and the Spock. The Kirk was born on March 22nd, 1931, and the Spock on March 26th, 1931.
In these hurried times, most of us can only manage a single Feast of Shatmoy observation, but in simpler days the Feast of Shatmoy spanned five full nights. Each had a different theme….
First Night - The Glory of Shatmoy
The feast begins on the evening of March 22nd, with the traditional consumption of a glazed ham and pierogi, followed by a screening of Amok Time and/or This Side of Paradise. Montreal smoked ham is also appropriate, though hard to come by in some places. The first night of Shatmoy is a time for appreciation of the genesis of Shatmoy, the golden era of promise and wide-eyed hope.
Second Night - The Dark Times
March 23rd is the night when we remember the long, dark Trekless decade between 1969 and 1979. If a meal is served, it is simple and economical - A tin of flaked ham and some matzo, perhaps. Some use this time for mourning, and wail along to Shatner’s Tambourine Man and Nimoy’s Bilbo Baggins while dressed in torn red shirts. Others choose to symbolically warm themselves around a candle while screening episodes of the animated series, or reading aloud from Alan Dean Foster novelizations.
Third Night - The New Dawn
On March 24th, the mood becomes festive. This is a day of celebration, in memory of the golden age of the films. Rather than having a formal dinner, friends gather to play Star Fleet or one of the RPGs and eat gooey handfuls of warm fiddlefaddle. (Fiddlefaddle has no significance in canon, but it’s good!) Others prefer to watch a marathon of the first six films late into the night. At the very least, a screening of The Wrath of Khan is in order. (Handy tip: Keep tissues on hand. Even the most jaded fans will weep during this film!)
Fourth Night - Passing the Torch
March 25th is marked by screenings of Generations, and mediations on Kirk’s final sacrifice. Favourite selections from the later television series are also appropriate. Earl grey tea and omelettes (as prepared by Kirk in the film) are traditional fare, so some choose to make this a morning celebration. Celebrants use this day to reflect on the passage of time. It can be a bittersweet occasion, but one should strive to focus on the positives - good memories, good friends, and so on.
Fifth Night - Look Forward
All good things must come to an end. Until recently, the final night of Shatmoy was simply marked by a re-screening of favourite episodes from the original series, along with a pleasant dinner of cold ham sandwiches. Others preferred to watch a selection of fan-made New Voyages. Modern celebrants often screen (and nitpick) the most recent film, and toast what may be Nimoy’s final appearance as Spock with a glass of Romulan ale (or something else alcoholic with blue food colouring in it).
However you mark Shatmoy, may it be a time of living long and prospering.