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Which culture does this best describe?

Hello. I am sorry in advance that this is so long, however, I am in the midst of writing a book based on a dream that I had. The story begins with a child who lives in a commune like community. Their beliefs are quite simple in the manner that they have little to no electricity, no phones nor do they use motor vehicles. They live in the forest and build their homes from wood and leaves, they grow their own fruit and vegetables and help eachother to build these homes and farm the land, even though each family has their own farm, they believe greatly in helping eachother. They were simple clothes but are not under the belief of growing beards, although their dress sense is modest.

I have done a bit of research and am at a loss as to who these people may be or where they could’ve possibly have evolved from. I would like to allow my book to be as realistic as possible, so I am seeking advice and guidance with what type of background these people could come from. I do not feel they are hippies as they wear clothes and do not practise nudity or “free love”, they do get married and generally do not cheat. I also do not feel they are Amish, as they do not worship “God as his role is in their lives. I feel that this is more of an ancient culture and am unsure which road to start to look down.

The women wear long flowing dresses with bare feet or sandals. They do not bare lot of flesh or wear a large amount of jewellery other than crystals.

The men wear long pants or knee length shorts (although in their past I feel lyon cloths may have been worn). The men hunt food and are very skilled at this. Their chests are hardly ever bare, unless they are working in extreme heat or possibly when they are hunting. Because they work of the land, most of the men are quite strong and athletic looking, with olive skin from the sun. They do usually accept people/outsiders into their tribe/commune but only when a person marries into it and once they do this they remain.

Their beliefs are more of a spiritual nature, where the respect the earth, her creatures (they never kill unless it is for food) and see/sense peoples energy. They also believe in healing/Riekii and can also sense people’s motives or feelings, which they call “reading people”, some of them are also quite gifted physics. They also use crystals and herbs and talk to the trees, earth, etc and may cast spells, which is more like “earth magic”.

There is no formal schooling for children as they are brought up to live of the land and help their neighbours. (The main character in my book is actually sent away to go to school). The males are taught to hunt at a very early age and are often taken into the woods with their father to learn how to hunt and fight. The women are not generally encouraged to do this, they tend to learn the more spiritual side of things and arts and crafts, although the males are permitted to learn some of the spiritual side of things.

They do have an ancient language, although very few of them, apart from the elders speak it. The men tend to govern the house hold.

If any one can help me with this, I would be most grateful. If I have a few ideas from people or even if some one thinks this sis familiar and wants to share this with me, it would greatly assist me.

Thank you.

Update:

Wow, thank you both very much for your input. It is hard to pick a best answer, I think it might be a combination of the two. I loved the video, I actually really like to think that there are still people living like that.

Thanks again and all the best for 2010 to the both of you.

2 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago

    This to me sounds a lot like the Celtic peoples. They were very modest in dress compared to other peoples of their time. Their gods were of nature. There is what they call the "Green Man of the Woods" for example. People that practice the religion nowadays are called Druids, if that helps. Their language is Gaelic--A very beautiful language if you ask me.

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