Circus Names
Circus Names: A Roadfolk Ritual
There's a saying among the Roadfolk: you can pick your stage name, but you can't pick your circus name.
Every Roadfolk has three names. The first is their birth name. The second is their stage name. The third name is their Circus Name.
History
Nobody is sure when exactly the tradition of Circus Names started, but the oldest Roadfolk say it's as old as the profession itself.
Circus Names are a lot like military call signs: the cooler they sound, the stupider the story behind it. Roadfolk communities are close knit, and consider each other family even when not related by blood.
And like all families, they love to give each other shit. Any embaressing mistake, stupid decision, or drunken antic could follow you for the rest of your life.
Roadfolk never get to pick their own Circus Names. Only someone with a Circus Name can name others. It's a test of character to get a stupid or embaressing nickname that every Roadfolk must go through before they are fully accepted by the community. The more someone protests their Circus Name, the more everyone will call them it until they give in. It's a way of humbling them, but also reminding them that no matter what stupid shit you do, your family will always have your back.
Circus Names are a lot like military call signs: the cooler they sound, the stupider the story behind it. Roadfolk communities are close knit, and consider each other family even when not related by blood.
And like all families, they love to give each other shit. Any embaressing mistake, stupid decision, or drunken antic could follow you for the rest of your life.
Roadfolk never get to pick their own Circus Names. Only someone with a Circus Name can name others. It's a test of character to get a stupid or embaressing nickname that every Roadfolk must go through before they are fully accepted by the community. The more someone protests their Circus Name, the more everyone will call them it until they give in. It's a way of humbling them, but also reminding them that no matter what stupid shit you do, your family will always have your back.
Execution
The Ritual of Naming
The ritual isn't planned, but neither is it completely spontaneous. After someone has been fully accepted by the group — either from having earned their trust or having grown up enough to feel like an adult member of the troupe — everyone enters a period of metaphorically holding their breaths.This never discussed out loud. Those who have Circus Names already know, and the one waiting to be named may not even realize what is happening. During this waiting period, people keep an eye out for prime naming moments. Some namers even test out Circus Names under the guise of insults, seeing how they are recieved by the namee.
A minimum of 3 Roadfolk with Circus Names must be present to officially christen a Roadfolk. After a potential naming incident occurs, one Roadfolk will call the namee by a nickname inspired by the incident. They will then make eye contact with all other named Roadfolk present. If all of them nod, that is the person's Circus Name for the rest of their life.
If a quorum is not reached between those present, additional names may be suggested. If one can't be decided on in the moment, the opportunity is lost and they must wait for the next potential naming incident.
This description makes the naming ritual sound serious, but it is anything but. Laugher always accompanies every suggestion, and the entire troupe celebrates when the newly named Roadfolk is reintroduced to them.
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Roadfolk Ribbon Dancer by magnific
Every Roadfolk calls it a "Circus Name", even if they don’t do circus work, because Circus performers make up the vast majority of Roadfolk. Your Circus Name is the name given to you by other Roadfolk, and the one they will forever refer to you as. Children are given their Circus Names during their teenage years, and newcomers are given them a minimum of one year after joining a Roadfolk troupe.
Flamenco Dancer "Swan" by magnific
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