Ethnic Groups

Rylland has 300 ethnic groups and 33 languages are spoken in the country. Indigenous peoples mostly practice paganism and animism, as well as being protected under the Ryllandic Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act of 1979. Because of the diversity of the country, most Ryllandics are 32% indigenous and most of them live south of the country. An example of indigenous peoples in Rylland are the Yurikans who lived in the province of Juricania, and mostly have close ties to Brylia. Despite the Yurikans being indigenous, they are mostly Orthodox Christians or Buddhists. Other indigenous peoples of Rylland are the Zagah, Kalyans, Kuvvos, Ilyas, and more.

The majority ethnic groups that made up the country are Germans, Yayalts, Russians, and Brylians. Germans mostly live in lowland areas of Rylland as well as German being one of the official languages of Rylland according to the Ryllandic Constitution of 1978. Yayalts are also the largest indigenous peoples of Rylland as were mostly Inuits due to the history of migrations and trade between Yayalts and other Inuit ethnic groups. The Yayalt alphabet mostly uses the Latin alphabet, but in the district of Saagallingkaa, they used the Inuktitut syllabics, and in the district of Qaaliqqalungkakt, they used the Cyrillic alphabet because most of the population of the district are Orthodox Christian Yayalts. The Russians live in the westernmost portions of the country, primarily in Pyllonia and Vermannia. There is also a separatist group in the country whose proposed country is named West Lygallonia (Russian: Западная Лигаллония/Zapadnaya Ligalloniya).

Values

The people of Rylland are likely to hold nature in high esteem, seeing the land, forests, rivers, and animals not as resources to be exploited, but as integral parts of their spiritual and physical existence. Their way of life may involve sustainable farming, deep ecological knowledge, and practices that ensure the long-term health of their environment. Respect for natural cycles—such as seasons, lunar patterns, or growth stages—could be central to their cultural identity.

A hallmark of Rylland’s culture might be its emphasis on philosophical inquiry, intellectual growth, and the pursuit of wisdom. Citizens are encouraged to seek truth, not just in the material world, but through introspection, dialogue, and the study of ancient texts or modern innovations. This may translate into a high value placed on education, with scholars and thinkers being highly respected members of society.

The value of resilience could be central to Rylland’s culture, with people taught from an early age to confront challenges with patience, creativity, and tenacity. This might stem from the land’s own challenges (such as harsh climates or unpredictable environments), which would have historically shaped their ability to survive and thrive. The Rylland people would be adept at adapting to change, drawing strength from both their individual capabilities and the communal bonds they share.

The sense of interconnectedness within the culture is strong, with a focus on communal well-being and collective responsibility. Relationships—whether familial, social, or political—are built on mutual respect, empathy, and collaboration. The culture of Rylland may value social harmony above individual ambition, with group success seen as more important than individual achievement. Festivals, rituals, and group activities would be common ways to maintain and celebrate these strong communal ties.

Art, music, and expression could be crucial to the culture of Rylland, acting as vehicles for storytelling, spiritual reflection, and cultural preservation. Artistic endeavors may be seen as more than just aesthetic pursuits, but rather as a way to connect with the divine, honor ancestors, or communicate important truths that are not easily expressed through conventional means.

The culture may value fairness and justice, with a system that strives for equality and the fair treatment of all individuals, regardless of social status, gender, or background. There could be a strong moral code that emphasizes the importance of compassion, integrity, and helping those in need, contributing to a culture that is both egalitarian and compassionate.

The value placed on honor, legacy, and the respect for past generations would likely be an important part of Rylland's culture. Ancestors are remembered, and their wisdom is passed down through generations. People may seek to live in such a way that their own legacy honors their forebears and contributes to the ongoing strength and prosperity of the culture.

Arts

Architecture

Before the arrival of Germanic peoples in the country, Inuit architecture was a common form of housing in the Kingdom of Rylland. Igloos were built all across the Yayalt Empire, along with huts, yurts, wigwams, and large houses for more room and space.

Timber-framed houses in Larburg.

After the arrival of the Germans and Russians in the country through migrations. German and Russian architecture thrived, as their influence began to increase as German and Russian styled houses were built all across the country. The materials these houses were made are timber, which are mostly used for timber-framed houses. Following the decline of Inuit architecture, the Yayalts still built houses in the cities of Akkaqult and Yalungka, as well as rural towns the Yayalts inhabited in order to revive their old architecture from their Inuit brothers, sisters, and ancestors.

Gothic architecture also flourished in Rylland following the migrations of Germans. Churches, monasteries, houses, and every kinds of buildings was dominated by Gothic architecture between the 13th to 15th centuries. In the city of Osmarch alone, 88% of the builidngs in the city were built in Gothic architecture because of the influence of the architecture thanks to Ryllandic architect, Johann Schunn. Other architectures thrived in the country, mainly due to the high production of materials and resources of the country.

The Osmarch Cathedral.

The Osmarch Cathedral is an example of Gothic architecture, because of it's similarities to other Gothic-styled churches and cathedrals. Other examples is the Faganer Cathedral in Yalungka, and the Shaalaa Church in Requia. Other cathedrals and church that have Gothic style architecture are mostly located in German-speaking cities and towns of Rylland.

In Russian speaking provinces, Byzantine Architecture is considered popular mainly due to it's association with Orthodoxy. Greek influence were sometimes included, but only in architecture like the Byzantine and Ancient Greek architectures. Some buildings in the Osmarch Province even resemble a Greek Orthodox Church, despite the fact that most of Rylland's population are mostly Eastern Orthodox, and not Greek Orthodox.

Romanesque architecture also flourished at that time in order to increase tourism in the country. Most of the buildings in some cities had used Gothic ones, but Romanesque architecture dominated one of the country's cities at the time. In Gabriella, the city of Marcoza has most of it's buildings using Romanesque architecture. In Fagia, a district in Gabriella, Romanesque architecture also dominated the buildings in the district, as Fagia recieved Romance influences as the Italians were exploring the country, settled in Gabriella, and called themselves Fagians (Fagian: Fachanos).

Traditional Clothing

Rylland is known for it's traditional clothing, mostly Yayalt or Brylian clothing. These were mostly made from fur, fur from reindeers (caribou), seals, seagulls, bears, etc. These basic clothing includes parkas, pants, shoes, etc. There were also some clothing influenced by other cultures (eg. Juricanian clothing associated with Slavic ones, and Hyphelian/Hivernellian clothing borrowed from Danish clothing) and more. German and Yayalt clothing are one of the most popular clothing in the country as the Germans and Yayalts made up half of the Ryllandic population. Russian and indigenous clothing are also popular.

Dances

Ryllandic folk songs are influenced by the Germans, Yayalts, Russians, and indigenous peoples. Folk dancing became popular back in the 1930s. The Kilingguisap is unofficially considered the national dance of Rylland. Popular German dances include the Rotierend and the Spinnende. Street-dancing is also very popular, especially in the district of Sjesia, which earns the nickname the "Street-Dancing District of Rylland."

Music

The music of Rylland has a history of influences from German, Yayalt, and indigenous folk music. Throat singing is popular on rural areas of Rylland, as well as areas of Rylland being inhabited by the Yayalts and Brylians. Asaninermikqa erinarsuteq developed between the 1910s and 1940s. Ryllandic pop music was introduced during the 1950s, as well as rock music. Ryllandic hip-hop, which originated in 1980, entered the mainstream in 1995. Karaoke is popular on urban areas of the country. Ryllandic pop (R-pop) was influenced by K-pop and J-pop. Patriotic songs in Rylland is primarily sung in German and Yayalt.

Literature

Ryllandic literature is very diverse and has evolved through centuries. It had started with traditional Ryllandic folklore and legends before the collapse of the Yayalt Empire and the increasing population of Germans in the country. The main theme of Ryllandic literature is focused on the country's cultural traditions, as well as the stories of Yayalts that were famous at the time. The literature of Rylland illustrates the legacies of the Yayalt Empire and it's predecessors. Most Ryllandic literatures were written in German, Yayalt, English, and Russian, as well as a few minor and indigenous languages spoken in Rylland. Ryllandic comics were popular during the 1920s through the 1980s. In the 1960s, during the rule of the military regime of the country led by Mario Jahyulltq, Ryllandic literature was influenced by political activism; many poets began using German and Yayalt, which help the country keeping it's oral traditions.

Johannes Volk is dubbed as the "Father of Ryllandic Literature" due to his works such as "The Little Wolf" and "Don't Touch the Torches of Tulsch"; both were written in English. Jnyak Orda wrote "Qatannqutigkinq Tragisikqqaa" (My Tragic Sister) which is a story about the tragic life of the female protagonist, Sannaa, who is his sister.

Cinema and media

Rylland is home to Rollywood or Ryollyhood, also known as Ryllandic Hollywood. The country has one of the most largest film industries in Irkans and Teryana. During the 1960's, the Golden Age of Ryllandic Films has started mainly due to the help of the increasing economy and influence of Rylland. Johannes Wolfen was dubbed as the "Father of the Ryllandic Flim Industry" due to his works such as "The Snowy Nation" and "As the Tolhalese Arrives" becoming one of the most popular Ryllandic movies in the 60s. The country's film industry has competed in the larger-budget foreign films, mostly Hollywood and Bollywood films. Art films, indie films, and historical films has been successful domestically and abroad.

Folklore

Ryllandic mythologies are the first literature of Rylland. They were usually borrowed from Inuit and Greenlandic mythologies with different names and stories in the Ryllandic version. Sedna is commonly known as Saydnas in Rylland with Saydnas being derived from the Yayalt word, Saydnqa, meaning Ocean. These stories had been written possibly before the formation or collapse of the Yayalt Empire, as part of the Ryllandic epic poetry. Influences from European mythologies can also been seen in some Ryllandic literature. Ryllandic mythology consists of creation stories or stories about supernatural creatures such as the Liukkapqaalik, Qummalliuitt-Nikq, and the Makkiqqlklikmit. Some popular figures from Ryllandic mythologies are Saydnas, Makiqa, and Anilimmit. The country is home to many folk epics. Rich families could preserve transcriptions of the folk epics as family heirlooms, particularly in the Russian-speaking side of Rylland. The Russian-language Vakayeshka and Danochka are examples.

Cuisine

The cuisine of Rylland has it's fair share of cultures from Germany, Mongolia, Russia, and Canada. Rylland is a part of the cultural region of North Teryana, sharing different cultures from Hosanna and Lunaritania. These include: dumplings, bread, steaks, and more.

Sausage had been popular since the German immigrations between the 17th to the 20th centuries. This is due to the fact that the Germans wanted to introduce new dishes from Rylland to their original home. The following includes: Frankfurter, Nümberger, Schülig, Bratwurst, Sauerkraut, etc.

Fish is also a popular type of dish due to Inuit influence in the country. Ever since the ban of overfishing, there were still some fishing hubs in the country to revive the industry. Grilled fish is popular across the entire country, along with fish filet sandwiches and lunches.

Each Ryllandic overseas territories also have their own cuisines. They are mostly vegetables and fruits, but meat can also be popular.

Western fast food chains such as McDonald's, Wendy's, KFC, and Pizza Hut are a common sight in Rylland. Local food chains such as Lukata, Jasper's Steaks, Laka's Bakery, and Chickenary are also popular and have successfully competed against international fast food chains.