How Will You Celebrate Carnival?

It's high Carnival season!  The royal chefs have been making successive batches of  paczki and chrusciki, costumes have been worn, and merriment has ensued.  Traditionally, Carnival in Poland officially begins in January with the Feast of the Epiphany, and goes all the way to Shrove Tuesday, when all parties are to end at midnight upon the start of Ash Wednesday.  That's almost four months of celebrations, which reach their apex just before Lent starts.

Even as recently as the mid 20th century, Polish gentry would host a special kind of winter party called a kulig, which would involve sleigh rides going from house to house, and thereby, from party to party.  Did you host your own kulig this year?  Tell us all about it, please!

For more information about Highlander Carnival in Bukownia, click here.

Highlander Carnival has been going on in the Tatras mountains since the beginning of February.  Music, food, drink, sleigh rides, and dancing are all part of the occasion.  Radio New Masovia plans to play some Goral music from this year's Goral Highlander Carnival in an upcoming episode.

Carnival goes out with a bang as it goes into high gear in the final days before Ash Wednesday.  You've heard of Mardi Gras?  Well, the Poles get started the previous Thursday, a.k.a. "Fat Thursday" or for many, it's "Donut Day".  Bring on the pączki!  It is estimated that over 100 million pączki are eaten in Poland alone on Fat Thursday!  That's about 2.5 per person.  New Masovians are hereby notified that we have a reputation to keep up!

HRH Prince David, meanwhile, is preparing to host a Principality-wide party at the Royal Palace on the 26th of February.  Invitations have been sent out to all citizens within driving distance, and much food and drink will be consumed.  Special souvenirs for honored guests have been ordered, and Customs will be prepared to stamp passports with this sudden influx of visitors.  If you are unable to make it, we hope to hear your stories of how you celebrated Carnival this year.

Volletnia, Fristehen, New Masovia Issue Joint Statement Regarding Ukraine Crisis

In the wake of recent developements of the Ukraine Crisis, a group of three micronations has issued a joint statement today, condemning the actions taken this week by the Russian Federation.  The Kingdom of Volletnia, The Kingdom of Fristehen, and the Principality of New Masovia today signed their names to a brief but scathing rebuke of the Russian Federation's actions.  In the statement, the three micronations called out Russia's recognition of the two separatist regions of Doneskt and Luhansk as independent states as, "a clear violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and are a violation of international law."  The statement went on to call for an immediate cease to hostilities and called upon Russia to withdraw its forces.

Other micronations have voiced solitary for the people of Ukraine in recent weeks, including the Principality of Vurmond, the Dominion of Vancouver Island, and the Empire of Guanduania, but it is rare for a block of micronations of any size to take a stand on a macronational level.  Fristehen and New Masovia are both allied with Volletnia, and it was HRH Queen Lorraine II of Volletnia herself who spearheaded this effort.  The joint statement was ratified earlier today and was posted across numerous social media outlets.

For more information on the Kingdom of Volletnia, please visit their Facebook page.

For more information on the Kingdom of Fristehen, please visit their Facebook page.

The entire text of the joint statement follows:

On February 21, 2022, Russian President Vladmir Putin signed a decree, recognizing the independence of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. Following this, President Putin ordered Russian military forces into the region, outside the borders of Russia.

These actions represent a clear violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and are a violation of international law. We the undersigned, denounce these actions in the strongest terms possible, and call upon the Russian Federation to cease all hostilities, to withdraw its troops from Ukrainian sovereign territory and from the border regions of Ukraine, and to return to the negotiating table in order to find a diplomatic solution to this crisis.

Signed February 23rd, 2022 by

The Principality of New Masovia

The Kingdom of Fristehen

The Kingdom of Volletnia

New Masovia and USK Endorse Treaty of Mutual Recognition

 New Masovia, January 31, 2022 -- The Principality of New Masovia and The United States of Kerban formally signed a treaty of mutual recognition days ago on January 29, 2022. This treaty comes after weeks of interaction between the two heads of state as they discussed many topics, including mass media in the microsphere, space programs, and most of all, overlaps in cultural background.

HRH Prince David spoke earlier today about the endorsement of the treaty between the two micronations. "New Masovia selects treaty partners carefully, showing preference to micronations that we actually interact with. We have the word, "friendship" embedded in our treaties for a reason. From the beginning, the United States of Kerban hit all the right marks with us. We couldn't be more pleased to announce that we formally recognize each other and look forward to many years of friendship."

From internet radio, to space exploration, to music, NM and USK have much in common.

The two leaders forged a friendship that crosses the Atlantic, with New Masovia being located in North America, and the United States of Kerban being located in mainland Europe. In the weeks leading up to the signing of the treaty, both leaders spent many hours sharing best practices in the realm of internet radio, a medium which both micronations have embraced prior to meeting. In addition, both micronations had coincidentally crossed paths in September 2021, as they both sent micronational artifacts up into outer space on the same Blue Origin space flight with the same astronaut, Dr. Chris Boshuizen. Finally, both leaders were pleasantly to find their shared affinity for highlander music originating from the Polish/Slovak border region.

Stanisław Bieliński, acting Secretary of state, added his own words, saying, "It is an absolute pleasure to include the United States of Kerban in New Masovia's sphere of diplomatic relations. We feel the best is yet to come."

NMWS Issues Winter Storm Warning

The New Masovian Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning earlier this morning.  The warning goes into effect tonight at midnight and will be in effect for 24 hours.  This warning applies to all of the Principality of New Masovia and parts of the neighboring Occidian Empire.

Meteorologists expect snowfall to begin tonight and expect it to last throughout the day tomorrow.  Accumulations in New Masovia proper are estimated to be between 7 and 15 inches, with snow falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour.  Citizens residing to the north and east in neighboring Massachusetts should expect to see accumulations as high as 19 inches, with snowfall rates as high as 2 to 4 inches per hour.

Damaging winds are expected with this storm.  New Masovia proper should expect gusts as high as 45 miles per hour, and areas to the north and east should be prepared for winds gusting as high as 60 miles an hour.  Travel will be either difficult or impossible, and tree damage and power outages are likely.

Citizens and people residing in nearby areas are advised to prepare now if they have not done so already.  Have extra food and fuel on hand, and farmers are advised to secure their flocks before the end of the day today.  If you must travel, please have emergency supplies such as food, water, a flashlight, and a portable shovel, in your vehicle.  New Masovia is advising against travel tomorrow and is likely to advise businesses to close.

For more frequent weather updates, the NMWS advises people to please tune in to Skeeter Radio at www.skeeterradio.com.  

Cycoldian-Dracul Relations Break Down

Cycoldia, January 26, 2022 -- Fallout from a diplomatic dispute between two North American micronations created some scuttle on the internet recently.  Relations between The Grand Republic of Cycoldia and the Commonwealth of Dracul broke down earlier this month, following a situation where a member of the President of Dracul's Cabinet made inflammatory remarks towards the LGBT community, of which the Monarch of Cycoldia, HIH Christina I is a member.  Her own personal office issued a statement on January 7th regarding the matter, which in turn led Dracul on January 11th to terminate the Treaty of Mutual Recognition between the two micronations.  In his prepared statement, President Stephen Luke cited the these events and also reached back to issues unrelated to the current situation as far back as 2021 as reasons for terminating the relationship.  His administration later issued an executive order, banning what they call "character assasination", which serves as a distraction away from his cabinet member's comments against the LGBT+ community. 

Last week, events unfolded on Youtube as Emperor AP of the Empire of Aeternia hosted an interview with Christina I.  The Emperor has said he will similarly host an interview with President Luke at a later date, though his remarks until now appear to support the Cycloldian Monarch's position.

The government of New Masovia has been watching these events play out in real time and awaits the interview with the President of Dracul.  Until then, the New Masovian government wishes to remind people that New Masovia considers itself a champion for LGBT+ rights and does not stand for public officials being held unaccountable for their actions.  New Masovia presently has no established diplomatic relations with the Commonwealth of Dracul and has no plans formally recognize Dracul at this time.

EDITOR'S NOTE:  The above story was reported on Radio New Masovia on January 26, 2022.

New Appointment to the Royal Foot Guard

New Masovia, January 26, 2022 -- His Royal Highness The prince has been graciously pleased to appoint Lieutenant Piotr Trocki as the new Captain of The Royal Foot Guard. Lieutenant Trocki has been serving in the Royal Foot Guard since the inception of New Masovia and has an outstanding military career in the Royal Navy. Lieutenant Trocki is also a distinguished Peace Scout, highly trained in bushcraft and wilderness survival.

The Royal Guard is actively seeking a relacement for the Lieutenant, and will likely be promoted from within.

The appointment is effective from the 25th of January, 2022.

New Masovia Announces New Embassy and Ambassador Appointment

New Masovia, January 25, 2022 -- The Principalty of New Masovia announced today that it is establishing of a diplomatic embassy in the United States.  The embassy will provide safe, secure, functional, and resilient facilities that represent the New Masovian government to the United States and will support New Masovian diplomats in advancing New Masovian foreign policy objectives abroad.  The new facility will be built in the State of Vermont, USA, and will also serve New Masovians whilst abroad.  The government expects to break ground before springtime.

With the establisment of this diplomatic mission, the government also announced the appointment of Elżbieta Mocnaskała as New Masovia's new ambassador to the United States.  Ms. Mocnaskała had this to say in a prepared statement, "I serve at the pleasure of the Prince, so if it is HRH’s will, I will happily accept the post."

Rumors of a Starbucks location being built adjacent to the new embassy have been vehemently denied.