Certain days during the months are generally held by the people of
the Young Kingdoms to be holidays. These days are special occasions, used for
celebrations, remembrances, religious ceremonies, and keynote dates for
starting or ending business contracts. It should be noted that not
all of these holidays are celebrated everywhere.
Craftday:
The Churches of Oranus and Calpurnia host a holiday on the first day of
Summer that serves the community by teaching them those crafts that are
both helpful and beautiful. Priests engage instructors and set up a
comfortable work area in the temple, and invite all the townsfolk to
come learn crafts such as painting, sculpting, weaving, pottery,
ceramics, drawing, and embroidery. The day typically ends with an
informal picnic, dancing, and singing.
Demon's Feast:
Held on the 30th day of Goldenleaf, this festival marks the arrival of winter and is also the day on which
the dead are honored. Graves are blessed, bonfires are lit, firecrackers set off and demonic costumes worn. All unmask at midnight and drink a toast to
life. Traditional demon masks depict furred, fanged cat-like monsters with grotesque expressions of rage.
The Feast of the Fools: This
weeklong celebration, held at the mid-point of Spring (usually the
second week of Stormhome) is a time of high spirits and capers to mark the end of the old. People wear costumes and play tricks on each other, old grudges are forgiven, and old clothes or household items
are thrown or given away.
Festival of
Fire: During this day-long celebration, the priests of
Oranus hold a great outdoor party which all are invited to attend.
On the 12th day of Shieldmoon, a large bonfire is built, and at dusk it is lit. From this the
priests travel about town, lighting the hearths of places of business, other temples, smiths' forges, and those homes of any who display the symbols of
Oranus above their door. Afterwards, all rejoin at the bonfire, where roast pig and casks of ale await. Loud, boisterous singing, ritual combat, and contests of strength are held.
To the untrained eye, these sometimes resemble drunken brawls.
Festival of
Pomponilla:
On the 2nd day of Summerset, the Lady of Mercy is honored by all giving their breakfast and a monetary
donation to the poor. This is a day for forgiving debts, renewing bonds and allegiances and prayer.
The day is popular for weddings, and the night reserved for lovers. The Church of
Pomponilla hosts dancing in the evening.
Greengrass Day:
The first day of the year, Greengrass Day is also held to be the beginning
of spring. Greengrass Day is considered a day of relaxation. Flowers that
have been carefully grown in the inner rooms of keeps and temples during
the winter are blessed and cast out upon the remains of the snow to
bring rich growth in the seasons ahead.
HighHarvesttide Day:
HighHarvesttide, on the last day of Summerset, heralds the coming of fall and the harvest. It is a
feastday; food is always on hand for those coming in from the fields.
Joining Day:
This day is most important holy day for the Church of Calpurnia. On the
first day of Shieldmoon, gifts are exchanged between
lovers and couples. This is also a popular day for weddings. The Church of
Calpurnia hosts a worship service which all are welcome to attend, and many do. The Service begins with a High Priestess
blessing the worshipers with holy rose water. Afterwards, there is
a feast followed by singing and dancing. Traditionally, those married by the
church during the year bring donations for the temple in thanks for their good
fortune.
Memorial Day:
In honor of sailors lost at sea, on the last day of Summer priests of
Nigidius visit the townsfolk who
have lost loved ones during the year. Prayers and libations are offered, and
donations are made to those families who are suffering financially. This
holiday is held only in coastal areas.
Midsummer Day:
Midsummer Day, the 18th day of Summer, is a time of feasting, music, and love. Betrothals are
traditionally made on this day. It is very rare for weather to be bad on
this day -- such is considered an extremely bad omen, thought to
foretell famine or plague.
Redemption
Day: It is customary on
the second day of the year to confess your sins at the
temple of your choice. Also, this is a good day to confess things to friends and
family, as all are supposed to remember the forgiveness of the gods.
Return of the
Whales: Priests of
Nigidius celebrate the return of the greatest of the sea mammals -
the migrating whales. The priests and novitiates sail out upon the waters,
singing songs to the Oceanlord. Ale is carried aboard ship, and toasts are made
whenever the whales surface nearby. All priests jump into the waters and swim
among the magnificent cetaceans. One priest, usually a novitiate, stays sober
in each boat, to watch over the swimmers and make sure that the boats return to
shore while some priests are still able to navigate them. This holiday has
no set date, but rather is held the day after the whales are first
spotted off the coast.
Sabuca's Day: This is a day of
great feast and thanks for the harvest and other blessings. Lords of the manor host their
tenants, families gather and all the churches have ceremonies. Priests of
Sabuca gather together to prepare a feast, to which all are welcome. Often this feast is held outdoors.
There is much traveling about on the heels of the feast, as merchants,
court emissaries, and pilgrims make speed before the worst of the mud
arrives and the rain freezes into snow. There is no set date for
this holiday, as it is held at the close of the harvest and some areas
get the crops in quicker than others.
Spring's Eve:
Held during the last five days of the year, and believed to officially end winter, this period of celebration is marked by the lighting of candles and lanterns, and dancing through villages and private residences to "burn" out winter's cold and provide light to welcome
back spring. Each day of the celebration is marked with the lighting of candles and lanterns after dark.
On the last day, a large evening meal of food and wine is traditionally eaten.
Wraithwalk:
The day after Demon's Feast, this day of terror is observed by all races. During the day locks are checked, families gather together, food and drink
are collected. People often gather in tabernacles for night-long services, or at parties for night-long celebrations. At dusk, all houses are
secured, and all who can hide safely indoors.
And through the night, people celebrate solace in shelter and comfort in
tabernacle celebration alike. During the night, the spirits of the dead and all supernatural beings imprisoned on the earth are free to walk.
Those mortals trapped outdoors
sometimes vanish, or are found brutally slain. Often, property that has been insufficiently warded will be destroyed.
Wintersnight: Wintersnight,
held on the Winter solstice (usually the 13th, 14th, or 15th of
Icinglace), is
considered holy by the churches of both Rian, Goddess of the Moon and
Hurwen, Goddess of Winter Season. It is customary to light a candle once night
has fallen and allow it to burn throughout the night.