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Holidays

"My dear judge... the reason we were playing the music so loudly at that time of night was because we were having a party!  You simply cannot have a party without music, now can you? And if any of the partygoers got... shall we say a bit tipsy... well all that shows was that it was an excellent party, wasn't it?"

- Frithestan the Clever, Priest of Dissenius,
In Response to a Question Put to Him by His Honor Lord Cuthburh Morningsong,
Lord High Judge of His Highness's Court of Law, Povero 

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.

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The Young Kingdoms PBEM Universe and the World of Taranche are copyrighted to Jack and Rebecca Butler, and is their solely owned property.  The Young Kingdoms PBEM Universe and the World of Taranche, and all of the campaigns therein, are works of collaborative fiction.  All the characters and events portrayed here are either products of the authors' imagination or are used fictitiously.  Except where otherwise specifically noted, the Young Kingdoms PBEM Universe and the World of Taranche, all Young Kingdoms characters, and all stories included therein are Copyright 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 by Jack and Rebecca Butler with all rights reserved under International Copyright Convention.  Submitting material (such as but not limited to character submissions, background information, and artwork) for inclusion in the Young Kingdoms PBEM Universe and the World of Taranche grants Jack and Rebecca Butler the right to use that material as they wish, in perpetuity, within the confines of the Young Kingdoms PBEM Universe and the World of Taranche. The submitter does not give up the right to use the material in ways unconnected to the Young Kingdoms PBEM Universe and the World of Taranche.  This website was designed by Jack Butler, and is maintained by Jack Butler. Unless otherwise and specifically noted and with the exception of player characters which are the creations of their respective players, all material on this site is the creation of Jack and Rebecca Butler.  No material on this site may be posted or published elsewhere without the express written permission of Jack and Rebecca Butler.  Fantasy Hero and the Hero System are registered trademarks of and are copyrighted by Hero Games, Inc.  No challenge to any trademark or copyright is made or implied by this site.