Apr 26, 2018 21:14:37 GMT
Post by Nobody on Apr 26, 2018 21:14:37 GMT
These are the four major festivals of Arcadian tradition, each of them representing a season. Beltaine and Samhaim divide the year in two, light and darkness, each representing the traditional beginning of the rule of the Seelie and Unseelie. Imbolc and Lughnasadh represent, in turn the middle of Winter and Summer.
Imbolc
February 2nd
Imbolc is a festival celebrates the Balefire, and its replenishment as the long darkness of Winter comes to an end. Also known as "Bard's Day", Imbolc is celebrated with competitions among bards, minstrels and other performers. Originally sacred to the goddess Brigid, the patroness of fire, smithing and poetry, this festival honors the creative spirit. During Yule (the winter solstice, also called "Midwinter's Night"), travellers, called Firebrands, depart from Tara-Nar, carrying lanterns that contain fire from the Well of Flame. These lanterns are delivered to every Freehold in the land, and used to replenish their Balefire during the Imbolc ceremony. It is a bad omen if the Firebrands fail to make their appearance at a Freehold before Imbolc.
Beltaine
May 2nd
Beltaine is one of the two main festivals of the Arcadian calendar, spring fertility festival celebrated at night to honor life and love. It once marked the formal beginning of the Seelie Court rule of half the year, when the Unseelie surrendered its power to their opposites. As such, Beltaine traditionally represents a time of harmony and union, hosting an informal but by no means less respected treaty of peace. During this festival new romances blossom, often bypassing class and kith. Roaring bonfires are lit, there is dancing and merrymaking, passions run uninhibited, and many a child is conceived during this holiday. Beltaine is also extremely popular for Arcadian marriages.
Lughnasadh
August 1st
Lughnasadh is a high Summer holiday, introduced to celebrate the god Lugh, Lord of the Sun and master of the spear. Lugh was also considered the patron of skilful endeavor, so this festival is celebrated with competitions that allow for skill to be displayed: archery, spear throwing and any other martial discipline that rely more on skill than strength are put to the test. The masters of the skill tests, however, are the artisans: cooking, baking, weaving, crafting, painting -- this is a time for the skilful to shine, and the festival has strong Commoner participation. Nockers and Boggans prepare consciously for it, dreaming of victory over their neighbors. The high point of the celebration is the Summer Market, that is officially declared open during Lughnasadh, and where every imaginable ware is available for trade. Many Arcadians travel to other cities and domains to visit their Summer Markets, and sell their own wares.
Samhain
October 31st
The dark counterpart of Beltaine, Samhain is the other main Arcadian festival, the one that originally marked the begin of the Unseelie rule of the year -- and officially marked the beginning of the year. It is believed that the wall between worlds grows thinner during Samhain Eve, and, the same way that Beltaine is a night of merriment and freedom, Samhaim is a night of solemnity: fallen comrades and ancestors are remembered and honored, and a night for divination to see what the new year will bring.
The darker side to this is the Shadow Court's one night reign, where they are given almost free reign to get away with mischief upon humans. The Unseelie revel as they mock all that they find contemptible in the Seelie -- and many Seelie find themselves shifting Courts, and indulging into their darker sides for one night. However, at the end of that night, when they return back to their Seelie self, the Mists will claim all of their memories from that night. Independently due the full weight of the Goddess and Consort, all their memories are blocked, enforced by the full power of the Dreaming, leaving a few faded scraps of memories. Only some of the Unseelie (those with the knowledge of a very particular ritual) get to remember the revelries completely.
Minor Holidays
These holidays represent minor celebrations which, however, are popular enough to be part of the Arcadians calendar. Some are adapted from the traditions of other Kingdoms, other come from human influences.
Carnival
February 28th
Traditionally a festival from the Old Country, the Carnival has risen in popularity since the High King and Queen of the Courts assumed their throne. Currently, it celebrates a new unity between Nobles and Commoners, a night when ruling Arcadians enchant entire cities and allow the free partaking of Glamour. Disguised by human Mardi Gras festivities, Carnival celebrations mark some of the Arcadians's wildest parties. The main celebration in Carnival involves the elevation of a local mortal, befuddled by alcohol or Glamour, to the position of King or Queen of Carnival -- while the local ruling monarch takes the role of Jester. The new “monarch’s” word is considered law, although, most of the times, the mortal is too addled to issue commands that might leave lasting repercussions. The Jester, in turn, is open to all the abuse of the new position. Carnival has three laws:
There can be no retribution for any word spoken or deed done: A Monarch cannot exact revenge against harassers.
Carnival is sacrosanct: All who attend are welcome and safe, and anyone violating this principal is summarily subjected to any punishment decreed by the Carnival King or Queen.
Let merriment reign: Carnival ends at sunrise on the following day. Most of the times, the Carnival King or Queen is released from duty and sent home, none the worse for wear. In certain Unseelie demesnes, is rumored that the mortal becomes a ritual sacrifice.
The Greening
April 4th
A traditional festival, it's an informal festival celebrating the start of Spring. Also called "Festival of Crocuses", as celebrants weave these early spring flowers into their hair and clothes. Children receive crowns of woven grass, and young Arcadians partake in ritual dancing.
Midsummer Night
June 21st
The Summer Solstice brings the shortest night of the year (and the longest day), this is the peak of the Seelie rule in the traditional Calendar and a celebration deeply connected to the Arcadians. At sundown, Arcadians gather in large numbers, usually in clearings, gardens or beaches, and spend the night eating, drinking, dancing, telling boastful tales and waiting for the sun to rise. Those unfortunate enough to fall asleep during the celebrations before the sunrise are often creatively vandalized (underwear goes missing, hair appears in an absolutely shocking colors, etc.) -- the trick is not to wake the other person up, while the Arcadians get up to mischief. Children aren't so harshly treated when they succumb to sleep; instead, their cheeks and hands are painted with suns and stars. During the night, small bonfires are lit, and the Arcadians jump over them as a cleansing ritual.
Highsummer Night
July 17th
Highsummer Night comes at the hottest time of the year, and it epitomizes mirth and freedom. During these celebrations, Arcadians are free to toy with any mortals they encounter, and Pooka consider this festival their special holiday (often referring to it as "Pranksgiving"). The animal Arcadians compete against each other to see who can play the most outrageous practical joke on a human, earning the winner tremendous prestige. These pranks sometimes turn malicious, although those that result in loss of life or serious injury are regarded as inartistic and tasteless. A lot of Kithain weddings take place on Highsummer Night, though not so many as at Beltaine.
Pennons
October 4th
Pennons is a festival aimed at the warriors of Arcadians society, celebrating the martial prowess of the Kithain. The festivities include jousting, mock armed and unarmed combats and combat against chimerical beasts. Its name comes from custom of bestowing a king's pennons — flags marked with royal crests — upon the festival's champions, who are given the right to fly them for one year. Artisans, especially musicians find Pennons particularly rewarding: bards and troubadours compose songs on the spot, singing praises to the heroes of the various events; along with storytellers, they engage in competitions of impromptu song and storytelling -- where, instead of the traditional presentation, two or more performers directly interact with each other, answering and reacting to the other's performance. The goal is to leave the opponent stumped, or to impress the audience enough with one's skill and improvisational ability. The winners of these musical and tale duels are chosen by crowd acclamation.
Midwinter's Night
December 22nd
The Winter Solstice, or Yule, marks the time of the most popular human festivity, Christmas. Supposed Christian tradition or not, this celebration was adapted from the Celtic calendar, where members of the family gathered to trade gifts. The Arcadians (especially the Children) love this celebration and spend weeks in a state of hyperactive excitement. It is a more personal festival, where a Motley or family usually gathers to eat and drink, and trade small gifts. Tradition says that the gifts must be made by the person, and not acquired from anywhere else, so they usually take the shape of biscuits, cakes, little wooden figurines, clothes, jewelry, paintings, etc. It is also on Yule that the Firebrands leave Tara-Nar carrying a lantern with a flame that will be used to rekindle the Balefire in every Freehold.
