Let's have another one of these. Post 'em if you've got 'em and if you feel inclined, add some writefaggotry, so everyone can tell what a special, special snowflake you are.
With Christmas just gone and New Year just around the corner, why not tell us about the festivals and holidays in your kingdom?
>>44405231
bump,doing this right now
My kingdom has a variety of public festivals, divided between holy days and state festivals.
State festivals mostly celebrate momentous events in the nation's history. Honestly, there's not too many of them, as the kingdom has only existed as a unified entity for the last twelve years.
First and most obvious, there's Crown Day, celebrated on the anniversary of the first king's coronation. Fireworks are set off over major cities, grand markets and parties are held, partially financed by the crown and partially by local lords. For the whole day and frequently up to three or four days longer, the entire kingdom celebrates its unification after eight centuries of civil war and strife.
The monarch's birthday is a somewhat less grand affair, but it's often taken as a chance for the people to show their patriotism. Flags are hung from windows and the day is celebrated by family gatherings, meals and toasts to the ruler's name. This is the day tavern-keepers dream of all year, laying in extra supplies for the day-long toasts, drinking contests and so on. In the capitol city, a military parade is held, headed by the monarch and royal family.
Graduation is perhaps the most culturally unique of the kingdom's festivals. For ten days starting in the middle of spring, the graduates from the three Royal Universities; the Temple College; the Royal Military Academy; and the Arcanium announce the students that have passed their final examinations and diplomas, final awards, offices and so on are handed out. The king personally attends these graduations and the subsequent tournaments and displays of excellence from either graduated students, or those entering their final year. This is also the traditional time for guilds to award masteries and other titles and to take on new apprentices.
>>44406388
The holy year for the kingdom starts on the first new moon after midwinter. This is a day sacred to Ullr, the god of glory and marks the end of the Time of Pyres. With the return of the moon after the longest night, the new year begins. It is a time for the quiet swearing of oaths and the undertaking of great deeds. Like all of Ullr's ceremonies, it is not a loud or widely-celebrated affair, instead taking place in sacred groves, ancient rings of stone and remote lodges. The god personally witnesses good and glorious deeds and their undertaking on this day and ensures they will never be forgotten, kept alive on the wind's breath. With the Time of Pyres and the Darkest Nights concluded, Ullr opens the gates of heaven and returns the rule of the world to the other gods, before retreating once again to the wild places.
The Time of the Pyres itself begins on the last full moon before the winter solstice and ends on the next new moon. During this time, the gods retreat into heaven and Ullr bars the gates, keeping watch over the world in its darkest time. Followers of the god of glory light great pyres at their remote and secret temples, keeping the light burning until the return of life to the world. Even common people light torches and candles, keeping a flame burning all through the waning of the moon. It is an inauspicious time for travelling and battle, but even so, disciples of Ullr are vigilant, keeping a close eye on the shadows and marking the stars to ensure that darkness does not over-step its allotted boundaries.
The first day of spring, Imbolc, is a more joyous time. Often known as Seeds Day, it marks the start of spring and is sacred to Nu Wa. Imbolc is marked with dances, song, and the ritual blessing of fields by Nu Wa's followers. Ash and compost is spread over the fields and tilled into the ground, ready to be planted. During this time, Nu Wa's temples and shrines are scenes of unseasonal growth, covered in flower and green shoots.
>>44406565
The three days that mark the first full moon of summer, the Nights of Mysteries, is sacred to Isis and is traditionally the time for divinations and oracles. Ley lines also run exceptionally strong during this time and magical phenomenon is common. This is the most important time of year for industry, as the excess magical power is stored up for the coming year and used to power every scrap of magitech in the kingdom, from mills and factories, to the communications network and the military's landships and titan armours.
The summer solstice is sacred to Ne Zha and marks the day he humbled the Dragon King who sought to flood the land. The day is celebrated by fireworks, loud music and martial arts tournaments. The highlight is at the high temple, where sacred performers re-enact Ne Zha's victory and the retreat of the oceans.
A week after midsummer is Pillar Day, sacred to Nu Wa and it is the day of craftsmen. In addition to religious ceremonies, craftsmen, but especially clay-workers, hold grand festivals outside Nu Wa's temples and shrines, selling their wears and exchanging trade secrets. It is said that if one of Nu Wa's pious followers creates something on this day, the goddess will guide their hands and bless their efforts. The truly devout have even found fragments of Nu Wa's sacred crystals on this day, marking them as destined for excellence in their labours.
Samhain, also known as Wings Light is a day sacred to Isis and marks the time the goddess of magic and mysteries attempted to breach the boundaries between heaven and earth, so all living beings may share in the majesty of the gods. Her attempt was stopped by the Elder Goddess, Yukari, but even so, she was allowed one night of the year when the barriers would weaken and the light of Isis's wings would spread across the world, allowing people to meet with their ancestors for a short time.
>>44406745
At night on Wings Light, curtains of green, violet and blue light cover the skies, erupting in beautiful fountains from sacred sites and ley line nexuses. Spirits appear in graveyards and at shrines, some peaceful, others angry and dangerous.
Hero's Day marks the end of the harvest and is sacred to Ne Zha, marking the day he defeated Hunger, the beast that consumed fields and mountains and drank rivers dry. In addition to a great feast, the day is marked by wearing red sashes and ritual, bloodless duels in honour of the god of heroes.
All Gods Day is celebrated on the first full moon of winter and is the only day when all businesses in the kingdom are forbidden from trading, by ancient law. Yukari herself decreed that this day belongs to the gods and it is when offerings are made, thanks are given and prayers for the future are heard most clearly. Most attend a temple or shrine service, but so sacred is this day, that it is not required for the gods to hear mortal voices.
Barrier Days, or 'Incidents' are scattered throughout the year at random. The Elder Goddess Yukari will occasionally weaken the barriers between things for fun, leading to chaotic and occasionally dangerous events. These events have never lasted longer than a day and are often contained by heroes and magic, who just happen to be passing by. It is also said that on these days, the gods can take mortal lovers or otherwise interfere in the world...
>>44406388
That's quite a lot of holiday lore! It's neat how the God's are directly involved in festivals.
>>44407203
I figured most holidays in the real world stem from religious festivals. In a world where the gods are verifiable forces, it only makes sense they'd be involved.
So don't cage up; what're the special days in the Amazon Queendom?
>>44407599
That makes sense.
Traditionally they'd have festivals for the changing of the seasons. They'd celebrate spring with flower processions and have lots of marriages. But in winter they'd sacrifice livestock to appease the Goddesses so winter wouldn't be to harsh. Amazon Goddesses rarely show themselves. They usually appear in dreams and give advice. When they do act it's in subtle ways. Amazon Goddesses live in nature, so Amazons don't build a lot of temples and the ones they do build ate very simple.
After being chased to their new home, many Amazons revere the Goddess of war and pray to her for protection. They still have their spring festival, but it focuses even more on marriage, fertility, and Amazon conversion instead of focusing on celebrating the changeing season itself.
>>44408179
Sounds legit... Aren't summer and fall celebrated? What about non-religious festivals?
>>44408776
Summer and fall wouldn't be as big a deal since they're less extreme.
>>44408983
How'd you guess? Anyway that rp didn't go well and doesn't have anything to do with this one.
>>44405231
Shit's grown since the last I saw it.
>>44409594
>EMIYA general
The shit did I smoke?
>>44409594
No shit it's grown. This is /tg/ - we never let things lie when they really should be left alone!
Also, I think you've got Homestuck on your kingdom there. Lemme get that for you.
We demand writefaggotry as well now. Pointless kingdoms of dreams where nothing goes wrong will not do! We demand drama, excitement, adventure and a well-thought-out background!
Bump? Really? No-one else at all?
>>44411568
Not like I can just shit this thing out the moment I see a thread.
>>44411568
No, fuck off
