Post by Feros Ferio on Jan 1, 2013 23:26:44 GMT -5
In the Blacktalon Guild there are many reasons to celebrate and make merry, and none are more hallowed than the holidays of the Guild. There are four major holidays, each with its own customs and ways to celebrate.
((Information about each will be added in the coming days))
((Information about each will be added in the coming days))
Bloomsday
Season: Spring
Bloomsday is a celebration of all things feminine. In spring many females have their young, or are considered adults in their packs, having reached their first year. Winter is a harsh time, seeming to celebrate the strong and stoic, and yet the female survives alongside the male, and even seems to flourish. The holiday itself is older than any living member, so its history is lost to them. However, the tradition is not, and is held almost sacred to older members.
Bloomsday traditionally begins with a feast, or at least is considered to start after the first successful hunt of the year. After that, some of the males of the pack set up for the festival itself. The rest of the males usually do whatever work there is to do around the pack, and the females are free to do what they want (even if it's just to laze around all day.).
The festival always begins at sunrise, since it's an all-day event. After the sun comes up the females are in charge, regardless of rank, age, or even whether or not they are a member of the Guild! The males must do their bidding. Those who do not must be nipped on the flanks, haunches, and ears by the other males until they fall into line.
Females are presented with flowers, trinkets, food, or songs, and treated like royalty. If a female tells a male to jump, he jumps. If she says he must throw himself in a lake, he must promptly go and and return soaked to the skin. Some females have even used Bloomsday as a way to get into the Guild, since no one is allowed to refuse her any reasonable wish.
This lasts all day, until the late afternoon. Then, the females chose a male from the guild to proclaim the Most High Gentlewolf of Blacktalon, and he can join in with the females, gaining all of their rights and privileges until sunset. The most important part of being the Most High Gentlewolf is that he chooses a Lady Fair, and they lead in singing and games, and are in charge of the evening's Sports.
Sports is pretty much what it sounds like, usually some silly competitions to test strength, skill, or speed. Sometimes the males wrestle, or leap over tall and wide obstacles, or merely have to see who can walk on their hind legs for the longest. All is done to honor the Most High Gentlewolf and his Lady Fair.
As night closes in, most of the wolves will be very, very tired, and usually if the weather is nice will sleep amongst all the gifts and flowers from the festival. The next day, life goes back to normal... for the most part. There is a peculiar tendency for the Most High Gentlewolf and his Lady Fair to one day become mates (he did, after all, choose her as the fairest she-wolf, and she choose him as the finest male in the pack, so it makes some sense) although this hasn't happened in a few years now. It's still a very fun thing to tease the pair about for a few weeks.
Oath's Day
Season: Summer
Customs:
Giftimus
Season: Fall
Customs
Starstice, the Up-All-Night
Season: Winter
Customs
Season: Spring
Bloomsday is a celebration of all things feminine. In spring many females have their young, or are considered adults in their packs, having reached their first year. Winter is a harsh time, seeming to celebrate the strong and stoic, and yet the female survives alongside the male, and even seems to flourish. The holiday itself is older than any living member, so its history is lost to them. However, the tradition is not, and is held almost sacred to older members.
Bloomsday traditionally begins with a feast, or at least is considered to start after the first successful hunt of the year. After that, some of the males of the pack set up for the festival itself. The rest of the males usually do whatever work there is to do around the pack, and the females are free to do what they want (even if it's just to laze around all day.).
The festival always begins at sunrise, since it's an all-day event. After the sun comes up the females are in charge, regardless of rank, age, or even whether or not they are a member of the Guild! The males must do their bidding. Those who do not must be nipped on the flanks, haunches, and ears by the other males until they fall into line.
Females are presented with flowers, trinkets, food, or songs, and treated like royalty. If a female tells a male to jump, he jumps. If she says he must throw himself in a lake, he must promptly go and and return soaked to the skin. Some females have even used Bloomsday as a way to get into the Guild, since no one is allowed to refuse her any reasonable wish.
This lasts all day, until the late afternoon. Then, the females chose a male from the guild to proclaim the Most High Gentlewolf of Blacktalon, and he can join in with the females, gaining all of their rights and privileges until sunset. The most important part of being the Most High Gentlewolf is that he chooses a Lady Fair, and they lead in singing and games, and are in charge of the evening's Sports.
Sports is pretty much what it sounds like, usually some silly competitions to test strength, skill, or speed. Sometimes the males wrestle, or leap over tall and wide obstacles, or merely have to see who can walk on their hind legs for the longest. All is done to honor the Most High Gentlewolf and his Lady Fair.
As night closes in, most of the wolves will be very, very tired, and usually if the weather is nice will sleep amongst all the gifts and flowers from the festival. The next day, life goes back to normal... for the most part. There is a peculiar tendency for the Most High Gentlewolf and his Lady Fair to one day become mates (he did, after all, choose her as the fairest she-wolf, and she choose him as the finest male in the pack, so it makes some sense) although this hasn't happened in a few years now. It's still a very fun thing to tease the pair about for a few weeks.
Oath's Day
Season: Summer
Customs:
Giftimus
Season: Fall
Customs
Starstice, the Up-All-Night
Season: Winter
Customs