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 Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 10:13 am
Herein lies the calendar of the Sikukuu, cataloging the celebrations and the months they fall in. Each month there will be something new to celebrate! Learn more about each of them below. Each season has three monthly celebrations and one major celebration. There is no set date when each begins, but usually the monthly celebrations last from five to seven days, while the major ones vary in length more widely and are often combined with one of the monthly celebrations. All celebrations are held on grounds set aside for this purpose. Each clan takes time before it to set up, and time after to clean up from their assigned celebrations. Nothing is left if it can be helped. DISCLAIMER
((OOCly this is based on American holidays, in order to minimize the VAST holidays of the world. Including all would be impossible, and trying to balance which we picked and which we didn't would be highly fallible. We reserve the right to include nuances from other cultures, but predominantly the focus will be on those holidays traditionally celebrated by Americans.
We realize that likely the seasons are reversed in Africa from those in America. However, in order to have the holidays (and their signifcance) match up with the calendar here in America, we will be rping it as if the hot months are June, July, and August, and as if the cold months are December, January, and February. This is not meant to slight our southern hemisphere friends, but merely to keep things as simple as possible for the majority of people.))
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 10:44 am
Season of Demani
Major Celebration: New Life Jubilee
This celebration is held at any point during springtime, generally around the Festival of Flowers, but can be either during the first budding of trees or joined with the Celebration of Mothers.
This jubilee is to rejoice in new life in all its forms. The earth is coming alive again after the long winter, babes are being born, and the world is flourishing! Many of the games and activities during this festival are geared towards the younger members of the pride. Special treats are made to appeal to cubs and pups, the prizes are often toys of some sort, and almost everything is close to the ground, so all ages can be included.
That being said, there are always things to amuse the adults. Trinkets and baubles with a spring theme are sold, some games are intended to pair an adult with a youngster, and an area is set aside to give a quiet spot for adults to escape the joyous squeals and constant chatter of excited children.
March Celebration: Carnival of Luck
Try your luck during this charmed celebration! The games focus mainly on luck and chance. As much greenery as is possible at this time of year is gathered and set around the grounds, giving it a lush environment to stroll through. Fortune-telling is often popular during this celebration, as are sleight-of-paw demonstrations. Good luck charms of varying kinds are mainly sold at this time. It is typical for the air to still have a bite to it, and be downright chilly at night.
April Celebration: Flower Festival
While the woods are sprinkled with blooms and the open fields billow with them, this abundance is brought to the fore in this celebration. There are many activities that allow you to craft something for a sweetheart or loved one from the blossoms. The games are themed around flowers, but don't necessarily have to do directly with them. For example, there is a relay race, where teams of people race one at a time along a course, passing a flowering branch to the next team member when their own portion is done. The weather is usually mild, with sunny skies and occasional thunderstorms.
May Celebration: Ceremony of Motherhood
This is both a ceremony and a celebration. During the ceremony, each mother is brought before the gathering and bestowed with a crown made by her children or their father. Should any single mothers be present with cubs too young, one of the matrons will craft it for her. Her name is announced, and a listing of her children. After all mothers have been honored, the celebration commences. Generally the focus is on food, laughter, and family, but there are games, services, and trinkets offered as well. The weather has warmed, sometimes uncomfortably, though the nights still cool down refreshingly.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 2:14 pm
Season of Kaskazi
Major Celebration: Midsummer Revelry
While a relatively short celebration, it is the continuous nature of this party that draws party-goers. It begins the morning of the summer solstice, with the focus on the smallest of the little ones. The games are easy and simple, but later in the day the activities shift towards the water. Young and old alike romp in the water during the warmest hours of the day, tiring all those youngsters out! Once the sun sets, though, the younger members of the pride head for bed, while the adults remain up to dance, perform, and socialize for the entirety of the shortest night of the year. When the sun rises again, the rested and rambunctious children are given a free day to do as they like, while most of the adults sleep the day away!
June Celebration: Ceremony of Fatherhood
Much like the Ceremony of Mothers, this involves the presentation of an adornment made by his children, his mate, or a patron of the pride. His name and those of his offspring are read before the assemblage. Afterward comes feasting, the telling of tall tales of the fathers, and family games. The weather tends to be getting quite warm during the day, growing sultry at night. This celebration is consequently sometimes held at night beneath the full moon of that month.
July Celebration: Firefly Festival
During the hottest time of year, the most magic can be found! Fireflies abound during the summer months, and this celebration is to share the joy they represent. It is a two or three night event. The first night is spent catching fireflies. Games abound, and methods of catching them are tested and shared. The daytimes between are spent creating fanciful containers to keep the glowy bugs in. There are contests for beauty, usefulness, and outrageousness in container design. The final night, the containers with their flickering captives are brought out for all to enjoy. The climax of the festival is when they all gather along the shores of the lake and release the fireflies all at once. It is a spectacle to behold for all ages and species!
August Celebration: Discovery Jubilee
During these warm days, new discoveries of all kinds are more likely! This celebration encourages the younger generation to education, activity, exploration, and curiosity. Games of hide and seek, treasure hunts, observation walks, and other such revelries will be spread over a period of a week. There will be activities for all ages, though often the older members prefer to help arrange the games for the younger ones.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 2:35 pm
Season of Vuli
Major Celebration: Harvest Festival
This celebration takes ample advantage of the influx of plenty that occurs during this season. Many plants that are found abundantly during autumn are used in games, crafts, merchandise, and decorating. This could include fall leaves, gourds, wild grains, acorns, and other such produce. There tends to be more miscief going on during this celebration than other major ones, due to it falling close to Spirits' Eve. Traditionally, the Harvest Festival occurs for two weeks before the actual Spirit's Eve, though it isn't unheard of for it to be held in concert with the Feast of Thanks.
September Celebration: Gala of Learning
After a summertime break from training and working, this celebration helps bring the younger folk of the pride back into being of a mind to learn. The celebration demonstrates the joy of learning, by displaying feats of strength, agility, and knowledge. Games range from tests of physical prowess, feats of twisty problem-solving, to trivia contests. There is a healthy market for those looking for items or services that will help them in their particular field of preference. The weather is very warm and highly unpredictable, with powerful thunderstorms appearing suddenly.
October Celebration: Spirits' Eve
If it is not combined with the Harvest Festival, this celebration tends to be mostly about causing mischief and playing pranks, while blaming the spirits for it. There are activites and services such as mask-making and facial paintings, games that attempt to trick the player but reward them with treats, and experiments in new ways to change the flavors of food. The weather is generally brisk, with sharp winds and warm sunshine.
November Celebration: Feast of Thanks
This time is set aside to look on one's life and rejoice in the blessings provided. It is at this time that offerings are given to any and all god and goddesses that are recognized or worshipped by pride members individually. Food, possessions, and representations are left before temporary altars. Those blessings are celebrated with much song and dance, with food being plentiful. There aren't as many games for this celebration, but there is a consequential rise in vendors offering merchandise to catch the attention and appreciation of the attendees. Except the days to be very cool with windy gusts, and the nights to be cold and unwelcoming.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 2:58 pm
Season of Mrao
Major Celebration: Snow Games
With all the snow and ice, the focus for this seasonal event is winter fun! Snowball fights, igloo building, ice skidding, tree decorating, and general cold shinnanigans! There are actual games in the spirit of competition, as well as crafts, booths for the trading of pretty things for the season, as well as one small luxery. Up high, on the side of the mountain, there is a hot spring. Pelts are kept nearby to warm and dry anyone exiting the pool, but in the time of freezing, the hot water is a special treat!
December Celebration: The Giving Tree
When the snow has fallen thickly, turning the forest into a winter wonderland, it is time for the Giving Tree. The greatest evergreen tree within the Sikukuu territory is given special treatment. Decorations are hung from all reachable branches. Everything from holly berries to carven icicles to decorated pine cones are attatched to the spreading branches. From the very lowest branches, and laid about the trunk, are gifts. These are free for individuals to take, withthe stipulation that they leave a gift behind as well. Mrao bouncers are stationed as an honor guard around the Giving Tree, ensuring good behavior. Additionally, it is customary to give gifts directly to your friends and family. Most gifts are small things, commonly bought from vendors, if the giver isn't talented at crafting.
January Celebration: Observance of Harmony
This is one of the more sober of the celebrations, intended to draw the pride together through the harshness of winter. Together, as a whole and as individuals, the pride begins all things anew. Old arguments are set aside. Those who do not get along give each other a new chance. Debts from the past year are forgotten, and those who have done wrong have their slate wiped clean again. It is a time to make a new start. Food is shared amonst the pride members and their visitors, often prayers are offered to whichever deities individuals follow, and there is much quiet talk of plans for the coming year. A few trinkets are sold, and quiet games are sometimes held inside dens. It is bitterly cold, so cubs are often swaddled in furs in order to include them. These gatherings are only held when the sun is high, to prevent injury from the freezing air.
February Celebration: Lover's Revelry
In contrast to the previous month, this celebration can get wild and crazy. The need for spring to arrive awakens the drive for romance amongst the members of the pride. Games that require pairs are exteremely common, and often are arranged for maximum hilarity and embarassment. An example of this would be when two are tied together at the wrist with sinew, and then must battle another bound couple in a snowball fight. Flirting and the taking of mates is the whole purpose of the celebration. There is little feasting, as the courting couples often have little appetite, not to mention that game is scarce. The market for tributes of love and baubles to impress partners thrives greatly. It generally is quite cold still, so cubs are not often brought out for this celebration.
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