Two sides of the one coin: Holidays

[bumbleebumblebee]

"Those who pursue the path of balance by worshiping both Asena and Saekanis typically pay tribute to one of the great wolves during each season. The nature of these celebrations, which sometimes coincide with those of Saekanni and Asenite adherents, tends to be less intense. However, the degree of exuberance can vary significantly from one clan to another." 

-Ookami Revenant 700 AC

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Spring: The New Spring Fast

The New Spring Fast is a week-long ritual observed at the onset of the first blooms of life in the land inhabited by the Beastkin. This sacred period marks a time of renewal and rebirth, deeply rooted in their traditions. During the fast, the consumption of food is strictly prohibited. In the most austere interpretations of the ritual, all members of the community abstain from eating to honor the cycle of nature and to purify themselves. In less extreme practices, however, only the priesthood or those holding specific religious roles refrain from food, while the rest of the community may partake in limited or symbolic nourishment. This variation reflects the different levels of devotion and interpretation within the Beastkin clans, each aligning with their unique spiritual and cultural beliefs.

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Summer: Asena's Zenith

Asena's Zenith is a festival that takes place at the beginning of summer and is a vibrant celebration that includes a variety of rituals designed to promote new life and growth. This annual event is marked by lively performances, traditional dances, and ceremonial rites that honor the season's abundance and vitality. Participants often engage in these rituals to ensure fertility in the land, prosperity for the clans, and a bountiful harvest. The Summer Dance serves not only as a joyous communal event but also as a reaffirmation of the Beastkin's connection to the natural world and the Divine Spirit that created them.

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Fall: The Lords Glut

Once a year, at the end of fall, after most life has retreated to rest for the winter, the devout participate in a grand feast known as Lord's Glut. This feast showcases a diverse array of the year's harvest, including contributions from less conventional sources in the more untamed regions (People). The celebration often involves a mixture of foods, reflecting both the bounty and the more primal aspects of the year's end.

In more savage settings, this feast becomes a focal point of obsession, with smaller-scale versions of the feast being practiced throughout the year. Among these more untamed communities, self-restraint is less common, leading to frequent indulgence. The feast is named in honor of the Lord of Winters, symbolizing the stark and often brutal natural order where the strong prevail over the weak.

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Winter: Ode To Death

For those who follow the path of Balance, the celebrations dedicated to the Plague Wolf are as varied as the shifting aspects of the Divine Spirit of Winter itself.

In some traditions, the celebration is marked by a night of chaos and revelry, where the clan indulges in large quantities of sinka. In the more extreme interpretations, members of the clan who harbor personal grievances may enter a state of mindlessness, allowing raw emotions to surface before engaging in combat. This ritualistic fighting can be intense, with the possibility that the victor may fall or face dire consequences.

Other clans focus on the enemies they've accumulated over the years. During times of wildlife scarcity, these clans might make their foes the central target of their hunts, consuming them as part of the celebration. This practice underscores their connection to the harsh, survivalist aspects of the season.

On the less extreme end, some clans simply engage in frequent winter hunts, targeting any remaining life that may have managed to evade the arrival of Saekanis. These hunts are less about conflict and more about ensuring the natural order is maintained during the winter's grasp.