Creating Holidays #8: Time

[Minibit]

Most cultures have a way of marking time, if not with a physical calendar, then by watching the stars or the weather. In this exercise, we will invent holidays based around marking time. The passage of time is something that's just about universal in all worlds. Time brings down mountains and kingships, time brings age, death, and birth. People might celebrate what they've accomplished in a certain length of time, or they might simply mark time with a celebration as opposed to a physical means such as a calendar. People or species who can manipulate time may take a holiday aside to play with that ability to a certain degree. If time can be altered, there may be one permitted day where you can alter a timeline.

Some real world examples include

New Year's Eve
Which is celebrated at the end of a year, celebrates what has happened during this cycle, and attempts to bless the new year with good luck by scaring away evil with fireworks, shouting, bells, and various other festivities

Winter/Summer Solstice
These mark the departure and return of the Sun, and are a testament to nature. People band together to share food and fire and to celebrate the beauty of each season

Spring Break/Reading Break
Marks a point in the academic year and also the return of Spring, students are given time to rest and prepare for the gruelling end of term

Invent a holiday that commemorates, sanctifies, celebrates, or otherwise marks the passage of time

HARD MODE: complete this exercise using a world which does not have a cyclical environment that repeats over time)

Holiday Name:
When is it celebrated?
Who celebrates?
What is done to celebrate?
How old is this holiday?
Has this holiday changed much from its roots?
Where do the festivities take place?
Is there anything it is taboo to do on this holiday?
Do people dress differently for this holiday?
Is any kind of decoration traditional?
Are any colours, symbols, or icons associated with this holiday?
Are any spirits or deities associated with this holiday?
Is it an important/widespread celebration, or a smaller affair?
Are there any foods or drinks associated with this holiday?
Do any natural events coincide with this holiday (ie: an eclipse)?
How time is measured in the long term:
Does this holiday commemorate the past, present, future, or some combination?
Is any physical means built/marked to show the passage of time?
Is time altered in any way on this holiday?

Other Creating Holidays Exercises:

Seasons!
Death!
Food!
Protection!
Costumes!
Travel!
Animals!
Time!
Parents!
Invention!
Gifts!
Inebriation!
Superstition!
Religion!
Miracles!
Birthdays!
Manliness!
Games!
The Future!
Purification!
Flowers!

 

[Elflady]

How time is measured in the long term:
As no season pass in the desert the Tiesal do not keep track of time with the weather instead a year is marked by the passage of 160 days, every second year is marked by Atuena's return, every sixth year is marked by the large tribe meeting and every decade is marked by the chosing of the new, or reelection, of the tribe's chieftain.

Holiday Name: Blessings of Atuena

It's point:
To celebrate the the return of the star Atuena that is only visible every second year and with its help the priestesses can read the stars.

What is done to celebrate:
As soon as the sun starts to dip behind the horison lights are not alowed to be lit, the whole town is plunged into darkness to give the starry sky all the attention. People gather outside the town in the rapidly cooling desert where the sand is still warm and the priestesses gather to read the stars and try to decipher the future. The star reading is repeated every night with no moon for an entire year but this day is the only one everyone attends.

When it is celebrated:
The first night with no moon the year when Atuena has returned to the sky.

Who celebrates:
Everyone who can.

Where is it celebrated:
A bit outside the town where the wide desert sky can be viewed without hinderance.

Are there any colour or other visual themes:
The star Atuena blinks in various colours and those are the theme for the festival, blue, red, green, yellow, silver.

Is there any clothing, food, drink, or particular music a associated with this holiday:
No, all attention should be on the sky and the priestesses demand silence when they consult Atuena and her relation to the other stars. However to ward of the cold a hot drink is served made from water, herbs and berries of the desert and for this special day the drink is spiced with the sacred and very rare blue flower Lareena's Grace.

Are any deities or spirits associated with this holiday:
No.