Where to run a KUP game #1 - The calendar (part 2)

(continues from part 1)

In the year, there are two major events, always celebrated because they correspond to the change of seasons: Slumberdusk and Earthspring.

The festival of the Earth Slumbering season, also known as Slumberdusk, occurs mid-year but not on a predefined day. The seasons follow one another with an inexact cadence, and there are almost always some days of difference between one season and the next (and the previous). The method to determine when the change of season happens is to observe in daylight the color of the Earth Flowers: megalithic structures of which there is no longer any memory, present everywhere. If the central megalith of the Flower has changed color to a dark gray (almost black), the new season has arrived. For this reason, the peoples inhabiting the lands of the ancient Roburia empire have the tradition of preparing a festival while waiting for the first night of the new season. When the period in which Slumberdusk should arrive comes, people suspend activities in the second half of the day and begin to prepare everything necessary for a banquet that lasts an entire night.

The tradition of Slumberdusk is closely linked to the legacy of Philodemos, the most illustrious figure of this world: among his precepts is one that says to share what one has in excess. At Slumberdusk, the tradition is for families to bring to the nearest Earthen Flower the goods produced during the hot season that exceed what has been set aside to face the cold season, so that all participants in the festival can take the goods they need that are brought by others, leaving any excess goods in turn.

The wait for Slumberdusk is thus experienced with joy both by those who offer and those who need to receive because they are in need. The festival puts everyone on the same level because the celebrations are always held without any distinction of class or origin. To the joy of sharing everyone's goods, the festivity of the entire night of celebration around great fires and, if possible, near the ancient and respected Earth Flowers is added.

The festival is detailed as follows at each known Earthen Flower:

• When the color change of the Earthen Flower occurs, the offering ceremony opens immediately; all present parade in front of the Earthen Flower bringing the goods to be shared in a nearby area where they are kept for the whole night until the first light of the first day of the new season.

• After the offering ceremony, the smoke ritual follows; to propitiate the new season, some spices and essences are taken and burned in a particular way that allows fragrant smoke to spread in the air for much of the night.

• When the smoke is spreading, the banquet, the main event of the festival, begins; the population sits at a table set for the banquet all around the Earthen Flower (if there is no Flower, it is done around a large bonfire). The banquet is still considered part of the ceremony and is consumed slowly so that one can stay awake all night (it is interspersed with songs and dances).

• At the first light of the new day, the banquet closes, and the last part of the ceremony begins: all participants leave the table to return to their homes, and before leaving, those in need go to the guarded area to take what they need.

The festival of the Earth Awakening season, called Earthspring, occurs at the end of the year, also on an unspecified day. The day is defined by the color change of the Earthen Flower: from dark gray to dark yellow. The modalities are similar to Slumberdusk, with the difference that besides the change of season, Earthspring also marks the new year. At each Earthen Flower, the celebrations traditionally include:

• As a preparation, people collect old or broken items that are no longer used and bring them to the Earthen Flower.

• When the flower changes color, a large bonfire is prepared, and the objects that are no longer needed are thrown in as an offering for a generous and fruitful new year.

• At the first light of the day when the Earthen Flower is dark yellow, the festival opens.

• The first ceremony is reserved for all those who are to be married; the tradition is for a couple to wait for Earthspring to celebrate their wedding; the ceremony begins at the first light of the day and continues until midday as a sign of the beginning of a new life corresponding to the beginning of a new year (it should be noted that it is still possible to celebrate a wedding during the year if there are reasons not to wait for the next Earthspring).

• After the union rite at midday, the celebrations continue in the afternoon with the most awaited event: the opening of the wine barrels, also known as Blesspigot. The tradition is to wait for Earthspring to open any barrel of wine or alcoholic beverage set to age: besides being a good luck ritual, the rule helps the fermentation of spirits which lasts at least the entire Earth Slumbering season. The celebrations continue with the tasting of the opened barrels until nightfall, when everyone returns to their homes.

It is important to outline that not all the population gathers at each festival around the Earthen Flower. For this reason, each village of a certain size has the right to hold a small fragment of the Earthen Flower so that it can be kept by the mayor or village head. In this way, both festivals can be celebrated even in the villages, in the main square, by those who are unable to move to attend the events at the Earthen Flowers.