[Ragman]

Celebrations and Festivities

Celebrations and Festivities are usually associated with legends and myths, as well as important dates that are derived within the Secyclion culture. Music is almost always associated with festivals, and food will be plentiful. Celebrations such as the Festival of Love goes from dawn to dusk, and lasts several Brightenings while the Cycle of Remembrance, as it's name suggests, lasts exactly ten Brightenings.These celebrations are a main draw for tourists, and many especially travel to the Island City, where decorations, music, and the festive air draws throngs of visitors every Era.

Thane's Birthbrightening

Celebrated at the beginning of Spring, and a somewhat new tradition, the Secyclionians dedicate the fifth Brightening of the first Cycle to their Thane. The Thane would be lead through a procession of people who would be awaiting eagerly for the Count Charon Von Dimosthenis, paraded in a large chariot drawn by four Black Rams, probably one of the highest honor paid to a man considering the rarity of the mounts.

Food is usually prepared as people celebrate the City Government's contribution to the Island, and a time where the citizens give thanks to their leaders. Many City leaders are will also be invited to feast with the Thane within the Palati Ariadne, while the rest of the island celebrate the festival in their own, colorful ways.

All Mother's Brightening

Commemorating the 'Mother of Secyclion', Mother's Brightening is also a Brightening for all mothers and grandmothers of Secyclion. On this day, women briefly assume the matriarchal positions of households, and are ushered away to several locations within the City where men are forbidden to attend. Much of the festival remains a mystery, and is considered a well-kept secret. Female visitors were once forbidden to join in the celebration though such rules have been relaxed over the Eras.

What is clear is that there will be large amounts of wine for everyone's consumption, and plenty of food and dancing. Even till this day, the festival remains one of Secyclion's most well kept secrets.

Fathers, brothers and sons also bring gifts, usually home made to the womenfolk, and beg for forgiveness for past transgressions.

Festival of Love

Another famous celebration on the Island is the 'Festival of Love', which starts on the beginning of the Winter Solstice. There was a tradition that couples who share a kiss at the strike of mid darkening on the night of Winter Solstice will stay together for life. Dancing, music and general artful fun can be found in Secyclion on this Brightening, which sees many couples coming out on the streets to spend some quality time together.

The traditional courtship ritual is usually observed, with the women usually weaving a laurel wreath for their male companions and the male fashioning a flower wristband and tiara for their female counterparts. Many would put on their best clothes, much like in nature where the male species are usually brightly colored to attract the womenfolk. Many reaffirm their feelings for each other during the Brightening, and reinstate vows and pledges, forgetting and forgiving past conflicts.

Singles are invited to join the celebration as well, and as per tradition, the first person who asks a single man or women for a dance will be his companion until the end of the festival.

The Rites of Dedication

An interesting note about Secyclionians is that children born are not named until the Summer Equinox. On that day, newborns are given names, and they are paraded along with the rest of the newborns of the Era. Names are given to them, and friends and family members would bring food over to the families with newborns, and join in the celebration of life.

On the Brightening of the Rites, Olive wreaths are placed on doorways of those who had a boy, while a ball of wool to denote girls. The celebration is a close and private affair unlike the majority of Secyclion festivals, which are usually public and open. Weapons are not allowed to be carried into households on this Brightening, and sear words are not used as a mark of respect to the newborn who are treated like Princes and Princess for this single Brightening where they assume the stage as the main characters, ready to be pampered and showered with affection by families.

Cycle of Remembrance

At the mark of Monsoon also signifies the Cycle of Remembrance. Secyclionians have a strong reverence for the dead, who are cremated and subsequently have their ashes scattered over the seas. Lanterns are lit and released into the skies to denote ascension to a higher plane, and while the Brightening deals with somber rituals where families spend time in quiet meditation to mourn for their lost kin, the Darkening marks a night of dancing and intense celebration; to commemorate the gift of life. Heroic tales of the dead are narrated, and past exploits are brought forward and remembered fondly.

Forgiveness are sought by the living, and past transgresses would have to give gifts of atonement to the other party to receive the wanted forgiveness. The Cycle of Remembrance is a time to mourn the dead, yet more importantly, celebrate the precious gift of life, encouraging citizens to live life to the fullest.