Centennial Gala

We kindly depend on those who intend to respectfully attend.

— Line from a traditional Gala Invitation

Halflings are widely understood to be a pastoral, sedate people who live outside of major cities and don't bother much of anyone. While this is true for a great deal of them, the Centennial Gala does tend to strain the "sedate" portion when it's witnessed. Halflings have natural lifespans considerably longer than humans, and even so reaching a hundred years old can be uncommon outside of the small pastoral communities across Erisdaire. When a member of those communities reaches the big year, there is a grand party thrown for them by the rest of the community, to celebrate what their life had been and to look forward into what's yet to come.

Usually, it begins with a family member or close friend spreading the word so preparations can be made quietly, and at the same time hand-delivering invitations. These are almost always made on stiffened paper, and given fancy embellishments to stand out and be worth hanging on to for remembering. Any guest who wishes to show up is expected to bring (along with a gift) some food, some entertainment, or both. The venue is usually a large tent with tables gathered around a central podium or other such structure where the birthday person can deliver their thanks. Depending on the size of the community, one tent may not be enough. However, so long as most of the guests bring along food there should be ample enough to make a large banquet to be remembered. Entertainment is often in the form of people singing (with and without instruments backing them), or agreeing to tell stories about the 'guest of honor'. All guests are expected to be on their best behavior, and the close family of the host are tasked with ensuring everything is able to keep moving smoothly.

These Galas usually begin just before dusk, as arriving guests present their choice of donations (and gifts) to whomever has organized the party. More often than not, the local brewer (or many local brewers) bring several casks of wine and ale - when those are tapped to be served, the Gala usually switches gears from "sedate" to "revel" in the space of a few mugs. Those who cannot behave themselves while drunk are usually helped a distance off to be disorderly without disrupting the Gala, returning once they've sobered up enough to not be a nuisance. (Apologies are usually made, but more often they become the focus of good-natured derision for being unable to handle the drink they took. Not simply for getting drunk, but "for letting your mouth make a promise your stomach couldn't keep".) As the night wears on after the birthday toast and presentation of gifts, guests start to filter their way home (or begin dozing until they are able to wander home with a helping hand) and cleanup begins. Come the dawn, the remaining tasks are usually those which are not safe to do at night,

Gifts

The practice of giving gifts is not a novel one, and most of the same rules apply as during any other opportunity to give a gift. The gift is often something the guest of honor would want, or value, either through the artistry and craftsmanship or through having a need for it. Centennial gifts are, of course, expected to be a cut above the rest. For this purpose, many local artisans spend extra time adding decorative designs or personalized engravings to such gifts - for a fee. Foreign goods are usually received with puzzlement, unless they simply cannot be replicated through local materials and handicraft. But as it is bad manners to turn down a gift meant sincerely, they are always taken with appropriate polite gestures.

There are three taboos which should be remembered when bringing gifts to a Centennial. Firstly, weapons of any sort are considered 'in bad taste', with very rare exceptions to this custom. (A notable hunter may, for instance, receive a bow which is more decorative than functional without breaking the taboo.) Secondly, and more importantly, it is exceedingly bad form to deliver a gift of cash or other objects of wealth such as gemstones. To do so implies the guest knows nothing about their host, and is attending either for the free food and drink... or to be seen socially. There is exactly one exception to this taboo, which is offering to foot the bill for all preparations. In practice, it's about the same as offering money, but the sentiment is considered different... and is often taken for as much as can be reasonably done without blatantly wasting the offered compensation. This type of arrangement is usually offered from estranged family or friends, in order to show there's no lingering bad will on such a happy occasion. Lastly, there is the unspoken taboo of bringing magic to the celebration for purposes other than entertainment. It is certain to be worthwhile if an illusionist can perform something which speaks to the tastes of the community, but it is straining the polite manners of all involved should more blatant magic be performed or enchanted objects be offered as gifts. (There are still tales which go around one community of a jug which could be instructed to provide any alcohol the invoker had previously drank, once per day. It was intended to be a fond gift for the discerning halfling who enjoyed trying new spirits, but it was quietly disposed of within a week.)

Uninvited Guests

It is rare, but not unheard of, for invitations to "miss" any particular individual in a community who is considered troublesome. In these cases, there is still a good chance they will try to attend anyway. Depending on how much trouble they are expected to be, or their general standing within the community, they may be welcomed in (as long as a gift is brought with them) and allowed to partake. However, they are usually watched by everyone present - not necessarily in an obvious sense - for any bad behavior.

Outsiders are even rarer among these uninvited guests, but as a rule halfling communities do not invite those who are not part of their community to a Centennial Gala. They do begrudgingly offer such, but it is almost expected for such to be turned down. An outsider showing up uninvited, and bringing a gift which does not strain the taboos, is something noteworthy and remembered for generations after.