Deerborne Stag-Fest
A yearly tradition where the people of Deerborne celebrate the guardian of the forest, The White Stag.
History
The festival had it's original roots when the earliest settlers of Deerborne were constructing the village. When the townsfolk went into the woods to start cutting down trees, The White Stag approached them as if to defend its territory. They offered it food and drink, and in exchange, the White Stag allowed it to cut down the trees from its forest. But the following spring, the Stag appeared again, this time its back laiden with sapplings, to which the villages took and planted around the village, and forest.
Execution
The festival starts on 20 Eleint, where each person in the village contributes one item to the offering bowl to be given to the Stag. Then, that evening, Elowen Thorneheart and Julian Abrams, take the bowl to the edge of the forest.
Components and tools
The offering bowl is the only "symbolic" item that is part of the festival, though there are some villagers that decorate around their homes with carvings of the White Stag.
Participants
Before the offering bowl is removed from the town square, a short speech is given by Baron to commemorate another year of living in harmony with the Forest of Deerborne, where he then places his offering
Elowen Thorneheart then has her own speech where accepts the bowl on the behalf of the White Stag, where she then puts in her own offering, before the two of them ceremoniously carry the bowl to the east gate, and to the edge of the Forest on a prepared pedestal to place the bowl.
Elowen Thorneheart then has her own speech where accepts the bowl on the behalf of the White Stag, where she then puts in her own offering, before the two of them ceremoniously carry the bowl to the east gate, and to the edge of the Forest on a prepared pedestal to place the bowl.
Observance
The entire ceremony lasts only a day, on the 20th of Eleint. However, the week before the festival, some decorations are placed on buildings and public structures with effigys of the White Stag.
At dawn on the 20th, the offering bowl is placed in the town Square by Elowen, who then stays offers passers-by and children a history of the festival. During the day, as people go about their business, they give their offering by placing it in the bowl and typically thanking Elowen, and the Stag.
That evening, right before sunset, the Baron and Elowen give their speech, then offer the bowl to the Stag.
At dawn on the 20th, the offering bowl is placed in the town Square by Elowen, who then stays offers passers-by and children a history of the festival. During the day, as people go about their business, they give their offering by placing it in the bowl and typically thanking Elowen, and the Stag.
That evening, right before sunset, the Baron and Elowen give their speech, then offer the bowl to the Stag.
Primary Related Location