Anwyns Prayers,Holy days and Saints

Common Prayers

Anwynite celebrations are sanctified by pouring a glass of wine (called the Gift of Zheenkeef, but accepted by many churches as an offering), breaking a loaf of bread, and lighting a candle. All three are necessary for a proper ceremony. Most commoners celebrate in the Anwynite fashion at least once a week. During the ceremony, the family member who manages the household (by cooking and cleaning, managing its money, and so on) traditionally invokes the three blessings, but anyone can say them. At the pouring of the wine:

“Praise be! Praise be! For we have lived through the darkness, For we have survived the cold! Praise be! Praise be! For the Goodlady Anwyn has aided us, And we may drink this libation in her honor.”
At the breaking of the bread:
“Smiling Lady, smile down on us, For we break this bread in your honor! Bread cannot rise without warmth, Bread cannot bake without fire, We break this bread that we have because of you. Smiling Lady, smile down on us, And know that we are grateful.”
At the lighting of the candle:
“Bright Lady, kindler of hearths, We light this fire in memory, For without you, there would be no fire, Not in Heaven, nor in the world. Bright Lady, keeper of hearths, We thank you for the flame!”

Holy Days

The week after harvest signals the Anwynites’ primary festival, the Keeping, from which many hearths have grown wealthy. It comes fast on the heels of the Rontran harvest festival. People come to hearths and offer livestock and other foods to Anwyn. Many offerings are burned, but most of them go into the hearth’s larders.
While farmers bring wagons filled with food, lords traditionally offer coins, gems and other treasures in lieu of the commoners’ offering. These monies help hearths maintain themselves and feed the poor. Anwyn is not connected to the ways of farming, and does not bless the growing of crops or animals. During the Keeping, celebrants ask her to help make food prepared from them stay nourishing and delicious, even when families must bring forth the oldest stores of pickles and salt meat. The faithful ask for a mild winter, and thank Anwyn for bringing fire to mortals. The festival is marked with much feasting, prayer, and the constant burning of offerings in the central hearth. The manciples burn that which smells sweet or enticing, to proclaim their hearths as places of comfort and plenty.

Saints

There is no sainthood in the Anwynite faith, which reveres humility and common people over heroic glory. Even the most pious and charitable of Anwynites go without special praise, in life or after death, as it is considered unseemly

Type

Religious, Organised Religion