Kypolston Religion

Most of the countrymen of Kypolston follow the same ideas, but each section worships the God of their master. Each master serves a different God, following the symbol they wear, such as the God of the Sea, the God of the Forest, and the God of the Lions. The rest of the world refers to it as the Kypolstian relgion, although the Kyspoltians themselves do not consider themselves of the same religion, despite the fact that their ceremonies and practices are much the same.

Worship

Every person in a Kypolstian household starts out the morning with a bow and a prayer to the God of their master, alone in their bedchambers. Next, they join the entire family, with another prayer, first to the God of their master and then to all the other gods. Finally, they go about their days, until evening comes. In the evening, a family gathers together, to once again pray to the God of their master and then to all the other gods, before each person goes to their separate bedchambers or private areas to pray alone.

Every third afternoon, the people gather at the church for worship in their section for about two hours, before returning to their daily routines.

Newborns

A newborn in a Kypolstian household is considered a high favor of the Gods, and there are several procedures to follow through with. The first thing all parents much do is send a message to their master, telling him of the newborn and whether it is a male or a female and requesting an appointment, so that the child may receive his coin. At the appointed time sometimes only hours after the child’s birth, the parents tell the master what they are going to name the childNo one except the parents, or guardians of the child are allowed to see the child until it is blessed by the master, which usually happens when the child is about a week old. The master visits the household of the newborn and gives him or her a blessing, as well as the coin. As soon as the master gives the child a blessing, which usually included naming it, all the closest relatives are allowed to come and visit, giving the child their own blessings. Next, the rest of the section is given a chance to visit the baby, and give it a blessing. Usually only the closest of relatives bring gifts.

Coming of Age

For boys, the coming of age is considered to be age eighteen, for girls, fifteen. A coming of age ceremony is simple, with a blessing from the master, with all the family gathered, followed by a meal of vegetable soup and rolls. At the age of eighteen, a boy is expected to know how to build a cottage, carve wood, care for and cure furs, hunt well and have an occupation. A fifteen year old girl is expected to know all the techniques of her mother’s cooking, and how to raise children. Both are expected to know how to read, write and do general arithmetic. Boys enter college at the age of fifteen to learn an occupation of theirs or their parents’ choice.

Courtship and Marriage

After a boy has his coming of age ceremony, is expected to begin looking for a wife. When he finds the girl he’d like to marry, he sends her the gift of a fur cured in his best manner. If she is willing to accept his courtship, she will make it into a coat before the end of the week with the help of her mother, sisters and aunts and at the end of the week, she will go to church wearing it. If she is not willing to accept the courtship, she will return it to him at the end of the week.

Once a girl accepts a courtship, the boy visits her every day for a month, bringing her to church and getting to know her. At the end of a month, the girls’ father requests an appointment with the Master. On the appointed day, the boy and the girl and both of their parents’ go to the church, where the master meets them and marries them. Once they are married, the boy moves to the girl’s parents’ house until he can build his own, which usually takes a week with the help of the entire section.

Funerals

When a person dies, he or she is dressed in their best clothes and the master is informed. A day is appointed and whoever knew or loved the person gathers, even if they are in another section. The funeral is usually simple, with a family member giving a history of the person’s life and the master commending their soul to the God he worships.