Udynean
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Human: Aashi, Adhira, Aditi, Adya, Anavi, Anjali, Asmee, Binita, Devak, Falak, Hansika, Harini, Jheel, Ketana, Krittika, Monah, Nidhi, Oja, Onella, Shavita, Suravi, Vinata
Elven: Daama, Elke, Krissi, Megala, Mylen, Suuk
Masculine names
Human: Aagney, Aarav, Aarus, Balvaan, Baneet, Eshaan, Hemaal, Jaat, Jagesh, Jeet, Kaami, Kanan, Maari, Ratik, Pransu, Sachetan, Shaam, Tarendra, Vihaan, Vishal, Yaatin, Zian
Elven: Kaheran, Zahaan
Family names
Jhanaar, Kaatha, Praash
Culture
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
It is considered rude to extend a hand in greeting or otherwise display an open palm to a stranger, especially those born in the southern regions. This is due to several spellsters using the gesture as a means to attack their foes.
Every noble is required to serve the army at some point in their lifetime. Most are volunteered by their parents as young adults to get keep them out of trouble. The vris Mhanek is the sole exception to this rule.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
After a child is born, it is customary to approach a newly-wedded couple to ask for a blessing to make the baby favoured for prosperity. It is one of the oldest traditions and it is due to newly-weds being considered favoured by their many deities during the first night of their marriage where they supposedly become vessels of godly power. This tradition isn't bound by status and can have nobles requesting from commoners or vice versa.
Either of the newly-wedded couple gives this blessing by touching what Udyneans call the three centres of a being: forehead (thought), chin(voice) and chest(soul).
A month after birth is the traditional period for a child to be given a name, although many choose to do so well beforehand.
The Unseen
Multiple births are seen as being ill-favoured by the gods. Any child beyond the firstborn of such births is believed to have no soul and is considered untouchable and known as Unseen. Few parents opt to keep more than the firstborn child, as the rest are doomed. They cannot inherit or work and any act made by these people, from honest labour to murder, is considered to have been the will of the gods. Moreover, children born to such people are deemed to have come from one parent.Coming of Age Rites
Boys, generally between the ages of twelve and fourteen, are circumcised as part of a coming-of-age rite known as Khutani. After this, the newly-minted men are given control of whatever property was bought in their name and are expected to aid in financial and political issues around the household.
For girls, it is the Khotuno, in which a week-long feast follows the first year of menstruation. During this time, the girl’s every whim is waited upon and she is inundated with many gifts from her immediate and extended family. They are then expected to assist in the daily running of a household, be it through chores or in managing younger siblings.
Paalangik (transgender folk) go through the ritual/ceremony as if they were assigned the right gender from birth (in the case of the Khutani, the incision is made above the pubic hairline). If they transition later in life and have already been through one ceremony, they will often choose to go through the other. Intersex folk are free to choose a ceremony or opt not to, although the latter is rare.
Those who identify as non-binary participate in the Khitena, or the rite of elders, in which they stand before family members and declare how they are fit to aid the family in adult matters. If there is no family, for whatever reason, the person can present their strengths to the priesthood of the High Mother.
Ideals
Courtship Ideals
Courtships are expected to take a year, especially amongst the nobility and the wealthy. These courtships are traditionally done without physical intimacy, but many have shifted to allow all contact beyond sexual. Because of this, it is common for courting couples to spend their time in kofe houses where they can lounge in public without fear of being accused of engaging in intercourse. For similar reasons, another such pastime is in the public gardens.
During courting, flowers are seen as a typical gift and there is no taboo on which gender does the gifting. Be it those that grow naturally from the earth or the far more expensive glass varieties, the former often being woven into the courtee's hair.
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