Ceremony of New Life

The ceremony of New Life is a ceremony in most, if not all, of the settlements that the Crienia people live in. The ceremony is believed to have started in the early days of the Crienia people as a way to increase their numbers by having the young adults of their people form relationships early on. Even if no offspring would come for years or decades, the people believed that it was important for the young ones to at least win favour from goddess Felicitas

History

The ceremony can trace its roots back to some of the first settlements of Pearlhal, back when the Crienia people were small in numbers. The ceremony began as a way to incorporate the entire settlement in the celebration of the fertility goddess Felicitas, the young adults would normally consist of couples, but it was not uncommon that singles would partake as well. The young adults would then set off from the temple of the goddess, with the women setting off first and receiving a small headstart before the young men would set after them to capture their partner and then carry them over the finish line, which was at first set at the southern road out of the settlement, the running route taking them all the way around the settlement. As the settlement grew, the route was at one point, with scholars still discussing when the change first appeared, changed from running around the settlement to running from the temple of the goddess to the monarchs' palace, what is now the Royal Palace of Dercia.

by Henryk Siemiradzki (1843–1902)

Components and tools

The young adults partaking in the ceremony will be wearing the pelts of wolves.

Participants

The participants for the ceremony will be between 10 and 20 young female adults who are to be chased by typically an equal number of young male adults. Before the running can start, the ceremony will be started by a few priests from the temple for the fertility goddess Felicitas.