Matr's Tithe and New Years Days

History

Originally, Matr, God of Agriculture was in control of the cycles of the days within the current Prime Material Plane. With the creation of the Adolphine calendar system, Matr lost the calendar as part of his divine portfolio to Yapo, Goddess of Order. Upset at this prospect, Matr begged Yapo to be able to preform role within the change of time. Feeling sorry for him, Yapo gave Matr one day every two and a half months that he could do with what he wants. This day denotes the changing of the season. In addition Yapo gave Matr control over the time between the years on the condition that the time was no longer than three days. Happy with the concessions, Matr usually spends these days pranking people.

Execution

Matr’s Tithe

Every two and a half months the sun is blotted out of the sky by the moon. This darkness lasts for a full twenty four hours. The new sunrise marks the beginning of a new season.

New Years

The change from one year to another lasts three days and is outside the scope of the adolphine calendar. During the entirety of this change over, the sun is completely blocked out and the world is covered in darkness. During the second day, the moon turns a blood red that lasts for a period of twenty four hours.

Observance

Cult of Matr

The New Years Celebration is the most holy day for the cult of Matr. During the three day New Years turn over, the cult of Matr throws large celebrations at each of their churches. In the period before the new year, the priests of Matr buy up any excess food that might be found within the city. The celebration start with the head priest of the church “tripping” over a rope that is ritually tied across the door way of the church. After the fall, the feast begins. Many of the practitioners at the feast take the time to pull fun and surprising practical jokes during the feast. The high point of the feast is when little fruit cakes are given out to each participant. It’s a sign of good luck to receive bite into the cake and find a hidden item. The luckiest item is a golden coin.
During the day of darkness every two and a half months, the cult of Matr goes around town pulling practical jokes on the townspeople. At the end of the night, the church offers free breakfast to anyone pranked as a way to smooth over any ill will.

Cult of Yapo

For the Cult of Yapo, these times are some of the most depressing. During the day of darkness, the cult of Yapo preforms a somber ceremony. During the ceremony there are a series of right that are preformed for the congregation that is distributed by order of importance within the church. The ceremony concludes with a coffin being brought to the central alter. Each person goes to in front of the coffin, says a prayer and places a small amount dirt within the coffin.
The turn over between the years is the most somber time for the cult of Yapo. Members of the cult dress all in black. When the Blood Moon reaches its apex on the Day of the New Year, the members of the church take the coffin that they had used throughout the year and burry it in a secret location. At midday on the third day of the change over period, the clergy of Yapo bring in an empty coffin while singing lamentations over the death of the new year. This new coffin is used in during the days of Matr’s Tithe throughout the year.