Tidal Traditions

Bren-Brihaer / The Blue Giver is a complex and nuanced religion rooted in maritime traditions and generosity, with a profound liturgical year. Here's a basic outline of their calendar:

Mirror's Dawn

This marks the first day of the new year. Followers of Bren-Brihaer head to the sea at dawn, collecting a vial of saltwater to keep in their homes, symbolizing the sea's constancy and potential.

The Shivering Embrace

During the coldest season, followers take a ceremonial dip in the sea, demonstrating trust in the Blue Giver’s protection. It also signifies purification and renewal.

Deepwater Devotion

A period of fasting, reflecting on the ocean's depths and their mysteries, focusing on humility and introspection.

The Tide's Ebb and Flow (Spring Equinox)

This is a celebration of change and adaptability, aligning with the vernal equinox's theme of rebirth and renewal.

Day of the Generous Currents

Devotees share their wealth (monetary or otherwise) with those less fortunate, commemorating the Blue Giver's generosity.

Brightest Beacon

On the longest day of the year, followers light lanterns at dusk and place them in the water, symbolizing guidance and the Blue Giver’s everlasting presence.

Feast of Abundance

This festival celebrates the sea's bounty, involving communal meals with plenty of seafood, shared among families and communities.

Day of the Sacred Depths

This day is to honor those who have lost their lives at sea. It is a day of remembrance and mourning, held on the autumnal equinox, symbolizing the balance between life and death.

Currents of Courage

This is a day to honor the holy men and women of Bren-Brihaer. Parades with effigies of these saints travel through towns, especially those who showed remarkable courage or contributed significantly to the faith.

Blue Benediction

The year ends with prayers and blessings for safety at sea in the coming year, showing gratitude for the past year's protection.
Note: These dates are approximations and can vary slightly based on lunar and tidal cycles, which are deeply significant to the faith's devout.

Sea's Bounty

Sea's Bounty is a festival of appreciation, joy, and recognition of the ocean's gifts. It takes place during the most bountiful fishing season. The holiday begins at dawn with the community gathering by the seaside, watching the first fishing boats head out into the open water. Every person, regardless of age or ability, is encouraged to cast a line into the sea at least once during this day, in a symbolic gesture of participating in the harvest of the sea's bounty.
The afternoon is spent in the town squares and along the beaches, where the day’s catch is cleaned, cooked, and shared in a community feast. Each family brings their own spices, herbs, and secret ingredients to contribute to communal stews and grills, resulting in a unique flavor that is different each year. Storytelling is an integral part of the feast. Elders share tales of epic sea creatures, legendary fishermen, and miraculous catches from the years gone by.

Titan's Grasp

Titan's Grasp is a more somber festival, acknowledging the destructive power of the sea and remembering those lost to its depths. The festival begins with a solemn procession to the sea, where each person casts a hand-crafted biodegradable lantern into the water. Each lantern is inscribed with a personal message or a prayer, creating a spectacle of gently glowing lights bobbing on the nighttime sea.
Next, the families share stories of those they have lost, not with sorrow, but with celebration and joy for their lives. It's a time to share stories that embody the courage, humor, and love of those who have passed on. The festival concludes with a ritual dive, where volunteer divers retrieve a symbolic artifact planted in the sea-bed, symbolizing the human spirit's ability to navigate the depths of sorrow and emerge resilient.