The Final March Festival

"On this day, of the longest night 
We celebrate our heroes, marching to fight.
We know not if nor when they shall return
But in our celebrations shall their memory burn
For if they shall fall, on this Final March
It was to protect us, to push back the Nightmares so dark.

The prayer of Honor, as written in the Holy Text of Sir Kartheart, Hymns of the Courageous

 

These festivities carry long into the evening, until, about two hours before midnight, before the pinnacle of power that is the Solstice, any military stationed in town, or a dozen or more volunteers, depending on the settlement/neighborhood size, will dress in mock parade uniforms made to look like an artists depiction of those ancient warriors on commission from the church, will re-enact the farewell march that gives the day its name through their town. People will line the streets near their homes, watching the parade on the main roads with much fanfare, saluting the brave men and women, calling out encouragements, words of kindness, of love. Spouses of the volunteers will play their part in the reenactment, smiling, giving a passionate 'farewell' kiss to their lover, and promising to wait for them, telling their love that they have faith in their heroic triumph and return. The parade ends at the main gate, or wherever the appropriate exit is, for large settlements it might be between districts, or the noted edge of a neighborhood or quarter. After the parade has passed families by, they return home, and do one final thing.

Known as 'Ghug Kinnei Uib' in the dwarven tongue, translated and adjusted for the difference in dialogue patterns and word order, this particular piece of the festival is known in the common Valarian tongue as 'Welcoming soldiers home'. Families leave a pitcher of the strongest and best drink they can afford, along with a simple plate of food, some smoked meat, a bit of fresh bread, a bit of cheese, and maybe a candied fruit or small pastry, outside in the threshold of their front door. When they awaken in the morning, the food should be gone. If it is not, that is considered an ill omen for your family for the whole year. If a family is lucky (or perhaps rich depending on how one believes these things are handled, given this part is mostly for children) they will always find an appreciatory coin left under the cleaned and washed dishes. The coin is always a Silver Moon, and these coins are referred to as 'Soldiers Soul Silver'. Tradition is they are not spent frivolously, but used on a transaction through the year that is of particular importance, to cash in that favor of good luck and kindness. This tradition is very important in Suranth particularly, as is the whole festival. But the Soldiers Soul Silver, those coins are not just a trinket or an amusing part of the holiday.  Even the wealthiest of the wealthy take this tradition seriously, people whom normally pay in gold, or even bank writs, will deliberate carefully as to when to use the coin, keeping it separate from the bank, insuring to hand deliver that one coin themselves, not passing the task to a servant or assistant. They will do so even if the transaction is so massive that the rest of it is being done via an exchangeable bank writ, they will use the writ to pay for all but one silver of the transaction, and hand deliver the writ and single coin personally. The coins are marked as well, even though they are valid tender, they are marked around the edges with the section of the The Prayer of Honor written above, in dwarven, the etchings filled with beautifully polished amber that seems to never dull or smudge or dirty. These coins stay almost supernaturally metallic for the year but then, as if by magic, on the morning of the next years Festival, they become simply ordinary silver moons.

History

The festival of The Final March is the religious underpinnings of the New Year's celebrations on the 1st of Jundar every year. It is a time to honor heroes, to remember the brave, as they would wish to be, not with sorrow, but with song, dance, drink, and feast. Even in the depths of winter, the feast more meager than most, such a celebration is always lively, and full of energy. It is considered one's duty after all.

No tears are shed this day, never. It is to take the bravery of the Ascended and the soldiers whom fought with them, in particular Sir Kartheart, whom the holy day is named for, and celebrate what their march meant. What it bought future generations. Young boys of any age are encouraged to play 'Soldier' and with their friends, splitting into teams and taking turns being 'Storm lancers' with broomstick mounts and using whatever somewhat safe means to represent spears can be found, or 'Greenskins', where they dye their faces with various temporary paints made from any number of plant leaf. Weapons are represented with any 'safe' medium. Boiled (to soften them by slow waterlogging) pine or willow limbs are most common. Besides this, wrestling contests, riding and dogsledding where possible are also part of the festivities, every town or village has a race route they've been using for decades. Any military stationed in town eat and drink free all day and night, and are generally doted upon.


No one is entirely sure how it began, though many scholars believe it likely that it began as a slightly more somber occassion, a day of community to support the widows, the families whom had someone not come home. To try and lift their spirits, to help them fight through the mourning, to help them celebrate their loved ones, and evolved from there.

Execution

Though some differences naturally exist town to town, in general the execution is rather simple. First comes the games and competitions, judged by local military personal, whether merely stationed in the region or town, or born and raised there. Contests of song, poetry, beer and ale brewing, and of course pie, cake, or other pastry making. Then comes the races, a major event, be they on foot, horse, ski or dogsled. The largest dogsled race in Suranth is held in the Storm-Born Duchy, beginning at Rimehold Crossing and going some hundred kilometers to the gates of Drondok Calafiort. Every year dozens of contestants enter.

Such contests and games continue well into the evening, until the feasts are prepared. Neighborhoods will gather at their local spot, be it outside, a large tavern, a town square, a temple. Villages small enough host the event for all, the large communities have many feasts going at once, and most will go to the one closest to their home. It is a bit of a meager table compared to some feasts in the warmer half of the year, but still quite the table setting for the depths of winter. Songs will be sung, ale will flow free, and the whole thing is is opened by the highest ranking member of the local church, or for want of a proper clergy-person, a respected local known to be well versed in the hymns and prayers, who will lead the reciting of The Prayer of Honor to bless the feast and the coming year.

After the feasting, there is but one final thing to do to mark the festivities as a community. About two hours before midnight, before the pinnacle of power that is the hieght of the Solstice, any military stationed in town, or a dozen or more volunteers, depending on the settlement/neighborhood size, will dress in mock parade uniforms made to look like an artists depiction of those ancient warriors on commission from the church. They will then parade through town, re-enacting that the farewell parade the holy books and scriptures tell us occured, Marching all through town on their way to join Sir Kartheart on his most holy quest. This re-enactment of the Final March, is what gives the festival its name. People will line the streets, cheering and flowering these men and women with praise and love as if they were the soldiers and heroes of old. They will salute, calling out words of kindness, love and encouragement. Spouses of the volunteers will play their part in the re-enactment as well, smiling, giving a passionate farewell kiss to their lovers, and promising to wait for them to return, telling them they have faith in their ability and expect a heroic and triumphant return. The parade will snake its away through most of the settlement or neighborhood, ending at the main gate or main district thoroughfare or town square. After the parade ends of course, there is but one final thing to do as families return home.

Known as 'Ghug Kinnei Uib' in the dwarven tongue, translated and adjusted for the difference in dialogue patterns and word order, this particular piece of the festival is known in the common Valarian tongue as 'Welcoming soldiers home'. Families leave a pitcher of the strongest and best drink they can afford, along with a simple plate of food, some smoked meat, a bit of fresh bread, a bit of cheese, and maybe a candied fruit or small pastry, outside in the threshold of their front door. When they awaken in the morning, the food should be gone. If it is not, that is considered an ill omen for your family for the whole year. If a family is lucky (or perhaps rich depending on how one believes these things are handled, given this part is mostly for children) they will always find an appreciatory coin left under the cleaned and washed dishes. The coin is always a Silver Moon, and these coins are referred to as 'Soldiers Soul Silver'. Tradition is they are not spent frivolously, but used on a transaction through the year that is of particular importance, to cash in that favor of good luck and kindness. This tradition is very important in Suranth particularly, as is the whole festival. But the Soldiers Soul Silver, those coins are not just a trinket or an amusing part of the holiday.  Even the wealthiest of the wealthy take this tradition seriously, people whom normally pay in gold, or even bank writs, will deliberate carefully as to when to use the coin, keeping it separate from the bank, insuring to hand deliver that one coin themselves, not passing the task to a servant or assistant. They will do so even if the transaction is so massive that the rest of it is being done via an exchangeable bank writ, they will use the writ to pay for all but one silver of the transaction, and hand deliver the writ and single coin personally. The coins are marked as well, even though they are valid tender, they are marked around the edges with the section of the The Prayer of Honor written above, in dwarven, the etchings filled with beautifully polished amber that seems to never dull or smudge or dirty. These coins stay almost supernaturally metallic for the year but then, as if by magic, on the morning of the next years Festival, they become simply ordinary silver moons.

Components and tools

• Reconstructions of ancient military uniforms

• A wide range of foodstuffs

• Along with naturally the wide variety of mundane things needed to celebrate, such as tables, chairs, lumber for fire, cooking utensils, etc etc.

Participants

• The 'soldiers' on the farewell march, whom volunteer to take part, or are actual military.

• The key person at the center of organizing this is the local or neighborhood ranking religious official, or village elder, the person with the most know how and understanding of the holy texts of Sir Kartheart.

Observance

Jundar 1st, all day, and the night of as well.

The festival is held all over Valerick, but no where is it observed with more vigor than in Suranth. In the Tundra Realms, they treasure this holy day beyond all others, as Sir Kartheart was one of their own, was of Suranth, so the holy texts tell us.