Spanking of the King
Each year, on the first weekend of Topher (the 10th month), the entire kingdom parties in a massive tribute to the High King, celebrating his birthday. There is a very special part of the celebration, however; the traditional Spanking of the King.
History
The first weekend of the year's 10th month, every year, the citizens of the Unified Kingdoms celebrate Kings Day. It was added by a Grey, after one of the Nobles of the Kingdom of Cotnor became High King and squandered the entire royal treasury to live a lavish lifestyle of excess and deviancy.
Execution
Each of the separate kingdoms do it a little differently. In Stilton-Head, for instance, they make a Plaster of Feynor bust of the current king, placed atop a papier maché effigy filled with hay, which they light on fire after they each give the High King effigies a good whack on the arse with an oar.
Components and tools
A highly stylized paddle of some sort; firecrackers; noisemakers; drinks with rum; stylized clothing only appropriate for this one weekend out of every year is quite popular also.
Participants
Everybody! The entire kingdom parties for the entire weekend. No one works, even the people setting all the paraphernalia up are volunteers. The Mayor, Burgermeister, or Governor of the various outlying townships is expected to good-naturedly take the kind of ribbing one could expect when standing on a large stump in the middle of the town square, rain or shine, on King's day.
Observance
It is a time of good humor and cheer. Many gifts are given, and many of the marriages taking place the following year were proposed on the evening of King's Day. It has become something of a trope.
Related Ethnicities
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