Vingenalia
Of all the gods, Ikatrus loves us the most. He gave us wine and it is through wine that we are healed of all our pains and worries!
History
As cultures that developed within the environs of the Central Sea, the Eknoi and Rexan peoples learned how to cultivate grapes for the purposes of winemaking early in their history. As a consequence, both viticulture and wine consumption have played a large role in their cultures for thousands of years. Indeed, the economy of the former Rexan colony of Aerisca Borealis was centered primarily around the production and trade of wine, and it is this industry that continues to be the engine of Aeriscan prosperity to this day.
Historical records show that the Vingenalia festival has been formally observed by the Eknoi for at least 1,400 years; whereas, the Rexans would only adopt the Eknoi festival in 886 AR. Nevertheless, after its introduction, the Rexan people have enthuastically participated in the festivities as the rambunctiousness of an event centered around the consumption of wine, as well as music and dance, proves to be an effective societial safety valve for the typically stodgy and spartan Rexans.
Execution
On the morning of the first day of the Vingenalia, the young, unmarried women of a town or village will parade through the main throughfare while carrying amphorae of wine. These celebrants invite the townsfolk to join them in their procession to the nearest vineyards with shrill ritual ululations. The procession ends at a shrine of Ikatrus that can be found on the edge of every town or village that delinates the "urban" from the "rural". The celebrants then lustrate the shrine by pouring the amphorae of wine over the image of Ikatrus found within. As the wine is poured, the gathered celebrants sing hymns in honor of Ikatrus and Rena, asking for a fruitful harvest in the upcoming year. After the ritual of lustration, the owners of the vineyards provide as much wine as the gathered can drink, as everyone dances into the night to songs performed by invited rhapsodes in praise of wine and merriment.
The second day of the Vingenalia is dedicated in honor of Rena. Unmarried female celebrants of age gather in the public areas and perform suggestive dances and songs in front of the unmarried men of the village. After the ritual dance, the celebrants are encouraged to form couples by the gathered married villagers, and these couples retreat to their homes to consumate their coupling. The coupling is only expected to last of the entirety of the Vingenalia, as these temporary unions are thought to provide fertility to the land. Nevertheless, these relationships quite often sow seeds that sprout into future marriages. Children concieved during one of these couplings are considered to be particularly blessed. Regardless of one's role on the second day, many cups of wine are drunk by all.
On the third and four days of the Vingenalia are ritualized combat tournaments dedicated to Ator, the Ouranic God of Justice and Vengeance. On these two days, anyone with a grievence over events occuring earlier in the year may challenge anyone else to a fistfight with the idea that whomever wins did so through the divine adjudication of Ator; bouts are won through submission or knockout. Regardless of the outcome of the bout, once the fight is resolved the grievence is considered to be over and it is highly frowned upon if one party continues to uphold it. It is understood that challenges can be made across the usually strict boundaries of social class, and patricians can even be challenged by members of the lowest stations of society. The liquid courage provided by copious consumption of wine ensures that the tournaments are filled with challengers and the bouts last for many rounds due to the anesthetizing effects of the wine on the pugilists.
The fifth to seventh days of the Vingenalia are observed through individual families hosting feasts that last through the evening with much conversation, song and dance, and great amounts of wine drunk. The final two days of the festival are dedicated to solemn rites of worship of the Ouranic Gods, in stark contrast to the raucous, celebratory mood of the earlier days of the Vingenalia. Individuals are encouraged to reflect on their moral conduct during the year and resolve to improve themselves in the upcoming one.
Components and tools
The most recognizable symbol of the Vingenalia are the amphorae of wine and the carrying poles used to transport them to the shrines of Ikatrus. As can be expected, the Vingenalia requires many casks of wine, and vineyards work throughout the year to produce enough wine for the Vingenalia celebrations in winter.
Observance
The Vingenalia is observed annually for a period of nine days, starting on the Winter Solstice, which equates to the 21st to the 30th of Ka'aisius on the Rexan Calendar.
