Birthday Celebrations in Alven

Birthdays are generally celebrated from the age of 17 onwards in the Alven traditions. Infant mortality rates used to be very hight a few centuries ago and clans and families did not celebrate the life of their children too early for fear of drawing a demon's evil eyes onto them.
Nowadays, children will celebrate their birthdays earlier and earlier. In some families, thirteen is considered a good age to start celebrating birthdays. At that age, a child can be put to work and start earning a wage.
Birthdays are usually subdued affairs in the poorer sections of Alven society. However, more influential families will throw huge parties for their son's or daughter' s seventeenth birthday. At seventeen, both Alven men and women are considered adults and can start to lead their chosen life.

History

Historically, celebrating a birthday is meant to bring health and financial safety for the birthday person in the year ahead. This is why the most important part of the ceremony is the blessing;  all the clansmen, family, and friends are gathered - usually at twilight - to recite the traditional birthday blessings to the person whose birthday it is.
Presents of silver coins might be exchanged, but this is not necessary. Poorer and smaller families make sure that their child hears a blessing before the end of the day. If they can afford it, they will gift something silver to the birthday boy or girl.

Participants

Traditional examples of Birthday Blessings:

May those who love us, love us. And those who don't love us, May the gods turn their hearts; And if  they don't turn their hearts, May they turn their ankles, So we will know them by their limping.




May the hills lie low May the hills lie low, May the sloughs fill up, In thy way. May all evil sleep, May all good awake, In thy way.


May there always be work for your hands to do. May your purse always hold a coin or two. May the sun always shine upon your windowpane. May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near to you and May the Goddess, fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.





We bathe your palms In the showers of wine, In the crook of the kindling, In the seven elements, In the sap of the tree, In the milk of honey,
We place nine pure, choice gifts In your clear beloved face:
The gift of form, The gift of voice, The gift of fortune, The gift of goodness, The gift of eminence, The gift of charity, The gift of integrity, The gift of true nobility, The gift of apt speech.