Nimýric New Year

The year in the Nimýric Calendar begins on Córélun 1, the hatching day of Nimýron the Benevolent, which is celebrated all over the Nimýric Empire.

History

Pre-Nimýric Times

Due to the reproductive cycle of the Ichtýdé, babies hatch in the early winter months. Therefore this time of the year was seen as a turning point even before the Nimýric calendar was established. Collective celebrations of the new lives were common, but the precise day varied between settlements and tended to shift between years.

Nimýric Times

Nimýron the Benevolent was crowned king at the age of 41. The tradition of celebrating his hatching day publicly began at the next anniversary following the coronation. Due to his popularity with the people, many settlements started aligning their local hatching festivities with this date. Consequently, the turn of the year was marked by large-scale celebrations across the entire kingdom, which made this day an obvious cornerstone for the official calendar announced in the year 45 PN. Besides introducing the new calendar, Nimýron the Benevolent was a passionate advocate of the Church of Saphéne, so the emerging tradition became tightly linked to worshipping the Mother Goddess of all Life.

Modern Times

During the past century, people have begun moving away from the Saphénic faith, embracing a more scientific worldview. Nevertheless, old traditions die slowly and so the New Year Celebration is one of the occasions when people still gather at the temples. These days they do so less for obtaining the blessing of the goddess, but rather for being with the community.

Execution

New Year's Eve

The night before the celebration, families gather at the chimney fire to await the new year together. They eat light snacks and talk about what happened during the ending year, and when the clock strikes midnight, they toast to a prosperous time ahead.

Morning

Families start the day by sharing a breakfast that is more luxurious than usual, including a special type of herbal bread, spiced sausages and marinated fruit. They then exchange presents for which each family member invested considerable time or resources, and spend the morning in each other's company before getting ready for the communal celebration.

Temple Ceremony

At 14:00, an hour before noon, a special worship is held at all temples. The priest preaches a sermon in which they sum up notable events that occurred during the preceding year, and thank Saphéne for the children who recently hatched or will soon do so. The parents will then bring their babies or eggs forward to receive the blessing of the goddess, and introduce the new lives to the community.

Lunch Banquet

At noon, the local community gathers in a public place to have lunch together. Every family is expected to contribute to the banquet, bringing something like a roast, a casserole or a pie that will be shared by the others. During the gathering, more presents are handed out to friends and mentors outside the family.

Festival

The afternoon and evening are spent celebrating in the parks and streets, usually until late at night. Throughout the festival, street merchants sell sweets, savoury snacks and drinks, or raffle off trinkets and handicrafts. The focus of the festivities is on the children, who bring the new toys along that they were given in the morning. People of all ages mingle to play games together, with older members of the community teaching younger ones how to handle their gifts properly or teaching them new tricks. Others sing, play music or present other entertaining skills such as dancing, juggling or acrobatics.

Components and tools

Blue, the color of the Imperial Bloodline, is found frequently on this day. It shows in decorative ribbons tied around the New Year presents, in celebratory banners or in the clothes which the people don on this special day.

Alternative Name(s)

Gýóca Dinó

Holiday

Córélun 1

by Kathrin Janowk

by Kathrin Janowski

by Kathrin Janowski