Celebration of the Ever-Persevering Gift

"Close your eyes,

Fall silent and quiet,

Can you hear it?

The gift given to us?

It beats in your hearts,

Echoes in your lungs.

Celebrate, my dear,

Celebrate, my love.

Another year has gone,

And your gift perseveres."

— song sung at Ghoul birth celebrations

Ghouls, unlike most races, see celebrations of ones birth as a serious time. Instead of large parties and bright colors, they use darker colors and small gatherings.
For the first several years, only those who were there when the celebrator was born would be invited, meaning that as they grow older, the gatherings grow smaller and smaller as the oldest begin to die. As they grow older, it has becomes more common that the ones who are invited to attend the celebration are those who are held dear to the celebrator. By the time the celebrator is old enough to live on their own, most of the guests are the age of the celebrator and many of those who were there at their birth attend only the most important of celebrations.
During the celebrations, somber songs and music are played in the beginning of the day, meant to represent the uncertainty of the early days of life. As the day continues, the music and song grow, if not cheerful, more hopeful in words and tone. Gifts are small and often made personally by the gift-giver and are meant to cultivate interest in different professions until one is found, then are meant to encourage that interest.

"Hush now, you must be quiet and still,
Is there breath in your lungs?
Is there a beat in your heart?
Should there not, you must try
And reach for the gift
That has been given to all,
Incite it, my dear, and live."

— song sung at Ghoul birth celebrations