Human Awakening Day

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or Humans all across the world of Cartyrion, the 21st day of the Time of Caleran's Crown is a day of special celebration, and, for many, religious observance. This is day set aside to commemorate the day the first of their kind were Awakened upon the world by their Humanar creators. This is the day that Prominion and Caronalyn shaped their first ancestors and caused them to draw their first breaths.

Remembering Roots and Giving Thanks

Church Services

No matter where on Cartyrion they may be, most Humans honor Awakening Day with a simple ritual whose rubrics were first set down by Saint Ancelin of Highhill, the first and most important saint honored by the Human Folk. In the temples, churches, and gathering halls of all three major sects of Human religion: the True, Enlightened, and the Reformed Churches, the ceremony is conducted publicly on Awakening Day morning.

Most Humans make every reasonable attempt to attend this "formal" ceremony - even those who rarely set foot inside a religious building on any other day of the year will put on their finest clothing and make an appearance on Awakening Day. Following the brief formal ritual, the cleric presiding usually gives a short sermon reminding those present of the importance of cooperative effort in ensuring the health, safety, and comfort of every Human everywhere.

Party Time

The remainder of Awakening Day is given over to family and small group celebrations. Families will gather for small private parties. In larger cities, groups of people who work together may celebrate in unison, bringing their families along. In remote areas, entire small villages might have one open-air celebration in the village square.

The largest cities host some sort of municipal feast open to any and all in the city. These ensure that even the homeless and most destitute can be included in the day's remembrances; as it is considered sinful to deny the bounty of the gods to any Human on this day. Even in the Human run prisons around the world, captives are spared their tortures and are treated with respect on this one day each year.

Food and drink are plentiful at these parties; usually offered "buffet style" on large tables. In the center of these tables, there will be an offering similar to that which is prescribed in the ritual. In most homes within the First Kingdom, and in the homes of the more subdued or devout around the world, these will be simple arrangements, and the ritual prayer will be repeated by a family member before any feasting begins.

The Thanksgiving Ritual

The ritual prescribed by St. Ancelin is short and simple. First, it requires the gathering of a set of materials that represent the material gifts and knowledge given to the first Humans by their creator gods. These gifts are arranged in a particular manner on an altar or table, and a brief recitation is repeated over them.

In the center of the table, a large plate is set; to the left and right of the plate are placed two baskets woven of grass, wicker, or sticks:

The left basket is filled with whole kernels of wheat and barley, and several chicken or duck eggs are placed atop the grain. This basket represents the foods given to Humans by the gods for food and drink.

The basket on the right receives a handful of iron nails, a handful of wooden joining pegs, and several decorated ceramic cups and vials. These represent the knowledge and skills given by the gods to manipulate the raw materials around them to fashion a better, more comfortable life.

The plate in the center is stacked with decorated sweetcakes, which represent the comfortable life that can be achieved thanks to the gifts provided by the gods, but also thanks to the willingness of Humans to work together - each contributing their best talents - to improve the lot of the entire community.

Once the gifts are properly arranged, the Humans gather around the table or altar, as the presiding person recites the brief prayer:

The fruits of the earth and the creatures that walk upon it...
The products of our industry, shaped from the raw essence of the world...
The comfort and prosperity that is the product of our cooperation.
For all these, we give thanks to those who Awakened us.

Showing Off

Beyond the first Kingdom, it is just as likely that the offering arrangement is a decoration mostly ignored by those present, and nobody bothers to repeat the ritual prayer (unless they missed morning church services). In the Free Cities, it has recently become the practice to obtain highly decorated fine porcelain and glass replicas of the offering baskets and plate, replete with artificial grains, eggs, sweetcakes, and other items. These items are often adorned with gilding and gemstones, and are a status symbol among the wealthiest folk of the cities.

Sometimes Awakening Day celebrations in the homes of individuals will also feature additional items representing some sort of bounty or trade skill. A bunch of grapes is the most popular addition, meant to represent wine. Wine, though, did not enter into human culture until they first started interacting with the Elves, who taught them the arts of the vinter. In the Free Cities, a handful of raw or roasted kafay seeds is a common addition. In the city of Icefell, whose economy revolves around kafay, this addition is almost universal (though not in the formal church ceremonies.)