The First Taste of Snikprime's Nectar
Like cultures all over Cartyrion, the Chittiki people have developed a special alcoholic beverage that makes use of the plants to which they have access. The juice of succulent plants that can be found only in the northwestern corner of the The Dead Basin Desert is fermented to produce a sparkling mead-like beverage that the Chittiki consider to be a gift from Snikprime, their deity of wealth, good fortune, and celebrations. They call this "gift of the gods" Snikprime's Nectar.
By tradition, consumption of the nectar is restricted to adult Chittiki only. This has led to its inclusion as a vital part of the coming of age celebration that marks the tenth birthday of every Chittiki youth - the age at which they are considered adult members of the society.
The guests of honor - most Chittiki birth litters consist of four to six children - are seated together at a long table ahead of all the guests, with their parents at the two ends. The parents spend relatively little time sitting, though, as the feast rituals require that they serve their honoree children "for the last time". This is a celebration of sorts for the parents as well, as they are no longer considered responsible for the upkeep of the new adult children. The reality that these children almost never leave home immediately, and daily life changes very little for them until they do, has little bearing on the celebration.
The feast itself consists of the favorite foods of the new adults being honored. The children can request (demand) anything they would like, so the foods found at two different celebrations may vary widely depending on the food experiences and taste preferences of the individual children. The children need not agree on a single meal, either, so several distinct "dinners" at the same feast are quite often the norm.
There is little actual ritual performed her. The honorees are introduced, everyone sits down, the food is served and dinners are eaten. During the meal, banter from older clan relatives recalling embarrassing incidents from the honoree's childhood is common. This is interspersed with "words of wisdom" advising the new adults on what their life will now be like. Much of this is comedic as well, as the Chittiki believe a good meals should be shared with laughter.
Regardless of the food served, however, the one truly ritualistic portion of the celebration comes at the very end. All of the dinner service is cleared away, and the honorees and guests are provided with pint tankards of Snikprime's Nectar. Once everyone has their drink in hand, the two parents offer a ritual toast to their children. Upon completion of the toast, everyone drains their beverage in one go - or at least tries to.
Officially, this is the first time any of the honoree children have tasted Snikprime's Nectar, though it is not surprising that more than a few have already, in the past, sampled some from an older relative's leftover tankard at a dinner or other gathering. For the few who may not know what to expect of the taste, though, it is often quite difficult for them to consume the entire tankard in one go. This difficulty is noted by the elder guests, who alternate encouragement and laughter at the struggle.
When the last tankard is drained, a shout of celebratory praise is raised from all the guests, and from that moment on, the children at the head table are considered to be adult Chittiki, with all the rights and privileges that status offers.
By tradition, consumption of the nectar is restricted to adult Chittiki only. This has led to its inclusion as a vital part of the coming of age celebration that marks the tenth birthday of every Chittiki youth - the age at which they are considered adult members of the society.
The First Nectar Ritual
While Chittiki children are typically congratulated on each of their birthdays as they grow, their first nine years are not marked by any sort of celebration. (In a society where scores of children per family is not uncommon, this is understandable!) However, as their tenth birthday marks an important rite of passage, a clan-wide feast is held.The guests of honor - most Chittiki birth litters consist of four to six children - are seated together at a long table ahead of all the guests, with their parents at the two ends. The parents spend relatively little time sitting, though, as the feast rituals require that they serve their honoree children "for the last time". This is a celebration of sorts for the parents as well, as they are no longer considered responsible for the upkeep of the new adult children. The reality that these children almost never leave home immediately, and daily life changes very little for them until they do, has little bearing on the celebration.
The feast itself consists of the favorite foods of the new adults being honored. The children can request (demand) anything they would like, so the foods found at two different celebrations may vary widely depending on the food experiences and taste preferences of the individual children. The children need not agree on a single meal, either, so several distinct "dinners" at the same feast are quite often the norm.
There is little actual ritual performed her. The honorees are introduced, everyone sits down, the food is served and dinners are eaten. During the meal, banter from older clan relatives recalling embarrassing incidents from the honoree's childhood is common. This is interspersed with "words of wisdom" advising the new adults on what their life will now be like. Much of this is comedic as well, as the Chittiki believe a good meals should be shared with laughter.
Regardless of the food served, however, the one truly ritualistic portion of the celebration comes at the very end. All of the dinner service is cleared away, and the honorees and guests are provided with pint tankards of Snikprime's Nectar. Once everyone has their drink in hand, the two parents offer a ritual toast to their children. Upon completion of the toast, everyone drains their beverage in one go - or at least tries to.
Officially, this is the first time any of the honoree children have tasted Snikprime's Nectar, though it is not surprising that more than a few have already, in the past, sampled some from an older relative's leftover tankard at a dinner or other gathering. For the few who may not know what to expect of the taste, though, it is often quite difficult for them to consume the entire tankard in one go. This difficulty is noted by the elder guests, who alternate encouragement and laughter at the struggle.
When the last tankard is drained, a shout of celebratory praise is raised from all the guests, and from that moment on, the children at the head table are considered to be adult Chittiki, with all the rights and privileges that status offers.
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