Traditions and Customs


Over the course of its long history, the City of Rosewood has picked up many traditions and customs that may be unique to its population. Rosewood is a powerful and large City. As such, it attracts all kinds of people. People who are able to share the wealth of their experiences with the rest of the populace. These experiences have worked in tangent over the past centuries in order to create an atmosphere of love and enjoyment within the City during times of celebration. There are a few of these traditions and customs that are known and adored by the entire City:

Christmas

The Day of Christ’s birth is celebrated in Rosewood starting on the Monday of the last week of December, and lasting for seven whole days. During the first day, people would gift their first-gift to the person they care for the most. Christmas is about giving, and therefore it is a social obligation to give at least twelve gifts to the people in your life. Twelve and seven are considered lucky numbers during this time and most people will repeat mundane actions seven or twelve times for good fortune. Homes, peasant and noble alike are decorated with green, as a way to wish for a good harvest next year. The Church organizes plays that depict episodes from the Bible, as well as sermons on topics relating to Jesus’ life. There are songs and games being played around the City and everyone is encouraged to show love to their neighbor. The poor receive large alms, while the wealthy get to show off their wealth. On the seventh day, work is against the law, and a grand feast takes place during the evening. Fernyard Fortress hosts a mighty feast for the affluent and important members of society, while the King donates food to poor families. Everyone is expected to be at home and eating in glory and in honor of Christ.

Easter

The Seven Holy Weeks of Catholicism consist of six weeks that lead up to Holy Week and Easter Sunday. Lent is celebrated at this time. Lent represents seven weeks during which Catholics are encouraged to resist sin and temptation. Some fast, while others simply remove themselves from one thing they indulge in the most. Marriages during this time are frowned upon and seen as bad luck, as well as having children. Lent begins on the first Wednesday of March and ends after six Sundays on Black Saturday. The last week is when Easter is celebrated. Holy Week starts with Palm Sunday, followed by Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week, followed by Maundy Thursday. Then, on Good Friday, the Paschal Triduum begins and lasts through Black Saturday and finally Easter Sunday. Usually, it is a period of mourning and Bible study, with sermons and plays depicting the life of Jesus. Women are to dress decently, while men are prohibited from working with iron nails. On Good Friday the service would be held in absolute darkness, save for one candle holder, representing Christ’s light. There is no Eucharist during this service, instead, the congregation would kneel together and pray with their priest in Latin, in darkness, mourning the death of Christ. However, on Easter Sunday people would celebrate the Resurrection with painted eggs for the children, a game of catch between young women and young men, and a final feast.

The Festival of Love

Also known as St. Valentine’s Day, it is a celebration of love and matrimony held every 14th of February. During this time, it is customary for a man to gift a single rose to his love interest, or wife. It is said that not receiving a rose is a bad omen for the rest of the year. Women usually make something their husbands or suiters love for dinner. In the evening, Fernyard Fortress holds a magnificent ball for the nobility, while the Main Square is full of song and dance for the commoners.

The Annual Grand Tournament

Known throughout Europe as the Champions Rite, it is a tradition since the Age of the Empire and begins every 1st of March, and usually lasts for one to two weeks. During this time, nobles and commoners alike compete in various disciplines in order to rank among the top five contenders, with the first one being granted a wish by the King. The Grand Tourney is absolutely inclusive, allowing women and peasants to compete in order to determine the truest skill and valor during combat. The three disciplines are: the Melee, where multiple teams simulate field battles with deadly force, the Archery phase, where one hundred contenders aim and fire at three targets of varying difficulty, and the Joust, where the remaining thirty-two face off against each other in a brutal head-on joust with gear provided to them. All of the people of Rosewood gather around in anticipation of this event, bet, and watch, hoping to catch a glimpse of some action.

The Rose Wake

Hosted every 3rd of July, the Rose Wake is a celebration of the founding of Rosewood. Men and women dress in red and green and are encouraged to spend the day in song and games. Plays are held across the City, depicting the legend of how Rosewood was founded. A magical tale of how a group of Christian Knights fought off an evil Spriggan and made their home on her remains, which sent a pool of red into the Seyne nearby. To emulate this, children are encouraged to go and gather roses for themselves and for their families if they have none. Most people will simply buy them in the market. During the sunset, a Knight has a mock duel against a “Spriggan” and defeats it. Once the Spriggan is dead, the people gather on the banks of the river, and on the bridges and throw their roses into the stream, watching them drift away. Casting away your rose signifies luck for the next year.

The Harvest Faire

The Harvest Faire is a three-day-long celebration of the beginning of the harvest and it starts on the third Friday of every September, ending on Sunday. During this time, entertainers from across the Kingdom come to Rosewood, as well as exotic merchants to peddle their goods. Friday is spent playing games and enjoying the entertainment, Saturday is the day of the Harvest Dance, where commoners celebrate the upcoming harvest in the Main Square, and Sunday is the day of the Harvest Feast. It is said that crying during the Harvest Faire could cause a bad harvest. New widows are often killed as a result of this.

Kingsday

On the day of his birth, it is customary for the King to throw a lavish feast for his vassals and organize a fair and games for his subjects. The people of Rosewood look forward to this every May 31st. Typically, the day begins when the bells toll, and the King, along with his family, makes his way through the streets of the City, greeting his subjects and distributing gifts. Singing and dancing are commonplace throughout Rosewood during this day. Some people also still celebrate the Queen Mother’s birthday as Queensday. This is usually a smaller festivity, celebrated by older people, especially women. It happens every year on September 3rd.

Vigil Wednesday

Vigil Wednesday is marked every first Wednesday of June. It is a day of mourning, specifically for the Emperors and Kings who gave up their ghosts for their country. However, following the death of the last King, people started mourning the fallen heroes of the Fifty Years’ War during this time. Sermons are held for the dead and there are group prayers where the living pray for the souls of those who gave their lives for them and their children. People usually don’t wear vibrant colors on this day and games, singing, and dancing are all postponed at least until the day after. Finally, the common people of Rosewood construct wooden effigies representing soldiers. They are then burned as the people stand and watch in silence. People born on Vigil Wednesday are considered extremely lucky and gifted.

Hallowtide

Hallowtide is a three-day celebration of Christian saints and the dead in general. It starts on the last day of October (All Hallows’ Eve), goes through the first day of November (All Saints’ Day), and ends the day after (All Souls’ Day).

All Hallows’ Eve is when the veil between the material and spirit world is the thinnest. When night falls, people are encouraged to not walk alone or speak the names of dead relatives. On Hallows’ Eve, spirits are said to roam the earth, looking for their lost loved ones, seeking rest. The Hallows’ Eve festival starts at night. It has all sorts of games and feasts and is mostly celebrated by the young. People make masks so that the spirits can’t recognize them. Everyone participating is encouraged to wear black. Once the night is over and midnight has passed (signaled by church bells), everyone takes off their mask and walks to the cemeteries of Rosewood. There, everyone prays aloud, offering solace to the restless spirits who must return to the spirit world.

All Saints’ Day is the day when all saints and martyrs, both known and unknown are honored. Everyone wears white for this day and everyone is expected to attend Mass. All Saints’ Day is marked with a feast, followed by a second trip to the graves of loved ones where flowers are placed.

All Souls’ Day commemorates the souls of all Christians, those unknown, friends, and family. Church services on this day recite the Office of the Dead. Cemeteries are cleaned on this day and families will visit the graves of their lost loved ones a third time to light a candle on their graves. Additionally, the poor will often go “souling” on this day; they visit the houses of wealthier citizens and ask for food and water, asking them to “help the souls of all Christians.”

Categories: History

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