Disting
The first sun of Horning has recently set. The days are becoming notably longer but the north winds still bring chill upon the world. Snow nestles itself upon the ground. Up the road, music and laughter can be heard. Myriad food scents travel on the wind to welcome a weary traveler to the distant firelight. The four days of Disting are upon us and people everywhere celebrate the blessings that have brought them to see winter fading away into spring.
Components and tools
Religious offerings/sacrifices, large quantities of food and drink, and musical instruments (preferably with people skilled in playing them)
Participants
Nearly everybody in Yvard observes Disting in some form for at least one of the four days. If not, they wish they had or at least considered doing so.
Religious leaders prepare material relevant for their followers during the four days of observation.
Any given community generally has at least one host who puts on a feast. In larger communities or cities countless feasts are hosted and it is common for people to visit multiple parties in the same night.
Musicians, be them solo or bands, are expected but not mandatory during evening feats. Skaldic poets, in regions where they are popular, are a suitable substitution for nocturnal entertainment.
Religious leaders prepare material relevant for their followers during the four days of observation.
Any given community generally has at least one host who puts on a feast. In larger communities or cities countless feasts are hosted and it is common for people to visit multiple parties in the same night.
Musicians, be them solo or bands, are expected but not mandatory during evening feats. Skaldic poets, in regions where they are popular, are a suitable substitution for nocturnal entertainment.
Observance
Disting is a four-day holiday that begins on Horning 1st and ends at sunrise on Horning 5th.
During the day, people of all religions are obliged to visit temples or holy sites of their faith. If this is not possible, prayer and meditation are an acceptable substitute. This is to give thanks for having survived the worst parts of winter and ask for blessings or guidance as the fertile seasons approach. Regular work and duties still take place during the daylight hours, but time is almost always allotted for workers to go to temple. The last hours of sunlight are spent preparing for the nocturnal festivities.
When the sun falls and the newly waning moon emerges, great feasts are held in communities all over Yvard and music is a traditional feature of said feasts. These banquets are usually hosted by a single family or household at their own expense, but to do so is a great honor and garners favor in the local community. It is common for guests to donate money or trade goods to the hosts in exchange for putting on the festivities. Disting feasts commonly last until the sun rises, which is an unofficial signal for guests to go home.
During the day, people of all religions are obliged to visit temples or holy sites of their faith. If this is not possible, prayer and meditation are an acceptable substitute. This is to give thanks for having survived the worst parts of winter and ask for blessings or guidance as the fertile seasons approach. Regular work and duties still take place during the daylight hours, but time is almost always allotted for workers to go to temple. The last hours of sunlight are spent preparing for the nocturnal festivities.
When the sun falls and the newly waning moon emerges, great feasts are held in communities all over Yvard and music is a traditional feature of said feasts. These banquets are usually hosted by a single family or household at their own expense, but to do so is a great honor and garners favor in the local community. It is common for guests to donate money or trade goods to the hosts in exchange for putting on the festivities. Disting feasts commonly last until the sun rises, which is an unofficial signal for guests to go home.
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