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UrnatiThe CataclysmArnathia
Elysia, in one year’s time, you will come of age. Enjoy this last year of innocent youth. May all your future days fulfill the dreams of your childhood|A toast by a father on the last Celebration of Zawamela for his daughter.
Spring has always been considered a time of rebirth, of awakening, of renewal. In lore, it represents youth, new beginnings and fresh starts. While there are many festivals that celebrate those who are parents, or those who have passed, the Celebration of Zawamela is focused on the young.
History
Execution
While the details of the celebration can vary from town to town, the basics are the same. In a nutshell, the festival begins in the morning, with a grand breakfast. The breakfast items are chosen by the children ahead of time. These can be served in the home, but in some villages and towns, a huge breakfast is set at the center of the town, with chefs cooking all manner of dishes.
By midday, the game playing begins. A variety of activities are planned, with the focus of allowing children to be children. There are crafting activities, group and individual games, and a general sense of play. This goes on through mid-afternoon, when an afternoon snack time includes sweets, fruit, and beverages that are created especially for this event.
Storytelling and even some napping is next on the agenda, until the evening meal, again prepared with the children in mind, followed by a wonderful selection of desserts. After the meal, everyone gathers to hear a town elder or storyteller share a local fairytale or myth chosen to celebrate youth and their hopes for the future. The ceremony ends with families taking their children back to their homes and settling them in for the night.
