I was thinking of adding onto this, but might use some of these celebrations as reference for another world I’m working on soon :-) Thought it might be good to add it to the archives and reflect. Lots subject to change, but it’s fun to see old ideas and clean them up a bit!
Dragonborn Celebrations
Gathering of the Clans, or “Conifir Unlaus”:
This holiday is dedicated to the kinship and management of all of the Clans, in which most Dragonborn are affiliated. On this day, the Elder Council of Thrak’sin and the leaders of each clan participate in an open discussion on terms of their status, condition, and important decisions that may impact all. Citizens are welcome to ask questions. This celebration is special in that it serves to unite all of the Dragonborn people and allow them to voice their concerns. It is also a time of great joviality, with special drinks, foods, and fun activities being open for all subraces and cultures. (For instance, a more desert-faring Ka’llean may be able to try an odd Eastern Coparian dish of Longshetou noodles, or some of the famous Nadurian honey mead). It is a decennial celebration, and as such, most participants in the festivities tend to be more mature. Admittance begins at the age of six.
Frostgleam, or “Fro’manam
The traditional Doronian holiday that celebrates the migration of the Doronian people from their ancient homelands in the desert to the cold mountains of Ranskill under the watchful and wise eye of Doron. The celebration includes a multitude of festivities, many of them snow-related (for instance, one of the most popular competitions is the Ash’cor Challenge, or snowbody challenge, where contestants have to gather as many bluebells as possible while wearing an armor full of ice). There are carnival type activities as well, and small children’s plays that are put on. One of the favorites is the ancient tale of the defeat of Kanagnos: Both children and parents alike find delight in the firebreathers and the playfighting against the aforementioned villainous beast. In the modern age, there is also a vigil held every year to honor the memory of those lost on Ash’kell, which occurred during the time of the Frostgleam celebrations.
Dorvak’ir’s Day
The day of celebration that honors love and attraction (amongst other things that come with that). It is named after the half-dragon Dorvak’ir, who was an ancient swooner of women and men of all types and convinced several to fall in love with him through his various mischievous ways. The word dorvak, which is a term of endearment equivalent to the words “dear” or “love”, stems from Dorvak’ir’s own name. There are a few odd traditions on Dorvak’ir’s Day that have spawned from the antics that the odd Half-Dragon engaged in: Pouring a mug of ale on the one you are attracted to, giving them a saddle so that they may “ride easy”, and filling a house with songbirds are just some to name a few. Each clan typically has a different take on this celebration, as each has its own concept of love and affection. For instance, it may be more base to spar with someone you love on Dorvak’ir’s Day if you are a red or blue dragonborn, though not in many other cultures, whilst writing a ballad of love to a Hakiman likely won’t get you as far as perhaps stealthily slipping a nightshade flower into their back pocket.
The Taking of the Mentor, or “Clax’zhira”.
Traditionally a Ka’llean celebration, this honorary event marks the taking of an apprentice by a mentor. In Ka’llean culture and other southeastern Dragonborn areas, the significance of taking an apprentice is great, being one of the most important aspects of a dragonborn’s life. The spiritual bond which is celebrated is highly revered, unrivaled by even the aspect of matrimony and brother-hood. In a sense, it is a marriage, for the first time that it was said that the celebration began it was between the Ka’llean Great Winged One Iocin and the daughter of the Brelethaad chief, Daleria. The training begun by Iocin developed and blossomed into a relationship of love and respect, as well as unmatched combat strength. Daleria became the Tilabi Dareev, or the Elder God Queen, and is said to have ruled the land flawlessly for 300 years before her death. Even in the afterlife, statues of Mentor and Student are depicted together, and in Ka’llean graves mentors are buried along with the student and their wives/husbands, siblings, parents, and children. This is why the apprenticeship of Halhadim to Malik’al is so important: It is diplomatic symbolism.
Elephani Tur’gara, or “Elephant Day”
Also known as “Elephant Day”, this Ka’llean celebration is dedicated to the titular sacred animal which had become central to the Ka’llean warrior culture. It is a day of racing and bonding, where games are played with elephant warrior companions. Royals parade their elephants adorned in garments of silks and leopard furs, richly adorned owners on their backs and servants darting around their feet to clean the beasts. The queen’s elephant- always the strongest leading female in a herd- wears a tajimnamke, or a “womanly crown”, that symbolizes her power over others and fertility to bear more heirs. The king’s elephant wears a special-made custom fit leg armor made of gold and a warrior crown, or mfukichwa, fashioned of the bones of the king’s first major hunt. The king’s elephant is then painted in warrior stripes (shujaa kupigwa, in the dialect) thereafter. The king and the other warriors go on a hunt that lasts from the stroke of midday until the moon is in the center of the sky. The aim of it is for the fresh blood to find companions. The new warriors then must utilize the time to catch elephants of their own. If they do not return by night with an elephant, they are no longer considered warriors until they can redeem themselves. If any are lost along the way in the night, traditions demands that the tribe must wait until the next day in order to recover them.
Nemsimi Kir, or “The Day of Old Traditions”
Before the eastern culture of the Tirian more or less integrated with that of the Toirneachs, the bronze dragonborn were more Roman in nature. When the Eastern Migrations began in the advent of the Tirian Civil War, the immigrants left lasting impressions on the people and culture. Much of the previous way of life was dissipating or assimilating As such, they have dedicated a day to dress up and engage in traditional festivities. This includes gladiatorial combat, the traditional weaving of fashions, the opening of the Bath House, the Circus Maxima, and the making of wine. Even though those of Tirian descent participate, the point is typically to draw those families with strong hereditary ties to the land back to their traditional ancestral land.
Jinshouro, or “The Bloodless Brothers Day”
An old Tirian tradition which replicates the old days of making family constructs from metals and appreciating the earth’s magical properties. There was once a time when the Warforged were called Kinto, or Metalmen. Warforged in of itself is an insult and accusatory name playing off of the conspiracy of Dinh Ahn murdering his adopted dragonborn father Emperor Duran Ghang Wu. While the age of harmony and creation of Warforged is believed to have passed, there is still a vein of creation that the Tirian exercise, though rather than creating fully fledged sentient beings with what they believe to have souls, they simply make small constructs or servants.
Teachtaire lá, or “Messenger Day”
A Nadurian festival which honors the brave souls who sacrificed their lives in the course of history- from the Dragonkin Wars to the Ka’llean Besiegement- to deliver their message as the Seahbacan scouts (druid scouts who would shapeshift to deliver their messages: Though they were known as “the Hawks,” they went by many other animal shapes as well.) On this day, the entire youth grouping of the village gets together to play a large game that spans over 600 acres of woodland and 13 of mountainside. Everyone is invited to play. In the evening, the actual trainees of the Scouts go out and undergo an overnight trial to find a flag at the top of Calghony Mountain, retrieve it, and bring it back by sunrise of the next day. The winners- there are three separate ones who are picked for the three flags on the mountaintop- are then brought in as members and trained. They receive their arm markings by the Weseleher and are initiated into their roles by their respective leader.
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