Midsummer Rites

Trial

All youth of the clan who have completed their training and will be coming of age in a given year spend the 14th night of Khuís'hléäd using skills honed through their mentorships to keep themselves and the clan safe from dusk until dawn. In the ancient days, this consisted largely of physically guarding the settlements from overnight threats, but in the present day there is more of an emphasis on initiates' ability to perform the roles they have been mentored for without supervision. At sunrise on the 15th, they are allowed to return and rest until later in the day, when the initiation rites begin.

Initiation

At noon on the 15th day of Khuís'hléäd, all members of the clan who can make the journey gather at the sacred well at Crønsérva. All initiates who completed their trial the previous night come before the Speakers' Council to be blessed by their village's World-speaker and receive their vocational runes. At this point they are allowed to drink from the spring, after which they are considered full adults in the eyes of the clan.

Bonfire

Once the initiation rites are completed, the clan ascends the high hill, where a bonfire is lit that is kept burning until sunrise. The clan dances, sings, and celebrates the initiates, and many partners begin to pair off in anticipation of the Hunt at nightfall.

Hunt (participation optional)

As the sun begins to set, initiates who wish to make themselves romantically and/or sexually available set out into the ancient forests surrounding the high hill with fresh flowers woven into their life-circlets. At dusk, those who wish to pursue them don antlered crowns and "hunt" the objects of their affection through the woods, with the understanding that an initiate giving their circlet to a pursuer is accepting their advances.

Life-Circlets

Life-circlets would be worn by any initiates who wished to participate in the Hunt, indicating their availability and interest in potential courtships.

Antlered Crowns

TBA

The majority of the clan is present for the Midsummer Rites, barring those who cannot travel and those who care for them, but only those who have completed their mentorships and will be coming of age in a given year participate in the trials. The Speakers' Council, composed of the spiritual leaders from each village, oversee the initiation rites, and each initiate's vocational runes are applied by their mentor.

As the name suggests, the Midsummer Rites take place on the 15th of Khuís'hléäd, the longest day of the year.