The Wandering

It is unknown exactly when this tradition began, but the earliest known story involving a specific person (whose general age is known) dates back eight generations. It's assumed that the tradition wasn't originally a coming-of-age ritual as it is known today, but rather a step in the preparation for the New Years feast celebrated a month after the equinox. Those who first volunteered were mostly on the brink of adulthood, seeing the journey as a good opportunity to gain independence and travel without their parents.   Over time, it transitioned into an expedition undertaken only by adolescents, who were considered adults upon their return. As it took it’s place culturally as a coming-of-age tradition within the villages, it gained more structured rituals involving the families of the expeditioners.

Before any ceremonies even start, the adolescents spend the month leading up to the Spring Equinox making the cloaks they will travel in. This teaches them how to handle fabrics, weave, and mend the cloak in case it tears during the journey. On the evening of the Spring Equinox, the village gathers for the sending-off ceremony. The mayor gives the expeditioners the correspondence they are to bring to the capital of their dukedom and deliver to the Duke. They are also each given a wooden pin bearing the village’s shield to show citizenship.   Depending on the distance and path to the capital, the journey may range from easy to outright perilous. Once they arrive, they prove their citizenship using the pins, personally deliver the letters to the Duke, and retrieve a ceremonial item (such as a sword, bow, or jug) in return. This item is a vital part of the village's New Year’s festival.   On their journey back, some villages have their special location—such as a waterfall, field, or meadow—where they gather water or berries.   Upon their return, the village gathers for a feast where the water or berries are incorporated into festive beverages, and the expeditioners are celebrated as adults.

The Mayor: The Mayor's ceremonial responsibilities include distributing the pins handmade by the villagers, as well as giving the farewell speech.   The Families: The families of the expeditioners are expected to provide different gifts depending on their relation to the family member about to travel. An older sibling is expected to gift them a handmade scarf (made together with other older siblings if there are multiple), while a younger sibling is expected to give them a traditional type of traveling bread. A parent is expected to give a woven bracelet and provide life lessons the night before departure. If the relation is anything other than those, what is customary to give may vary greatly from village to village.   The Regional Duke: The Regional Duke receives the letter from the village and is responsible for sending a messenger to the village if their youth do not arrive within a reasonable timeframe. The amount of time considered "reasonable" varies depending on the distance to the village.