The Abstain

The Abstain is a cultural religous festival that takes place in the first ten days in the month of Penance. This follows on from the Prosperity Solstice festival in which a celebration of indulgence takes place as it is a time for merriment and celebration. The Abstain however is the polar opposite and marks a time for conservation and sacrifice. As it takes place over the first few days of the new year it also serves as a reminder that the warmer months of Aèr are ending and Vant is on its way. The The Church of Tarn also pushes this as time to reflect on gluttony and excess and t regain humility. What is abstained from and how is most often determined by area often a lord or duke or even a large guild will traditionally will outline what may be abstained from. Smaller more rural areas tend to be more cohesive and will see most of a village abstaining in one hedgemonous form where are larger more diverse areas may have a number of option for different people to chose from depending on what is available for them.    The Abstain has a number of resons, it puts citizens in the mentality of saving food and preparing their crops for cold months whilst inviting them to reflect on the upcoming year and start fresh. For larger cities it is also strategic as a way to lessen demand on crucial supplies, an inland town may put an abstain on fish where it is difficult to transport after work was halted over prosperity solstice.    The abstain is only for followers of the Church of Tarn who make up almost all of the population. Orcs and Goblins are not expected to abstain as it is purely a Kith practice. Kith who worship under the practice of Xegruni also do not partake in this as the Xegruni worship the first and the first week of the year is seen as a positive time for celebration.  Abstaining takes a number of forms, most common is to forgo food, many will opt to only eat one meal per day, likely in the evening as opposed to three or they may only eat on every second day. There are also limitations around what can be eaten common practice is avoiding animal products like meat, dairy and eggs or avoiding cooked or 'prepared' food- which is loose in definition and could mean anything from cooked to seasoned to even cut. Other options may involve spending money, or limiting sleep or slaughtering animals or fishing. The most common in this time is the forsaking of alcohol. The exception to this tradition is for people who are 'vulnerable' that is to say those afflicted by old age and illness, people to need food and rest to recover or thrive are given the right to step away from the tradition. This includes new mothers, the elderly, injured and sick, children and students. The latter of which have only recently been excused due to pressures from the College of Wintrow who are indoctrinating students in that first week.