The Festivals of Rot and Renewal

As long as the Mother of Rot has been worshipped the people of Raelvo have honored this cycle, though precisely how has waxed and waned as time and cultures have changed. These festivals bear the mark of wide and varied regional expressions and differ even more so between rural and urban enclaves. Common among all iterations is the way the festivals emulate the decline and rise of life in the natural world. Also common are the inclusion of sacrifices. In the distant past these sacrifices were of bound prisoners, slaves, honored warriors etc. As cultures grew older and older traditions were either sanitized or done away with completely; such barbaric practices were replaced with animal sacrifices, harvest offerings, or in some instances mere symbolic gestures. Only in the most remote reaches of the world are the old ways of worship still practiced in all of their bloody splendor.

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Many different cultures and regions know of Putrivita and because of this widespread knowing of the goddess, there are almost as many ways of worshipping her majesty. For the Festivals of Rot and Renewal, however, a few trends seem universal.

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Festival of Rot

    The Festival of Rot embraces the impermanence of life. Sacrifices are made in devotion of the slow decay that all life suffers. These sacrifices vary depending on region and culture but typically include withered plants, bones of dead animals, or even large piles of manure. These tokens of fidelity are brought to any temple or shrine dedicated to Putrivita and offered up with great reverence. As places of worship towards Putrivita more often then not have areas set aside for natural growth, these sacrifices give abundant nutrients to the tended to gardens, flowers, and fields. After the sacrifices are made then the true celebration begins with meditations on one’s own place in the cycle of life and death. Many a devotee ponders what will happen to them not in the next world, but in the current one where their body lies still and motionless. It is a very solemn and macabre affair with many not of the faith referring to the whole affair as a celebration of death. These views are common, but only see the surface; while death is important to the followers of Putrivita, it is what happens after that is most important.

After meditation and contemplation, the day typically ends with a drink of fermented wine, milk, or curds. Many participants eagerly await this part of the festival, as it is seen as both a nod to decay—by way of fermentation—and a reprieve from the heavy thoughts of mortality. Though the Festival of Rot might seem grim to outsiders, to the worshippers of Putrivita it is a holy and necessary part of life’s grand tapestry, one that promises and honors the vitality yet to come.

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Festival of Renewal

  In stark contrast, the Festival of Renewal is much more mirthful. This time of year marks the end of long winters and the budding of life in the world. Sacrifices are still made in honor of Putrivita, but instead of the withered husks of plants or bones, bright flowers and new growth are laid before her altars. These bountiful offerings are left at shrines or temples and symbolize the profusion of life that follows from decay.

Celebrations begin after these offerings are made, often lasting well into the night. It is customary for worshippers to put on full display plants they have cultivated and pets or animals they have raised. The talks of what comes after death are instead replaced by talks of what one wants to do while vitality still brims throughout their bodies. The vibrant energy of the festival radiates well into the night with additional feasts, songs, dances, and other forms of entertainment. It is a common occurrence for many children to be conceived on the night of the festival’s peak, as the feelings of rejuvenation work their way through the populace. These children are often attributed to be blessed by Putrivita herself and said to grow strong and full of life, being new vessels for the selfsame cycle that is honored.

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Despite the outward differences in mood and execution, both Festivals speak to the same sacred cycle that Putrivita embodies. They embrace the perpetual dance of decline and rebirth of life itself.

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There are no specific tools or objects used during either festival that are consistent among different groups of followers. One region may utilize large effigies constructed of wooden sticks and plants while another may make copious use of clay alters painted in bright colors. Though there is no unifying way of celebrating or single tool that ties households together, the lack of such does appear to be a unifying feature. No matter what is used for the practice of worship during the festivals, one can still feel the presence of their goddess with them.

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Even those who have not dedicated themselves to the Mother of Rot are allowed to attend and participate in the festivities. Given the gloomy atmostphere that surrounds the Festival of Rot, it is far more common for outsiders to join in during the time of Renewal. Whether these outsiders partake in the offering of sacrifices or just come for the entertainment and vibrant celebration, Putrivita’s followers are generally welcoming to their presence, happy to show their ways to the uninitiated.

Within either festival there are key roles that are filled by the most devout and initiate members of the faith. The most important roles are filled by dedicated priests and acolytes of Putrivita, especially in more largely populated areas where proper temples are more commonplace. In more rural or sparsely populated areas where temples are more likely to be replaced with smaller shrines, it is common for traveling priests to make a circuit between nearby locations to lead gatherings and to give guidance to local villagers.

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The days of the festivals are different each year but always fall upon two specific events. The beginning of the Fall season in Tessis is the time for the Festival of Rot, while the beginning of the Spring season in Prima heralds the Festival of Renewal. The festivals are held on the first of the month for either occasion so as to mimic as closely as possible the cycle of decay and renewal.

Even to the uninitiated outside of the faith typically grasp the significance of these days with many even marking them down as days to participate themselves.