Hustankåmmar

Hustankåmmar is a Nomads tradition, which translates from Old Tongue as "Autumn Comes", takes place on the Autumn Equinox, the 5th Fatyng (the seventh month of the year). Fatyng roughly translates as "Fattening" as it is the month during which extra effort is put into fattening up animals before they are slaughtered for winter.   The Harvest Festival, a Townsfolks tradition, falls on the same day and is often considered the Townsfolk equivalent of Hustankåmmar, even though they are very different in purpose and content.

  Hustankåmmar was originally celebrated to mark one of the two days a year when the day and the night are the same length. It was a way of greeting the longer nights which meant winter was closing in.   Fire and light have long played an important role in Nomad culture and the campfire is considered the heart of any clan. As such, the increase in the need to rely on the fire for light as well as a cooking source at this time of year was enough reason for festivities.

In the week leading up to Hustankåmmar, a large amount of preparation is needed. This may include trips to the nearest Towns if they are close by and have goods to trade. Each group of people within the clan has their own responsibilities.  

Hunting

Hunters leave the camp looking for a large animal which can be prepared as the heart of the feast. This is often deer. They are brought back to camp alive and fattened up over the time leading up to Hustankåmmar. Only the largest are slaughtered for the feast, the rest are kept until they too are needed to feed the clan during the winter months.  

Cooking

Food must be prepared for the entire camp to put on a feast. While most of this happens the day before Hustankåmmar, work is done to ensure the herbs, pulses and vegetables are gathered and prepared in the week leading up to the big day.  

Candle Making

Candles play a vital role in the festivities and will also be used throughout the year. Sometimes the wax is dyed with berries for the Hustankåmmar candles to make them stand out.  

Poetry Writing

Poetry is written by those who have a desire to, usually working with the musicians of the camp to create something dramatic.

  The day starts with a Dawn Greeting. People wake up before dawn and gather around the campfire in the middle of their camp. As the sun rises, the fire is lit by the Chief Among Equals, and everyone enjoys a cup of something hot made over the fire as they watch the sunrise together. The rest of the morning is spent decorating the camp and making preparations.   The midday meal is eaten together around the campfire, and the afternoon is spent writing or drawing their memories of the Spring and Summer as well as their hopes for the coming winter. Some write or paint on parchment while others choose to use the time to redecorate their caravans or tents. Those who write on parchment or paper may choose to cast them into the fire so that they may be seen by the Gods of The Nomads.   As dusk begins to fall, the clan gathers around the fire and the candles that have been made are handed out. Every person who is old enough to safely hold one lights a candle either from the campfire or from another candle which has been lit by the campfire. Together, the Chief Among Equals leads them in a short chant which is recorded below. During the first stanza, the candles are held in front of each person, at the beginning of the second they are held out and up in front of them, and at the beginning of the third, the candle is passed to someone else.

After the chant, the candles are placed in a wide circle around the outside of the campfire. The clan members then take their seats between the circle of candles and the fire. A great feast is had with the food being cooked over the fire and then passed around among the members of the clan. Ale and hot drinks are shared along with stories and jokes.   Once everyone is full and the night is dark, the music starts. Anyone who has written poetry is able to stand up and perform it, accompanied by musicians. These poems may be dramatic tellings of epic stories, or they might be more personal tales or ruminations on a topic. Sometimes two or more poets may work together to create more layers, or a poet may create a call-and-response poem with those listening. This lasts long into the night until Hustankåmmar is passed.

  Hustankåmmar is more popular with some clans than others. Some may choose to focus on the candles and the feast, while others do the full day. Those clans who throw themselves into the whole day find that they are more connected as a group and that they better mentally survive the dark winter months and have better levels of mental health. Whether this is related to the festival is unclear, as those who participate are more likely to be community-minded and therefore more likely to support each other through winter.   Many use the preparation for this festival as a time for cleaning, washing or staining the sides of their caravans or scrubbing their tent canvas in the run-up to make them ready for re-painting.