Michael Morris
First Post
"There is a special time in the lives of all people when the child without dies and the adult within is born" - Telsindria.
Telzoans celebrate four major coming of age ceremonies held at the ages of 9 and 15. Further the nature of these ceremonies is highly segregated by sex. The various coming of age ceremonies are held by many persons in Telzoa as cherished memories. Further, it is at this time that many Telzoans begin to walk the path they will follow in adult life.
[h2]Untalis Crindal[/h2]
Translating literally as "First Bleeding," this ceremony is held for girls after they experience their first menstrual bleeding, at between the ages of nine to as late as twelve. The ceremony is a solemn one with no men present, and it is usually held during the moon festival of Tiania that occurs immediately after the event. The ceremony is overseen by druids and held within their groves when possible.
The girl (or girls, for it is not unusual for several to undergo this ceremony together) that are to undergo the rite are dressed in brilliant white cotton or linen dresses for the occasion and are unadorned by makeup, jewelry or the like before the ceremony begins. All others present at the ceremony are completely nude. As the ceremony begins they are lead by their mothers and elder sisters to the center of the grove, and there left while their relatives join the circle of druids at the grove's edge.
Three matriarchs occupy the space between the girls and the ring formed by their sisters and mothers. The first represents Cuvanill, Goddess of Mothers. The second represents Cuane, Goddess of love. The third, and master of ceremonies is a priestess of Tiania, Goddess of Nature and Natural cycles. For about an hour hymns and chants are sung in praise of the three while the girls sit quietly facing out from the center stone of the grove. As this is concluded the priests approach the children. The first to speak is the priestess of Cuvanill.
"I, who speaks for our Mother of Mothers, welcome you children. Today you pass from Chiantu my daughter's protection unto mine. Today you celebrate the first step of womanhood. Ayla! " With that said the children are motioned to stand. The ground beneath their feet begins to glow.
The priestess of Cuane speaks, "Today thou art fertile. Today thou may bear children as your mothers, your grandmothers, and all the generations before. Ayla!! " The ground beneath the feet of the girls catches fire, but they and the priests next to them are unharmed by the flame.
The priestess of Tiania speaks, "Today you have completed a circle of life, yet many circles remain before you. We shall continue to watch, we shall continue to pray, and we shall continue to guide. Ayla!!" The flames catch the girl's dresses and begin to burn them away. Some of the girls flinch in pain, and almost all present begin to cry.
All the priests and women present begin to chant along with the girls, "All are born by us! Ayla!! All are nurtured by us! Ayla!! We are the keepers of the flame! Ayla!! We are the sources of the river! Ayla!! We are women! We are forever!! Ayla!!! "
The flames subside with a blinding light, and the girls are left as nude as their mothers and sisters. They are covered in sweat, but unhurt. With this the ceremony concludes.
[h2]Decandi[/h2]
The male companion to the Untalis Crindal has no biological signal, so the tenth birthday is used as the marker to celebrate this transition in life. At or around this point of the child's life he is taken by his father to the nearest temple of the branch of faith the father holds trust in. The child is put alone in a room (or in the center of a grove if druids are involved) and not given food or water for two days. The location is gradually heated (or exposed if outdoors). During this the boy is to meditate. Most fail to really do so during the whole time period, but those that are the most successful in this task do often garner the attention of the priests. Eventually the boy passes out and has a vision. The priest interprets the vision and it determines the vocation of the boy and to whom he is to be apprenticed (In theory. Some parents and children go against the vision and take up some other task).
After this rather grueling test a feast is held in the child's honor at his home. The vision, the parent’s finances, and everyone’s personal tastes shape the details of this feast.
Telzoans celebrate four major coming of age ceremonies held at the ages of 9 and 15. Further the nature of these ceremonies is highly segregated by sex. The various coming of age ceremonies are held by many persons in Telzoa as cherished memories. Further, it is at this time that many Telzoans begin to walk the path they will follow in adult life.
[h2]Untalis Crindal[/h2]
Translating literally as "First Bleeding," this ceremony is held for girls after they experience their first menstrual bleeding, at between the ages of nine to as late as twelve. The ceremony is a solemn one with no men present, and it is usually held during the moon festival of Tiania that occurs immediately after the event. The ceremony is overseen by druids and held within their groves when possible.
The girl (or girls, for it is not unusual for several to undergo this ceremony together) that are to undergo the rite are dressed in brilliant white cotton or linen dresses for the occasion and are unadorned by makeup, jewelry or the like before the ceremony begins. All others present at the ceremony are completely nude. As the ceremony begins they are lead by their mothers and elder sisters to the center of the grove, and there left while their relatives join the circle of druids at the grove's edge.
Three matriarchs occupy the space between the girls and the ring formed by their sisters and mothers. The first represents Cuvanill, Goddess of Mothers. The second represents Cuane, Goddess of love. The third, and master of ceremonies is a priestess of Tiania, Goddess of Nature and Natural cycles. For about an hour hymns and chants are sung in praise of the three while the girls sit quietly facing out from the center stone of the grove. As this is concluded the priests approach the children. The first to speak is the priestess of Cuvanill.
"I, who speaks for our Mother of Mothers, welcome you children. Today you pass from Chiantu my daughter's protection unto mine. Today you celebrate the first step of womanhood. Ayla! " With that said the children are motioned to stand. The ground beneath their feet begins to glow.
The priestess of Cuane speaks, "Today thou art fertile. Today thou may bear children as your mothers, your grandmothers, and all the generations before. Ayla!! " The ground beneath the feet of the girls catches fire, but they and the priests next to them are unharmed by the flame.
The priestess of Tiania speaks, "Today you have completed a circle of life, yet many circles remain before you. We shall continue to watch, we shall continue to pray, and we shall continue to guide. Ayla!!" The flames catch the girl's dresses and begin to burn them away. Some of the girls flinch in pain, and almost all present begin to cry.
All the priests and women present begin to chant along with the girls, "All are born by us! Ayla!! All are nurtured by us! Ayla!! We are the keepers of the flame! Ayla!! We are the sources of the river! Ayla!! We are women! We are forever!! Ayla!!! "
The flames subside with a blinding light, and the girls are left as nude as their mothers and sisters. They are covered in sweat, but unhurt. With this the ceremony concludes.
[h2]Decandi[/h2]
The male companion to the Untalis Crindal has no biological signal, so the tenth birthday is used as the marker to celebrate this transition in life. At or around this point of the child's life he is taken by his father to the nearest temple of the branch of faith the father holds trust in. The child is put alone in a room (or in the center of a grove if druids are involved) and not given food or water for two days. The location is gradually heated (or exposed if outdoors). During this the boy is to meditate. Most fail to really do so during the whole time period, but those that are the most successful in this task do often garner the attention of the priests. Eventually the boy passes out and has a vision. The priest interprets the vision and it determines the vocation of the boy and to whom he is to be apprenticed (In theory. Some parents and children go against the vision and take up some other task).
After this rather grueling test a feast is held in the child's honor at his home. The vision, the parent’s finances, and everyone’s personal tastes shape the details of this feast.
