Birthdays in Aquarainty

Aquarainty is the most followed religion in the North Water Kingdom. The way they celebrate birthdays, most notably the first birthday, is quite different from other cultures in Acciphere, like Sutiratism.

History

The birth rites are based on a story in Aquarainty about how the twin Gods Aquaria and Kihlad were born. It has been celebrated since the beginning of Aquarainty. The story goes as such: Once upon a time, there was a very pious couple, named Yuthar and Andrea. They were childless, and prayed every day to Joh, the wife of Hydrankil, for a baby. After a year, Joh appeared in Andrea’s dream and told her that, in nine months, Andrea would give birth to twins, a girl and a boy, who would go on to become Gods. Andrea and Yuthar were overjoyed. In nine months, the twins were born as said, and each of them had two unique marks on both their palms. The couple named them Aquaria and Kihlad. From then on, a newborn is given one of these marks on their right palm based on their gender, and the toys they choose. They are also named during their first birthday.

Execution

First Birthday
In the morning, the baby is given a bath with seawater and dressed in festive clothes, usually blue in color. Then, the rites begin. First, the baby is named. Then, two toys, each with one mark of the God of that gender, are placed before the babies. Whichever the baby touches first, the mark of that toy is drawn on the child’s palm, with a type of non-washable ink using a tool called jojilk. Then, the cake is cut and a part of it thrown into the sea. After that, there is a feast in the baby’s honor.
Other Birthdays
After the first birthday, the birthday only includes the cake-cutting and feast. The person has a bath with seawater in the morning and wears festive clothes but in green. The birthdays are only celebrated till the age of 18.

Components and tools

The rites are in three stages: the naming stage, the toy stage and feast stage. In the toy stage, toys with special markings and the jojilk are used. After the first birthday, no more tools are used, and the celebration only consists of the feast stage.

Participants

Usually, during the first birthday, everybody in the baby’s family is present. The main role is that of the priest, who conducts the rites and the parents, who play a crucial role in the naming stage. Afterwards, the birthday’s are more private and only parents, siblings and friends are in attendance. Sometimes, the family may also show up.