Tolana Naming Days

The day a Tolana is born is a day for celebration, ritual, and ranking for a clan.
  Tolanas are paired together through a complex system of rankings, politics, and attraction. Tolana young people are under pressure to secure a good match for their family, and their ultimate choice is seen as a reflection on their priorities and beliefs about their ancestors. The goal isn’t always to select a mate at a higher level, rather the goal is to select a mat that will increase the status of the clan, whether it’s through contributions to society, offspring, or clan power. While the family can be involved and is eventually involved in the end stages, the match is ultimately up to the young people. Once mates are secured, the bond is considered a lifetime commitment. The couple must work together to increase their karmic contributions, their choices tied together for their lives. The Tolana believe strong clan bonds result in a strong society, and the heart of strong clans are strong relationships.
When a child is born to a couple, the couple is celebrated for continuing the longevity of the clan. In a series of rituals and celebrations, the couple and the child are blessed by the ancestors, absorbing energies from the ancestral planes. A chamber scholar is called to read and determine the future path of the child, based on the needs of the clan, needs of Tolana society, and the needs of the ancestral plane. A child’s path is then set, as a warrior, a scholar, a laborer, or a scientist. The reading is always accepted, and Tolana are taught from an early age that their path is determined, and they must walk it for the good of their clan and their people. Every year, when the child’s birthday arrives, they review their progress towards their goals with their parents and clans.