Citilian birthdays
Each year on the day of their birth, a person will usually surround themselves with their closest friends and family. They will express their greatest wish for the coming year and write it down on paper. Each guest will then offer a ribbon to wrap around the wish, as a symbol that they will support and protect that wish so it can come into fruition.
History
The origins of the birthday celebrations are long lost in the Free Cities as they were already in force at the start of the current age. They were a cause for celebrations that usually involved a large gathering of friends and family, food, music and presents. This changed however when the Blanchard Dynasty invaded and they declared any and all celebrations foreign to the Oreance faith were illegal. During Blanchian Rule, the tradition evolved to become a much smaller celebration, able to be continued in spite of the Blanchian laws. Only close family members would attend, usually those living under the same roof. On the Rebirth of Freedom, the new custom was retained as a way to honour those who fought and persevered under the oppressor's rules though in recent years, close friends are also invited to take part.
Execution
Traditionally, the family will provide up to 12 different styles or types of paper, namely one for each of the gods. Some could be coloured, made of interwoven leaves rather than wood pulp, or even parchment. The celebrated will choose the paper that speaks the most to them and write on it their wish. If they have more than one wish, they can write each on a separate piece of paper. Though 12 pieces of paper are offered, it is considered the height of greediness to use all of them and young children are taught to limit themselves to five. The traditional number is 3 wishes.
Once the wishes are written, they are rolled into one and each attendee will wrap a ribbon around the roll, covering its entire length. At the same time, they will recite a prayer to the gods and their personal vow to the celebrated to support them through the year to achieve their wish, whatever it might be.
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