Naming and Elder Days
"Have you thought of a name yet?"In many Elf cultures, the concept of a yearly birthday is absurd. After all, the average lifespan of Elves prior to The Collision stretched into the mid 100s, and running out of present ideas becomes more likely the older they get. As such, Elves typically only place focus on each decade of birthdays, starting with shortly after they are born and celebrating your 10th, 20th, etc. Of these decade birthdays, two are especially important - their 20th, and their 80th.
"Not yet. I have a list, but I don't want to rush and choose a name I regret."
"Don't worry, you have plenty of time. Let your heart figure it out.
20th - Naming Day
Most elves, as well as some humans, are not born with 'proper' names. Rather, their first name is intended to be temporary, and just serves to distinguish them from their fellows. It is on their 20th birthday that this changes, in an event called a 'Naming Day'. As with all elven celebrations, a large party is held with an individual's friends, family, neighbours, and associates all invited, with many drinks and much merriment. After a dinner akin to a royal feast, the birthday kid is expected to ascend to a raised platform and bring the crowd to silence. They will declare themselves to be an adult, and announce their new name, which the attendees will loudly repeat three times. The adult will then take out a scroll which, when unfurled, will show their old temporary name. This will be thrown into a fire built just for this purpose. The ash from this fire will then be collected and turned into an ink, with which they will write their new name on a new scroll, which will be displayed prominently for the rest of the night.80th - Elder Day
On your 80th birthday, another colossal party will be held, often with even more attendees than at their naming day. Toasts will be made to the memory of their life and achievements, and many speeches will be made. Unlike the naming day, this event is held in the afternoon. After a full and lavish lunch, a large book will be brought out to a central table. This book is one that charts the entire lineage of a family or clan, going back hundreds if not thousands of years. The birthday adult will bring out the scroll they wrote their name on back on their naming day, and will burn it just as they did all those years ago. If the scroll has been lost or decayed, the elder can write a new one. The ash will be used to make ink once again, and this will be used by the elder to write their name into the family tome, forever entrenching them as a member of the family. The party will then continue, with the elder now being referred to with greater respect.Presence
If you can't attend your own Naming or Elder Day, due to injury or occupation, these events can be postponed or held by proxy, with a designated family member or friend performing the ceremony for you. These will often involve a list being kept for things people say about you at the day, which will be delivered to you. If, however, you were to die before either day, the situation changes. Your Naming Day will still be held, and if you had pre-decided a name it will be announced by proxy. If you had not, your family will decide on a name for you, and the day takes a more sombre tone of mourning your lost adulthood. Your Elder Day will also still be held, with a notable alteration to how you are entered into your family tome. Your name scroll will still be burnt and turned into ink, but this ink will be mixed with drops of blood from all your living relatives, turning the blood a deep red. Your name will be written into the book, along with the date you died. If you died after your Naming Day, but before your Elder Day, this process takes place during your funeral.
Burning Incense by Devanath
I love both of these ceremonies, and the link between them with the scrolls. I also like that you've thought about what happens if someone dies before their Naming Day or before their Elder Day. I can really imagine these ceremonies in my head. :)