Week of life

People of Ywaryn beliefs in the value of past generations knowledge, and makes a big deal of remembering the people that lived before us. Every family in Ywaryn has a small shrine/temple - a building with roof and walls - to go and talk to their ancestors.
The day of birth isn't a day of importance for Ywara, but rather the celebration of life. Like birthday celebrations, Ywara celebrates the life of everyone in their families, both living and gone, to show their appreciation of life and what comes after.
One week once a year, when the sun is highest in the sky, the Week of life begins; a week filled with joy, festivities, food, music, dance and presents for your loved ones! And to no one's surprise, this week is dearly loved and looked forward to by everyone. When it's the week of life, everyone becomes distant relatives, and streets are filled with happy people.

Events

At evening time every family brings out their dinner tables and dinner onto the streets: eating side-by-side with all your neighbours, children playing and laughing, the atmosphere is ecstatic!
On the last day of Week of life, every family gathers at the city centre, and everyone brings a homemade dish with them to share with the rest.

The famous life-tart

A delicious tart only made in bakeries leading up to and at the week of life. Just the smell of it makes every Ywara drool.

Presents

The closest family members all give each other a present, and it usually happens on the last evening of the week after the big dinner event is done.

Small appreciation cards are also very common to give to show close friends how much you appreciate them being in your life.

by CatRobi

by CatRobi

For the past generations

In the week before the festivities being, children of every family create small tokens to give to their ancestors. This is a very old tradition, but it isn't a must. The Ywara believes it must come from the heart and not from force. The most common item is small pendants made from metal with engravings, flower bouquets, appreciation cards or drawings.
In the first day of Week of life the children place their tokens in shrines/temples for their ancestors to make the space happy and joyful. This is no time to be sad about those whom they've lost, but a week of happiness for the life they had.