Nedeleg
Nedeleg marks the Winter Solistice and the weakening of Winterrule, taking place on the shortest day and longest night of the year. From this point, the days grow longer, and the Court of Summer gains strength for its eventual victory on Kala-Hañv. The day also reaffirms the rituals of Sovereignty and Hospitality.
History
The origins of Nedeleg are lost to time, but the widespread celebration among the Bediz and Fae leads scholars to surmise of its ancient origins from shortly after, or even before the Great Tearing of the Veil. Faerie tradition holds that the ceremony is eternal, but specific rituals have entered practice since the celebrations original time. In contrast, the Southern Church considers the parallel celebration of Mithrasmorn to have a distinct temporal origin.
The legend of both Mithrasmorn and Nedeleg share a similar theme. The sun, or a symbolic representation of it, is frozen or imprisoned for a period of 12 days. Upon the 12th day (the Winter Solistice), after a series of rituals are completed, the sun escapes or is freed. From here, the beliefs of Nedeleg and Mithrasmorn diverge. In Faerie, the powers of the Summer Court are held at bay, Winterrule at the height of its strength. The sun will not rise over Faerie for the prescribed period. While the sun is not literally frozen beneath the horizon in the Celtic nations of Northern Bedouar, the days are dark and cold, and the legend has been largely adopted.
Mithrasmorn, in contrast, celebrates the first signs of the return of Lord Mithras from the underworld, having rescued the Solar Orb from the Demon King Zahhak, the Sword of Dawn cutting the seal of death.
The two distinct holidays are often conflated in regions with cultural influences from both the Fae and the Southern Church, leading to cross-cultural syncretism.
In addition to solar anomalies, several magical occurrences are frequently observed, and the spirits of the dead, led by the Ankou, can be seen making their pilgrimage along the Tro Breizh.
Execution
Over the past milennia, numerous rituals and traditions have been adopted and evolved around the Nedeleg holiday.
- The Ritual of the White Bulls - Among the Druidic Faith, the Nedeleg marks an important religious ceremony. Druids armed with golden sickles travel deep into the forests to harvest mistletoe, an important plant in many religious rituals and medicinal potions, from the old oak trees at the height of their magical power. Archdruids or designated alcolytes climb to the tallest branches of the oaks and cut the plant free, falling into white clothes held far below by lower-ranked druids. It is crucial that the mistletoe never touch the ground, less it lose its power, stored up over the course of the year. After the harvest of the plant, two white bulls are sacrificed, their fluids mixed with the crushed mistletoe into an elixir used to promote fertility in animals and cure poison.
- Home Wassailing - Nedeleg has also evolved into a celebration of Hospitality, and relationships, most notably those between land and Sovereign, and Sovereign and subject. Starting at sunset, roving gangs of mummers will set out, traveling from house to house in motley, led by the Gwennmarc'h, a figure wearing the skull of a horse and a white robe. In other cases, this skull and robe will be mounted on a long pole and carried, the "creature" moving as it is were alive and difficult to control. This procession will travel the streets, banging pots, playing instruments and singing songs, taking little heed to keep quiet. Upon arrival, the leader steps forward and demands hospitality from the homeowner, who must refuse, both in the form of a Kan-Ha-Diskan, asking for bread, salt and Chouchen. This back-and-forth is repeated twice more, with slight variation, before the homeowner "relents" and allows the revelers in for drinks or food. The homeowner and family then join the procession, ending up at the hall of the local sovereign, who invites all in for a proper feast and party. A unique variant of the kan-ha-diskan is used for this ultimate stop, during which the sovereign themselves is expected to return the call. These actions are not seen as act of charity, but as representative of the contracts of hospitality and sovereignty, respectively. A sovereign grants the boon of the land to the people, who return with a blessing. Those who do not offer their hospitality to the revelers are cursed, with more significant curses leveled at a sovereign who turns away their people.
- Orchard Wassailing - Another variant of the Wassailing tradition, this one focused on the production and consumption of Cidre, with the purpose of awakening the trees, thanking them for the harvest and driving out evil spirits. A group of revelers will travel to an orchard to bless the trees in hopes of a bountiful harvest. Rather than the Gwennmarc'h, the group is led by a pair of sovereigns, one representing the land (Rouanez, the other the lord (Roue), both selected in advance by the revelers. Contrary to home wassailing, the actual sovereign is not expected to participate personally. The pair leads the procession, again singing and playing instruments, to the orchard, where the crowd gathers in a circle around a designated tree. The Rouanez is lifted into the branches bearing a clay cup filled with the year's cidre, a salted piece of toast floating atop the liquid. This bread will be placed in the tree, an incantation is spoken, and the crowd will erupt in a great cacophony of sound. Wreaths of straw are placed around the base of the orchard's trees and the parade will proceed to the next orchard and repeat the process.
- Kef Nedeleg - A large, carefully selected log is used throughout the entire festival in many homes. The fireplace and chimney will be scrubbed clean. Before lighting, the log will be blessed, and carried around a home clockwise three times. The trunk will be sprinkled with salt, water from a sacred well, and red wine, then set alight, burning to ashes over the course of the 12 days of the festival. A small part of the block is saved from the fire, used to light the subsequent year's log. This remnant is said to have protective magical powers, imbued with the magical energy of 12 days of flame , the ash used for magical seals and markings, often drawn around doors and windows, or placed under beds to protect against snakes and lightning strikes. Oftentimes, a symbolic log-like cake will be made and consumed on the final day of the festival.
- Dreoilínday - One of the more contentious rituals of the season centers around the tiny wren, with vastly different and often conflicting approaches. The songbird is favoured by the Unseelie Court of Winter and favoured by the Queen of Winter, bringing their song deep into the cold halls of Kastell Distrein. In an effort to hasten the return of spring, wren-hunts are organized in some locations after Nedeleg, to the great distress of the Unseelie, who seek out the birds to protect them from the hunters.
- Animals are granted the power of speech. While this is often temporary, it occasionally will last for longer periods of time or indefinitely. Arkanists believe this is a phenomena similar to the creation of Milliget. Regardless of an animal gaining speech, bits of specially baked bread are given to the animals, a blessing for the year to come.
- The water of sacred springs and fountains will turn to wine, a gift of the Korrigan of the Winter Court. Menhirs and cromlechs will "sing" resonating to an unheard frequency.
- Unknown Truths can be seen in the flames of a candle, revealing lost items, future loves or hidden dangers. These prophetic visions are a gift of the Nathair of Kastell Distrein.
- The rocks at Plistin open up, revealing a city of the Fées-des-Houles beneath, their treasures on display.
- The Bells of Ys-Beneath-The-Waves can be heard echoing across the Ar Mor.
- Throughout Letha, processions of ghostly Envorad can be seen walking to disused chapels and overgrown Nemeton, walking in 2 straight lines, each holding a candle that does not flicker in the wind. They are led by a hunch-backed white haired druid or perfect carrying a grail and a youth ringing a small bell.
- It is said that the skulls of the garnals will converse with each other the night before Nedeleg, listing off the names of those who will die in the village over the next year.
Components and tools
The Ritual of the White Bulls - Golden sickles, Oak Trees, Mistletoe, White Cloth, Bronze Knife, 2 white bulls.
Home Wassailing - Skull of Horse and White robe (worn or on stick), Pots, Pans, Instruments, salt, bread, Chouchen, Mulled Wine. Puzzle jugs, strange mugs with holes and spigots, are also popular. When a drink is taken out of one, the drink will splash the drinker from another. This is exceptionally popular amongst the more mischievous Fae, who reward those clever enough to drink and remain dry (Usually with more drink).
Orchard Wassailing - Clay goblet, inscribed with a blessing, salted bread, Cidre, hay wreaths, pots, pans, instruments. A pair of crowns, one of woven branches or flowers for the Rouanez representing the land, and one of a (non-iron) metal for the Roue, representing the sovereign.
Kef Nedeleg - A slow-burning hardwood Log or tree stump (Oak, Beech or Poplar are the preferred varieties), Wine (red), Water from a sacred well or fountain, salt, ashes/remnants of previous year's Kef Nedeleg.
The traditional meal of the time is a pork stew, cooking in a great cauldron over the Kef Nedeleg. Spiced cakes, mulled wines, salted bread and the Kef Nedeleg cake are also popular.
Participants
The Ritual of the White Bulls - 5 Druids. One to cut the misteltoe, 4 to catch the falling plant. These will take on new roles for the sacrifice of the bulls and the preparation of the elixir. Non-druids are forbidden from attendance.
Home Wassailing - The Gwennmarc'h, the horse-skull wearing leader of the revelers, representing the spirit of hospitality. The Sovereign, or at least the accepted leader of a community representing the sovereign of the land.
Orchard Wassailing - The rouazez and the roue
Observance
Nedeleg takes place over a 12 day period at the height of Winterrule, although most celebrations occur on the final day, the shortest of the year.
The Ritual of the White Bulls must be done by moonlight, typically on the 6th day.
While some rituals are found throughout Alvez, most Nedeleg traditions are confined to the Fortunate Isles and the Armorican and Contentin peninsulas.
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