Heffé life day

As long as the Yeketi remember, there have been celebrations of the solar solstice. The sun, called Heffé, is at its highest point in the northern sky. Its the turning point in harvesting. The days of sowing and caring, waiting, are over, days of harvesting food are beginning. There will be plenty of food, medicine, and materials for the time to come! The rain season is ending as well, and the hunt can begin! But first the celebration of all Heffé life.

All Yeketi, who survived since the last cold period, during the longest night (a period of significant loss and sorrow, but also pride and strength, cooperation, and sharing) will celebrate the birthday of Heffé. During the process of the pit filling the line of participants grows. They come from everywhere!

History

There is no known history, the Yeketi have it in their genes to participate and work together, and they "know" when it is time to celebrate the Heffé day.

Execution

The celebration begins as always. It is not something the Yeketi plan. They... 'know' it's time to start preparing for the ceremony. One after the other they work together. With ever more energy, the Yeketi collect fruits, leaves, and water to drop into the great pit. They work like maniacs and without any delay. When the pile reaches a certain level, the Yeketis start moving around the center in a slow and synchronized way. Their antlers shake from left to right and up and down, in harmony, all simultaneous. They turn in unison towards the circle's center, firing lumps of acid spit at the pile. The acid splashes with high accuracy on uncovered parts, slowly melting the materials into one slimy ball of goo. The celebration continues with more leaves, fruit, and spit. It takes several hours to fill the hole with all the ingredients and acid spit.

Components and tools

Yeketis keep throwing digestives to the center and keep marching until it is their turn to spit acid on the pile of goo. Then they continue to do their intricate ritual dance. The acid melts and dissolves from the outside, leaving a soluble core inside the goo. The shell slowly contracts into a solid ball.

Participants

All classes of the Yeketi are participating: trackers, gatherers, hunters, defenders, attackers, breeders, and feeders. They dance the 'Great Dance'. Every one of them adds something. When the ball is complete, the Queen comes out, presenting herself for the last time. Her abdomen filled with eggs carried by the Uttu (meaning: smallest) ants help the Queen to move around. The Uttu are little, strong ants. They feed the Queen in the lair and help her move. One last time Uttu help this Queen.  The Queen slowly moves to the pit, supported by her Uttu. They form a living bridge between the lair and the ball in the center. Slow and deliberate the Queen moves forward over the Uttu. When she is near the center of the ball, she stops. Her antlers wave around. Then she connects with one of her female Yeketi, who answers the call. They communicate for a short time, the Queen transferring all she knows to the new Queen. The old Queen is now ready and steps into the center of the ball. She looks proud as she sinks slowly with eggs and some Uttu into the acid core. Respectfully all the ants wait until the last part of acid is hardened. The new Queen orders the Yeketi to burry the Queen, using the old lair.

Observance

The ritual is during the point that the sun is on its most northern hemisphere point (north solstice). The birthday celebration always takes place in the same location, and they always follow the same intricate ritual dance to create the ball. The goo balls final size shows how plentiful the harvest is and will serve food for the Queen's eggs. A bigger ball makes survival more certain.

The Yeketi Ants celebrate the birth of the sun Heffé every year during solstice in the northern hemisphere.

Summer Camp 2020 Article

I wrote this article after some fun interaction wih Heffé during a stream.

Primary Related Location

Gardens of Jupiter