Var Vesnat

Var Vesnat is a spring celebration held in early may throughout the Rumalian Halserats/Principalities of Northern Arros, as well as in parts of the Kingdom of Northengor and the The Fork region.

History

Historical

The exact origins of this festival remain mysterious, even to the Rumalians themselves. According to local sages, the equivalent to scholars found in the south, it seems that an early form of the celebration existed well before the Rumalians had established themselves into their current patchwork of principalities. In fact, it seems to predate the full developement of the Vecan religion itself, which happened before they developed the written word, which makes it hard to know exactly how old it really is. According to some of those same local sages, a very old and popular local quote/saying can be directly attributed to the ritual, although no formal link has been discovered. It goes as follows: "Only us can appreciate the warmest days of spring, for we endure the coldest nights of winter"

Religious

According to one particular Tesin, which are tales that form the basis of the Vecan fate, Lok, the rumalian goddess of Life, as well as Sula, the sun god, come together for a night of love. The heat and passion of their love warmed up the world, ended the centuries-long winter which had plagued the land before and brought the about the most beautiful of spring and the first hot summer in a millenia. When the next winter arrived, both gods agreed to meet every year in an attempt to repeat the beauty of the first ever spring, thus their yearly meetings bring about a new spring, and staves off a new endless winter from gripping the land again.

Execution

Var Vesnat is celebrated with the whole community coming together and enjoying a large feast, composed of lamb, chicken, and pork as meat as well as bread, often eaten with Svekh, and all of it washed down with copious amounts of mead, ale and for the richer folks, wine. By the end of the festival, folks are expected to leave offerings at the village altar to ensure a long and warm summer. 
After the offerings are given, couples go back home and mirror the love-making of Lok and Sula. Because of this, many children in Rumalia are born in the month of February, and they are commonly nicknamed Lapsi Lok, or "Lok's children". Single people and children stay late, and often wind up sleeping together in large groups lodged in communal houses, called Faldomes.

Darker History/Origins

It is thought by southern scholars, but vehemently denied by Rumalian Sages, that live animals, and even humans, where sacrificed at those same althar many centuries ago, again to ensure a good summer season. The Osianic cousins of the Rumalians, the Wildemen, who live in north-western Osian, are though to still practice human sacrifice, leading credance to the Southern scholars

Observance

The date chosen every year to celebrate the festival every year is determined by Hoben's Lunar cycle, which is around 3 months long. Every year, the moon's full phases end up somewere in the months of February, May, August, and November. The date changes every year, as Hoben's lunar cycle doesn't follow the common calendar, which is instead based on Veos. This means that the festival's celebration date can change by as much as 2 weeks year by year. May is always when the festival is held, which is when spring really begins in the region. and usualy between the 14th and 25th day of may.

Related Organizations

• Confederation of Ru'mensh
• Kaeldrian Kingdoms

Etymology:
The Festival's rumalian name of "Var Vesnat" translate to "New Spring" in the common tongue. As its name suggests, it is a celebration of the arrival of the spring season, much anticipated in these regions, which endures such long and harsh winters.