Silvaris

Silvaris, also known as "Hunt Day," is a brutal coming of age ceremony celebrated in the lush jungles of Algora.

The Ceremony

Whenever a young lad turns 20, they must be self-sufficient. They need to be able to survive by themselves, even in the most deadly environments. The Ailuk hold this value very close to their hearts. Once a child turns 20 (regardless of gender), they are sent alone into the dense Algoran jungle. They must survive on their own for 36 hours. The catch is that everyone else in the Ailuk village goes after them. If the child is caught, they must try the ceremony again the next week.
This is the closest the Ailuk get to a standardized test, and a lot of the kids get very nervous in preparation. The most common strategy is to stay up in the trees, using the height to mask footprints and other tracks. The biggest downside to this strategy is the lack of mobility. Occasionally, a new strategy will come along that shakes up the ceremony. This creativity is welcomed and encouraged.
As the years progress, this ceremony gets harder and harder to pass. The townsfolk become better hunters as technology and knowledge increases. This is why varied strategies are required to succeed. If a child doesn't succeed, they aren't considered to be "grown up." There have even been cases of 30 year old children. At that point the Ailuks stop hosting the hunt, or they go extremely easy on the runner.

Significance

Silvaris marks the independence of a tribe member. Everyone must be able to look after themselves, just in case somebody gets accidentally left behind in the future. If the Ailuks don't prepare their children for this, they have failed as a tribe. That is why the hunt exists. Also, by having hunters search after the child, the hunters are receiving training in a somewhat peaceful environment. This competition brings out the best in both the hunters and the survivor.