Feast of Ceria

"Today, on the spring equinox, when the sun and moon are once more in balance, we gather to celebrate new life, whether plant or animal or folk. Together, we raise our voices in joy for the rebirth of lost souls and the coming seasons of plenty which allow us to thrive year-round. We call to those souls that will return to the land of the living from the arms of Ceria and down Lyriven until they reach their destination."

A Day of Celebration

Ceria is the goddess of rebirth and as such her Feast day is dedicated to the celebration of new life, especially the children born in the past year. On this day, the Spring equinox, families gather to celebrate the coming of the seasons of plenty. Typically, towns and cities will be decorated with wreaths and garlands of spring flowers. In some towns, all the children born since the last Feast day will be given special gifts and treats. In other places, families with new children hang a wreath of daffodils on their doors to indicate the presence of new life. Other members of these settlements travel around the town, presenting such families with small gifts of coins, food or lucky items. Because of the belief that souls travel from Ydosgard back to the living world down the river of life, Lyriven, towns near rivers construct large rafts made of woven branches such as willow. On these rafts, folk place mounds of flowers, offerings of food, and occasionally floral incense. Once the raft is full, it is pushed into a river and sent downstream in the belief that it helps to guide souls back into the living world. These launches are usually accompanied by song.

Traditional Foods

The Feast of Ceria is typically celebrated with a meal at midday, when the sun reaches its zenith. This meal usually involves a lot of fresh spring produce from the first harvests of the year. The centerpiece of such a meal is usually a salad full of early shoots, spring greens, and pieces of early fruit. Bakeries are busy in the days before creating light breads, sweet rolls, and other spring pastries. Cheesemakers make a soft white cheese from goat or sheep's milk, eaten with crackers or by itself. These cheeses are studded with herbs, fruit pieces, or even nuts to enhance flavor. The traditional flavoring mixture for these spring cheeses is basil and pine nuts to create a fresh green taste. A highlight of this meal, especially for children, is the fizzy drink traditional of spring feasts. These drinks are brewed with various fruits and left in oak barrels to age. Rather than producing an alcohol, however, such drinks are crafted and stored in such as way as to avoid fermentation and produce the characteristic fizz loved by folk of all ages. At the spring feast, the youngest are served first in honor of the spirit of new life and rebirth.

Lord of Spring

In some areas of the world, more commonly in the Jade Sea region, a young boy is chosen to fill the role of Lord of Spring each year. This role is quite an honor, and the chosen child is bedecked in ceremonially embroidered clothing. The Lord's duty is to oversee all the activities for the day. In the week leading up to the feast, the Lord of Spring is responsible for picking the year's selection of flowers and helping decorate the town. On the day of the feast, he presides over the building of the raft and is the one to push the raft out into the current. Likewise, it is by the Lord of Spring's permission that the town may begin feasting, although this is mostly in jest. In towns which hold a spring dance, the Lord of Spring takes the first dance with a partner of his choosing.