Premiere Ball
The premiere ball is a coming of age ceremony held by the Nobility, and is the first ball hosted by the one to whom it is dedicated. All nobles are expected to host one on or near the date they come of age - 17 is the generally accepted year for humans and other shorter lived species, though this is considered far too young among longer lived species. While it was once assumed that the event would be a full ball, with invitations extended to all the nobles in the area, most modern noble families make them more private affairs, inviting only friends and allies to the event, in deference to the overwhelming expense of catering a ball.
History
The practice of a Premiere Ball dates back further even than Kinilan itself, though in a very different form - it was primarily an event where a proud father would present their daughter to the court, effectively signalling her availability for courtship, and was fundamentally altered early in Kinilan's history.
The second King of Kinilan was assassinated, the day of his daughter's Premiere Ball. She was the one to discover her father's body, and cried over the body. It was too late to cancel the ball, and she forced herself to go through with it, introducing herself to each noble as they arrived and explaining the situation. It was a much more sombre evening than expected, but very memorable. Thus began the reign of the first Queen of Kinilan.
The traditional lavender-and-red colour of the Premiere Ball represents the dress she was wearing - a pigment that had never before been used in court, and the red represents her father's blood. During the Queen's lifetime, tributes to the event became increasingly common, with young women wearing a dress similar to that the Queen wore and greeting guests in a similar way, honouring her strength and the memory of her father.
Execution
There are two unique factors that define a Premiere Ball. The host wears an outfit of lavender with a splash of deep red at the breast, and all guests are expected to wear darker clothing, to contrast with the host's garb. Traditionally, the outfit is expected to be of an old style, similar to what would have been worn in the early days of Kinilan's history, though this is often considered so utterly bland by the nobility that they prefer more recent clothing - often something worn when they were children - and while unconventional, it is entirely acceptable to wear something new, in reference to the uniqueness of the original dress being referenced. Additionally, the host is expected to greet every guest personally as they come in. Tradition demands that they wait by the entrance for at least an hour, thanking each noble who enters as they arrive.
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