Ruilrota
From the Halfling words ruhil rotrr, meaning "first flight," the Ruilrota festival is a traditional holiday that is beginning to spill into mainstream celebration in Lockhinge city.
According to Halfling myth, the brightest star in the springtime sky is Yaiyotrr'on, the messenger bird of the gods. As the seasons change and Yaiyotrr'on disappears behind the horizon, it is because she is retiring to her nest to hatch her eggs and care for her small offspring until they are ready to fly.
Around the autumn equinox, a line of three bright stars appear very low in the sky and are only visible for roughly four weeks before they slip out of sight again--the most briefly visible of all constellations in the sky. These three stars are Yaiyotrr'on and her two fledgelings, glimpsed for only a glimmer of time as they fly off for the land of the gods, where she will stay until she visits the sky again in the spring.
History
In a culture so based in travel and chance, being able to catch a glimpse of one of their most important guides with her children is seen as a precious omen, especially when the land is bolstering itself for the transition into winter. This moment is taken as one last chance to give Yaiyotrr'on your deepest wishes to take to the gods before lean and uncertain times arrive.
The holiday first became prominent among the river-traveling Halfling clans as a way to deal with the insecurity that comes with gearing up to survive the winter, getting one last mood-boost before long, cold nights set in. Early observances were marked by repeated petitioning of their holy guide and plentiful superstition. Over time, the celebration aspect of the holiday grew until the traditions themselves became the focus and the comforting aspect, and the superstitions lightened to silly habits whose origins more or less became lost to time.
While many of the Halfling diaspora have lost a majority of the customs from their homeland, they have been allowed to take root in Lockhinge city and the surrounding lands of Greymantle Marsh. It is in this city that the colloquial name of "Ruilrota" came to be, as those ignorant of the Halfling language tried to speak it, and bilingual Halflings relaxed their pronunciation.
Now, the practice of Ruilrota has flourished into a many-night-long celebration that still mostly consists of Halfling participants, but now also includes family and friends who may be outside of Halfling culture, and has begun to show up relfected in the activities of local business hoping to capitalize on a good thing.
Execution
Once the Ruhil Rotrr stars become visible above the horizon, the observance of the holiday begins. Every night, wishes are to be given to Yaiyotrr'on, oftentimes quietly and privately to oneself, but there are also various little traditions of sharing wishes with those you most care about, writing wishes and hiding them, singing them out loud around a campfire, etc.
Generally speaking, a lot of time is spent out under the night sky--telling stories and singing around campfires, holding small nighttime feasts, and simply stargazing. Getting as much time with Yaiyotrr'on as possible is seen as increasing your chances of having your wishes remembered and shared with the gods. Because of all this outdoor activity on chilly autumn nights, the serving of various warm beverages has become one of the biggest hallmarks of the holiday.
The biggest night of celebration occurs on the new moon during the Ruhil Rotrr stars' appearance, which isn't guaranteed to happen every single year. If luck is on the side of the celebrants, the sky will by clear and the stars bright without the light of the moon to get in the way. During this night, it is customary to focus on thanks for wishes that have been granted in the past, and an appreciation for all of the blessings that have been given during the year. The Ruilrota festivities are always cheerful and boistrous, but on the moonless night, things turn a little more quiet and contemplative. It is considered very good luck to spend the entire night outside, awake and focusing on gratitude for as long as possible--including pulling an all-nighter--while surrounded or thinking about those you most care about.
Primary Related Location
Related Ethnicities