Waykarstuun

The cycle of new responsibility.

"Fourteen years ago this cycle you were born. It was a stormy day and your life hasn't been easy. Today we celebrate! But first, it is now your responsibility to prepare the firewood. Cut it and we will begin cooking the meal for waykarstuun."

History

The origin of waykarstuun is unknown. Likely it was a celebration of life during a time when infant mortality was high that persisted into the present time.

Execution

The celebration of waykarstuun is an acknowledgement of two different ideas. The first, that one has survived the perils of life for another year. This element constitutes most of the waykarstuun for the first few years of life when mortality rates are high and the child can't bear responsibility yet. The second is the donning of a new responsibility. This is not an established list of new duties for specific ages but is based on family needs.
Once a person has reached adulthood, they no longer celebrate waykarstuun, at least not with all the pizzazz that was present before. More subdued and intimate gatherings with loved ones continue to be common throughout life.
For most families in Central Grara life is busy but not to busy to have a party. A person's waykarstuun brings all the nearby families to join in the eating, singing, dancing, and gossiping. The food eaten depends on the season. They say people born in the summer and fall have better celebrations because the food is fresher and in greater variety.

Participants

The person whose birthcycle it is takes on a new responsibility and must fulfill it before the celebration can begin. The parent who will teach them that skill spends much of the cycle with them before returning for the merrymaking.

Observance

Waykarstuun occurs for each person once each year on the cycle of their birth.

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The celebration of waykarstuun is not just a party but a time for increased maturity. Each year on their cycle of birth a new responsibility is bequeathed to the youth of the region by their parents.
Examples include the following - no longer crying for your parents, helping prepare meals, starting the fires, caring for a younger sibling, helping in the fields or with other work, and so forth.

— Excerpt from Yeawin's The Customs of Central Grara

Primary Related Location

Central Grara