The tree planting ritual

The Silvan Elves celebrate their birthdays renewing their bond with nature and planting a new tree, sometimes the more adventurous ones will venture during the night in places were other communities are cutting trees to give new strength to the forest.

History

The history of this tribute is lost in the midst of times, even the eldest silvan elves don't know exactly its origin but it is believed to be a pact with the father of all elves. For this reason, above all the other ethnicities of elves, the silvan elves are the ones who are considered to be the most fervent protectors of the forest.

Execution

On the night of new moon of every year of their lives silvan elves will get in the forest and plant a newborn tree, taken from the nurseries they grow in their villages. In the first years of their life this task is usually fulfilled by one mentor figure for the young elf, that will take care to instruct the pupil and make sure he understands the importance of such tradition. The elf that plants a birthday tree becomes responsible for said tree and has to make sure that it stays healthy and doesn't affect too much the balance of the life in the forest. Should the tree become affected by a condition or damaged over repair by a natural event, the elf is responsible to cut it down to prevent any further suffering.

by Dorena

Components and tools

The ritual is very simple the elf select a young tree from the nursery, then using some digging tool plant it in a place where the forest is thinning down.

Participants

Elves can go alone or can invite anyone important in their life to partake the ceremony. If more than one elf attends the ceremony often they will sing together an hymn to life. In larger communities, since the ritual is performed on the new moon night group celebrations often replace the individual rites, in these cases often they will feast together with a midnight meal after the celebration.

Observance

The ritual takes place in the night of new moon on the same moon of every year, i.e. the third moon cycle of winter or the second moon cycle of summer. The subsequent years, the elves who planted the tree, will take care of pruning their tree and tend to minor damages or diseases that could possibly affect it.

by Arcaion

The forest of intertwined trees

Between Elves, silvan ones tend to have stronger relationships and when they swear their love to another elf it's usually for life. The tree planting ritual then get altered to show this bond of love, they plant two trees close to each other in a way that the two trunks will intertwine. Each elf of the couple is responsible for both trees in the same way as they would be responsible for their birthday trees, should one of the two elves die the other one is expect to take care of both trees.