Satri Coming of Age

Satri boys were considered men when they reached fifteen years old. The celebration took place after the night of the boy’s fifteenth birthday. The day of his birthday, the boy and his parents made offerings to the gods and thanked him for his survival to adulthood. Typical offerings to the five main Satri gods included fruit, cakes, and poured libations. These gods were honored out in the open, under the sun, moon, and stars. Household spirits were thanked as well with the boy’s childhood toys, which the family left at an inside altar. The spirits had favorite foods, which the family offered them as they ate. For example, if the family members enjoyed pistachios, so did the spirit. The next day, the main event took place. The entire family entered the boy’s home and took part. If family members lived too far away, they were not required to attend. Regardless, attendance was highly encouraged as a show of support to the new man. Depending on social status, the family held a feast with a wide variety of food and drink. Family members brought gifts for the new man. Bows and arrows were often given, due to their importance in Satri culture and daily life. Lower class boys received little more than fruit or trinkets, while upper class boys could receive horses and entire suits of armor .
Both an outdoor and indoor altar were required to make offerings. Most households had an altar for spirits, while outdoor altars were typically communal. Villages shared one between them, while towns had several. Cities possessed large open-air temples and numerous smaller shrines for public use.
The boy’s entire family gathered for the occasion, most importantly the parents and the child himself. With Satri society’s patriarchal inclinations, the second-most important person in the ceremony was the boy’s father. The entire family was invited, however, including men, women, and children.