New Years Across Totania

The holiday of New Years, both the night before and the day itself, are celebrated by many cultures around Totania. Here is an article compiling some of the many traditions from people all over Totania.

Universal Celebration

There is one guarantee in the world when it comes to New Years. When the moment comes, no matter where one is, that it turns to the New Year from the Old Year, the Golden Dragon Lord known as Kath the Eternal will fly overhead to signal the coming of the new. He flies from east to west, beginning in the furthest east position: Kyokai Shima, also known as the Kamejin's "Boundary Isle" and ending in Lizardfolk territory on Mythscar Island.
He is peaceful, roaring only to alert the world to his presence and the ringing in of the New Year. Many cultures ring golden bells modeled after Kath himself, hung up only in the final week of the year and meant to ring only when Kath is spotted over the eastern horizon.
Any who attack Kath as he flies is not attacked in return. He must fly across the world, after all, and cannot stop for a minor inconvenience. However, on his return trip from west to east, he only stops in places where he was attacked or where the cheers were loudest. For the attackers, he will demand a tribute of gold, and to those who cheered loudest for the New Year, he drops off a share of the wealth so they may prosper in the year they were so excited for.

Kamejin

The Kamejin, as well as the Tainuki, of the Abral Islands, are the first to celebrate New Years, as the eastern boundary of the world. The official religion of the Abral Empire is the God of the Sun and Time, Izanagi.

Izanagi by Jarhed

Due to Izanagi's place in Kamejin culture, the passing of a year into the next is a celebrated and important festival across the Abral Islands. There are traditional foods saved for New Year's, such as Toshikoshi soba for the eve and an assortment of Osechi for the day of.
Children are given envelopes of money, homes are cleaned, and people gather on the eastern shores of their islands to watch the first sunrise of the year. Izanagi is the God of the Sun and Time, so the rising of the first Sun on the furthest coast is said to be a cleansing of all things that came before.
It is also due to this that all decorations for this time of year must be newly made and not reused, as all things that came before are cleansed and tossed away to be left in the past.
On New Year's Day, all Kamejin travel to the nearest shrine, where they may pay their respects to Izanagi and Time itself, dressed in their best robes and traveling often as entire families. They make wishes and receive a small blessing for the year to come.
A Kamejin naval ship is tasked each year after the first sunrise to make a round trip journey across the world to all ports, wishing a Happy New Year to all. The Kamejin are normally very isolated, so this makes up a large portion of their foreign relations: a simple greeting and wishing of well to all coastal people.

Jihdi

The Jihdi Humans have a parade from the western edge of their peninsula to the east, which ends on New Year's Eve. The parade is entirely on foot, and Kath the Eternal joins them for a time to celebrate before he makes his rounds.
To the Jihdi people, New Year's Eve is known better as "Night of the Devils" due to the place Devils have in Jihdi society. Devils in Hell cannot celebrate New Years because of how time passes for them, so the Jihdi say they celebrate it for the Devils as well, wearing Devil masks and marching with Devil parade floats. The parade even sings songs like "Devilish Party" with a chorus that translates to:

Devilish Party

Tonight is a Devilish Party
Where we all celebrate!
All the Devils out tonight
And, oh, isn't it so great?

The Jihdi play games and have festivities that relate to Devils as well, such as passing a baton around the parade from front to back and back to front. Whoever ends the parade with the baton is forced to walk atop hot coals to start the New Year with what they call the "hot feet and passion of a Devil."

Ophidians

The Ophidians sit in their city of Bang Kruthiwat. It is said they don't care much for the New Year, as their culture does not focus so much on the passing of time. To them, time is the enemy, a force that backs the Kamejin who invade their land. Most calendars are not allowed in their land purely because Ophidians consider it a cage the Kamejin and their Time God Izanagi use to trap them exactly where the Kamejin want them.
However, few Ophidians can resist the spectacle of a golden Dragon as Kath the Eternal flies not only over their city, but through the flames. For the time he glides over Bang Kruthiwat and the surrounding territories, he lights up the night sky not only with his fiery breath, but with scales that glimmer and shine in the embers of the eternally burning city. Kath, to the Ophidians, is not an instrument of time, but a great beast who guides them to the next stage of their lives, where they may continue to grow and improve.

Yajin

The Yajin, like the Ophidians, do not celebrate New Years with the grand celebrations of the Jihdi or the Kamejin. They do, however, celebrate it. However, Yajin celebrations are more personal and intimate. Yajin families gather and sit around a table, eating a feast and reminiscing over the year.
Then, a bell is rung for the New Year and the Yajin warriors come outside to participate in a tournament. The Yajin are a warrior culture and therefore they celebrate their warriors. Each year, the winner of the tournament is crowned "Heaven's Equal." The one crowned as "Heaven's Equal" is then meant to teach other Yajin over the course of the year, as well as leading all military operations.

Celestial Palace

The Verthica Draconians people of the Celestial Palace are said to not look to the sky. Instead, the Zhi scholars are said to gather all the people and then are said to close their eyes and count down the moments until the new year comes to pass. Kath does fly to see them, but Kath still follows their creator God, Phrixus, who the Verthica abandoned for knowledge. This is why the Zhis do not wish to acknowledge Kath, as they believe it would be tantamount to still acknowledging Phrixus as their God. Instead, they wish to show they are just as capable of ringing on the New Year as Kath.
On New Year's Day, after the counting has concluded, every Verthica Draconian is asked to write a small essay describing topics they wish to study more. For Zhis who are knowledgeable in certain areas, this is often something in their field of study which they are not yet experts in. These papers are gathered and stored away to be read the day before New Year's Eve, and once they are finished reading the papers at the end of the year, they begin counting, with their minds on what they were able to accomplish and what they hope to accomplish next.

Pithians

There have been no recorded sightings of Pithians celebrating the New Years. Some scientists have considered trying to introduce the concept into Pithian culture, but they have been prevented from attempting it. Some journals say that Pithians have shown signs of some form of worship, particularly for the Sun as well as the giant Golden Dragon that flies overhead on New Years, but they have not been seen to recognize what this means yet.

Gnomes and Emetians

The Gnomes and Emetians in the Uncharted Desert have many traditions. The most well known is the prophecy reading, as Priests of Sia travel to some larger settlements and read the fortunes of those that come to them with questions. These fortunes are generally for the year that is ahead of them, but in some cases they read a bit further than a year.
There are also some Gnomes and Emetians who trek into the desert to celebrate away from others in a place where none can find them. This is a dangerous practice, but one that is still taken on by many who wish for a moment of solitude during the holiday.
Gnomes hold parties while Emetians appreciate the families they have and both celebrate how lucky they are.

Bard College

Bards from the Bard College in Lebalos are told to go home around New Years. Often they travel in Bands, Orchestras, or other musical groups to locations all over the world, playing songs to ring in the new year. Concerts sponsored by the Bard College are never as widespread as they are at the very end of the year, as the Bard College recognizes the importance of a New Year's Celebration.
Some students do stay behind at the Bard College, and there are professors who stay behind to take care of these students. They know that the students that stay behind likely either have no family to return to, or they wish to perfect their craft even on break. The professors gather these students, either for celebrations with whoever remains or to teach even when class is over for the year.

"A student- no, not just a student, a person should never be alone on New Years. Music is the great companion to life, and a musician must always accompany the lonely."

Moroza

The people of Moroza (Mishans, Wolfmen, Ice Giants, etc) have unknown traditions about New Years due to the lack of exposure the world has to their culture.

Nereids

The Nereids do not celebrate much on the particular day of New Years, as they cannot hear the coming of Kath the Eternal from beneath the waves. The sun is also not easily seen from deep beneath the waves, so they never know exactly when New Years has come. Instead the Nereids celebrate a week of New Years events. These include races in the sea, contests of taming fish, hunting, and even games of chicken where Nereids go on land and see how long they can stay before one of them runs back into the ocean.

Kingdom of Man

The Kingdom of Man sit by clocks on New Years, singing songs about the year to come and the year that has passed. They hug or kiss each other when the clock strikes midnight and Kath the Eternal flies over head, toasting with champagne. It is also said that people carry lumps of coal with them as the New Year strikes, so that the flame of passion may guide them to the next year.
The Kingdom of Man gives out an oat cake to children that represents an ancient legend about the Giants that once lived in the land. It was said that the giants baked a giant oat cake that washed away when the Giant Kingdom was flooded, and eating it now on New Years is to show how each person carries a piece of the Giant Kingdom with them, and must prosper as the Giants cannot.
"First Footing" is a tradition in the Kingdom of Man where the first in the family to enter their home in the New Year is given luck. The Kingdom of Man also utilizes New Year's Resolutions as a promise to each other to do better in the coming year, though few actually keep their promises after the first few days of the year.

Alzirgos

The people of Alzirgos celebrate in many ways. They are a mixing pot of various cultures, particularly the Foreign District, so they celebrate as their homes do. However, there are special Alzirgos traditions like hanging pomegranates and onions and hang them on the doors of the house.
The first family member to step into their house on New Year's Day is said to be given special luck, though this practice of "First Footing" comes from the Kingdom of Man.

Draconians

The Arux Draconians have a tradition at some point towards the end of the year where they gather their loved ones and confront them with everything they have been reflecting on. Any unresolved feelings are said to be resolved here, though it is rare to find this to be more than an excuse to gather loved oens together for a celebration where the "resolutions" are actually just jokes.
Fireworks are often shot out on New Years by mages, one of the few traditions that has been kept from the Second Grand Wizard Tobor Tuldad. Each village also utilizes their magical specialty, like Evity using Necromancy to stack resurrected corpses into a towering pyramid or Dembar getting a chorus of animals to sing together.

Magic College

The students of the Magic College are normally not allowed to leave school for New Years. Instead, they are gathered in their classes to celebrate in different locations. One class is gathered in the Magic College arena, where they are afforded the honor of celebrating with the Grand Wizard. It is said that every class gets this honor once, but in truth it depends on either what the Grand Wizard wants or the will of a simple lottery.
The Magic College suffered a great tragedy, known as the 520 Massacre, during the New Year that led into the year of 520, as 62nd Grand Wizard Drixodal Vortrin slaughtered the Class of 521, then taking his own life in grief after realizing what he did. The only survivor was Urokris Erthar, who was one of many to see the aftermath and commit unspeakable acts to try and prevent a similar tragedy from ever happening.

Elves

The Elves were the ones to initially celebrate New Years with champagne, which the Kingdom of Man stole as a tradition. The Elves say that it was once meant to symbolize the great bubbling nature of the New Year as it built up before bursting. This then is shown by shaking a champagne bottle before removing the cork.
Most Elves eat out on New Year's Eve, not wanting to cook and not wanting to be at home. They consider being at home to be a sign of being poor, so even the commoners don't want to be at home. It is for this that the poorer Elves work on New Years and the rich eat out, for fear of being seen at home and being seen as poor, lonely, and pathetic.

Dwarves

The Dwarves bake giant cakes that tower over them on New Years. Some households split it amongst their families, to show how much their families mean to them and to show that they will always take care of their loved ones. This happens in most households. Public businesses, on the other hand, make these towering cakes and hold competitions for single Dwarves where they compete to see who can eat the fastest. Often, many Dwarves find partners at these New Years celebrations, so that they may have families later to share a tower cake with.
Broken plates, bowls, and silverware are also taken out onto the street and tossed at loved ones. When they shatter, it is said to be the breaking of misfortune and bad luck from last year to bring good luck into the next year. Any remnants of the scrap that get caught in the beard are left there for a day as a sign that they must still do something before misfortune will fully leave them.
The first forging of a year is symbollic of a smith's luck. If a blade or piece of armor made first is sturdy and strong, it shows business will be strong. Otherwise, a blacksmith must prepare for the worst.
Finally, there are plenty of drinking contests across Dwarven territory, where Dwarves drink themselves half to death purely because they love to drink and wish to celebrate.

Goblins

The Goblins celebrate with a massive feast. The feast begins with the eating of twelve grapes to represent the months that are to come. Each grape represents what the months will be like for the Goblin who eats them. If a grape is shriveled or strange in any way, it means that month will be one of hardship. Otherwise, it is a good sign.
Goblins share food with each other, getting plates from the feast table not for themselves, but to spread to family and friends. They sit in mass communal areas and feast from a massive buffet. It is said that this comes from the unity they needed to stop the Giants and the Humans long ago, which is rarely something they can keep, but something that was required. Nowadays, some of the only unity they have is in celebrations like New Years or Monion Prom.

Halflings

Halflings, particularly those of Stallbourne, celebrate as the World Court wishes. The World Court imposes a strict curfew where despite New Year's coming at midnight, no one may be out in Stallbourne past 9:00 at night. Halfling families, and anyone else in Stallbourne, are not allowed outside as World Court Admissables roam the streets to ensure that no one leaves.
Prior to the curfew, however, Halflings walk to the houses of their neighbors and celebrate in the streets, showing off things they made, bought, or found that they are most proud of possessing. This is a festival that inspires community and love of one's neighbors, as well as fostering new creations to be shown off each year.

Shafaians

The Shafaian people gather in the city of Iganjojo, linking at the edge of the city and staring out into the jungle as they all hold hands. They say that it is not for them to celebrate the New Year, for they will have plenty of time to celebrate once they are in the year, but that the celebration of New Year's Eve and New Year's Day is for those who did not live to see it. For those who died the year prior to be able to celebrate what comes after them, and for the ancestors to gather. The Shafaians then pray to the ancestors to make a good year for them so that they may gather again to honor them at the end of the next year.
Lights are hung up all over the trees of Iganjojo, illuminating the city. They are protected in containers made of resin to make sure they do not set the trees on fire, as great care is taken to keep the city unburnt.

Fairies

The Fairies celebrate the New Year by racing each other to the tops of trees and sitting there through the night. Some rent private trees where they may spend time alone with others, while others simply go to public treetops and hang out with friends or even strangers. Some Fairies take these times to meet others, while others stick close to who they already know.
It is said that Yggdrasil is the home of the greatest party of the year, but that only the pinnacle of Fairy society are invited to celebrate in its majestic branches. Some say one cannot get drunk in the healing barrier of Yggdrasil, and many Fairies take this as a challenge.

Zavese

The Zavese Collective does not celebrate the New Year, as they claim to have "transcended the need for time" and "do not need to celebrate such silly things as when a calendar expires."

Mammen

The Mammen people celebrate "year end sales" where many things are given discounts. For the mercantile people of Ruzrugh, this is something they look forward to every year, where they may get items they had their eyes on all year. The actual celebration of the New Year itself has become a commodification taken over by capitalism. Many stories are told of how childlike wonder in young Mammen turn to jaded boredom or disinterest as time goes on, using New Year's celebrations as a metric for how this decay happens. Mammen businessman Bantuz once said:

"Whenever I hear that the New Year is coming, my reaction has changed. When I was young, I looked forward to the sales so that I could get the newest toy from wherever the merchants claimed to be getting goods from. A doll from Lebalos, a lute from Ealla... then I started to find that few of the goods they sold were actually foreign. Just overpriced imitations.
Then, I got into the business myself, and when I looked in a mirror the glimmer of wonder in my eyes had turned into the glint of gold from my golden monocle... and I could only smile when I had it. When I saw gold, I was happy. New Years meant nothing but profits now."

— Bantuz

Orcs

The Orcish people have a particular tradition that many consider to be incredibly strange. All Orcs gather at the center of their towns, as all Orcish towns are built with a large obelisk at the center. The day before New Year's Eve, Orcs gather to play a game known as "Ball Pole" where they stand around the sharp obelisk and throw a large ball.
The ball is tossed around until finally it is impaled onto the pole. Then, an Orc climbs up the obelisk, tying a rope to the ball and standing atop it to give a presentation and speech about the New Year. Finally, when the time comes for the New Year to be rung and Kath's wings are heard flapping in the distance, the Orcs begin to pull on the rope, the strongest fifteen residents being the ones to grab it. Meanwhile, all other Orcs count down from ten for the ball to drop and ring in the New Year.
Many consider this a strange, barbaric practice with no meaning behind it. The Orcs, however, see it as a celebration of fun with no deeper meaning behind it other than spectacle. Some Orcish scholars have been noted to say something along the lines of:

"The outsiders call us barbaric because they try to put their own meaning on our traditions. They struggle to understand that simply because we are different does not mean we are lesser than them."

Korvians

The Korvians have, as they did with many things, appropriated the traditions of the Orcs and tried to take them for their own. They have the poorer folk in the city place a large ball on a tower, then use their abilities to light it up and make a brilliant show at the center of the city. Then, they use their abilities to drop the ball as well.
Korvian nobles have gone on record as saying that the celebration is purely a way to keep people enthralled with spectacle ad to make the Orcish celebration appear to be a pointless imitation, when in fact the Orcish celebration is the one with history and meaning behind it and the Korvian celebration is a false imitation for profit.

"I couldn't care less for the New Year as the outside puts it. We celebrate a different year in this city, and yet we still drop the ball on their year's start because we wish to show that we are simply better in every way, even at what they do."

The Key of Beasts

The Beastmen of the Key of Beasts, when not united together in the Beastman Triumvirate, hold a truce so that they may come together and drink. They hold a joint feast where they bring their best kills, eating animals as well as men and women who ended up on the island.
It is a question that outsiders hold that call the Beastmen's traditions barbaric or cannibalistic, however there are Beastmen who shoot back with a simple question:

"I am part Beast and part Man... I am born with teeth to rip through flesh and to eat meat. To not be a cannibal, I would need to eat only plants, yet the soil of this island is not rich and the crops do not grow in the winter. Would it be better, then, to starve, or to eat meat?"

Anurans

Anurans have a small celebration depending on where they live. Trent Anurans are the ones to warn the others, hanging things around the trees for the New Year, hopping around to gather as a commune.
Lilith Anurans, on the other hand, come to the surface to hear the coming of Kath the Eternal. They are some of the last people to hear him coming, and rarely see the surface. They come only to see Kath's flight and to welcome him to rest at the end of his long journey. They prepare a large lily pad bed for him off the western coast, where he is able to sleep with the protection of the Anurans who party atop his back.

Lizardfolk

The Lizardfolk celebrate living to see another year, but not the year itself. Most years in Lizardfolk territory are torturous, surrounded by enemies and pain, so a moment of rest on New Year's is much more common to see than a real celebration, as parties require energy that the Lizardfolk will need to use when they must fight to survive once more.
Their greatest enemy is the Black Dragon Lord Reoma the Wretched, so the Lizardfolk fear the sound of Kath's coming. However, on the years when Reoma tries to attack them on New Year's, Kath comes to their rescue, effortlessly stopping Reoma and saving the Lizardfolk. He even sometimes remains in the swamps with the Lizardfolk for a time to keep them safe so they may rest to their heart's content.
A Lizardfolk book on New Years celebrations once said:

"With the eternal protector floating high in the sky, we could relax and rest without a care in the world, for there is nothing so safe and nothing so great as a day without strife and a year that starts with peace."