The lucky step

Lilina was not so comfortable with this. Sure, she had been preparing for over a month now, and it was't like she had to take the journey to Ungaoko alone. She just had to spend three days there alone. Alone. She shuddered at the thought. With a little good will she could imagine the happiness she would achieve afterwards, and it gave comfort to the girl. Lilina made up her mind. She really wanted to do this, and become a grown up. It would change her life, and move her from the never changing blanket of childhood into the great wonders of adulthood, that would be hers to manipulate. For that very reason she would endure the loneliness, and grow past it. The only thing nagging her now, was the uncertainty of if she would be able to bring her teddy bear.

The orange people are a little superstitious, and they often use a variety of rituals and rites from other cultures, you know, just in case. But the lucky step is their own creation used along with clovers and knocking on wood.

History

The orange people are a bit failure avoidant, and so they have always chosen the path that looked the least difficult, the most fun and vibrant. They thrive in social situations, so they began sharing their experiences with good choices. They wanted to make sure their children would have luck, so they prayed to nature, and they carried their children to places with large amounts of growth to surround them and cover them with the good of the world. They would let them stay there a day to learn and then retrieve them to hold a celebration. Over time this ritual became extended to three days, where it is intended to have the child travel there alone and once a day perform special coreographies and live of natures prodivances.
The ritual changed one final time, to allow the child to travel with whom they would want to a set place called Ungaoko. They would also be allowed to spend the days with children also participating in the ritual, although this is discouraged because it would distribute the effects of the ritual. The last change was the allowance of certain objects bought along. These could includes a lunchbox, a flashlight and so on. This change was set in place due to an increasing amount of missing children. Occasionally they were also found dead or severely injured.

Execution

At arrival the children must unpack and raise a homemade flag(see components and tools). Then the ritual can begin. As stated above it is a must that the participating kids execute a few coreographies during the ceremony. There is three, each broken up into two parts. The first part is done at sunrise, and the later at sunset. For each child the excecution varies a bit, but at its base it entails the same actions. The first part of the first choreography includes the following; touching the toes, then swinging the arms up in a circle one by one, where the body follows as to then swing the arms, still one at a time, to the opposite side. The remaining step is simultaneously this time let the arms rise as if drawing a sun, before coming down and touching the toes again.
The second part requires that the child rolls from touching the toes. Swings the legs, while ling down. Then rises again to touch the toes, turns around and touches them again.
The touching of the toes signifies their first outlook at life, that had control of their entire being. But the fluid motion and the many swings are also symbols of happiness. The second choreography is then supposed to signify the balance and control they gain through the ceremony. It therefore features more rigid movement. The first part starts with the arms out to each side as when walking a tight rope. Then a turn of ninety degrees occur, and afterwards the hands touch the angles each one at a time. It concludes with the kid standing up without the arms out.
In the second step the kid will bend down and up, and from right to left. Then cross their legs, and take an imaginary object. Cross the legs the other way and take a object in that direction. The arms are then put up as in the beginning of the first part.
In the final choreography the child has more choice in regards to the content, and it is only required that they include a motion from the first choreography in the first part, and a motion from the second choreography in the second part. They are now free to choose, as they are considered much more mature than before and full of promise. They are therefore the closest thing a person can come to perfection, and it is beneficial to be around them. If they in the time right after the ceremony of the lucky step happens upon misfortune they are thought to have slacked off in the ritual, and must be isolated for three months. Isolation the the sense that they do not see anyone.
The ritual ends when the flag is taken down.

Components and tools

Before the ceremony a member of the family will take it upon themselves to make little flag 10 cm across and 5 cm high. The colours of their family is used in it, and it is important that this flag is distinct, because it serves as a sort of identification and self. It is given to them upon journeying to Ungaoko, and is kept until death, where it will end its life like its owner. Buried, burned, drowned or whatever.

Participants

All children around ten year olds must go through the ceremony without the attendance of any other humans outside of the age group. If that was the case the child would need to be in isolation for a year for the effects to appear. Isolation again referring to not seeing anyone. A child without the effects would surely encounter tragedy after tragedy.

Observance

The ceremony takes place during the spring and summer months by the Gregorian calendar. The guardians of a child announces the date of their choosing for their kid, and the others have to work around that.

Primary Related Location

Ungaoko

Related Ethnicities