Holidays and the Liturgical Calendar
Dedicated to Legis Ianuarius, Legis the Keeper of Boundaries. House-holders offer wine or honey-water (if poor) to the Penates, the guardian spirits that ward a home's entrance. Land-owners sacrifice an animal to Legis (chicken, pig, sheep, or cow, depending on their wealth) at the bound-stones that mark the edge of their property. The King sacrifices a pure white bull at the Shrine of the Fundati. (The Fundati are people who, in the distant past, voluntarily allowed themselves to be buried alive beneath Rostilla's walls. This bound their spirits to guard the capitol for all time.)
February 2 Feast of Purification.
Dedicated to Askelius Februator, Askelius the Purifier. The poor clean their houses thoroughly on February 1st and wash the floor with hyssop and water on the 2nd. (Folklore says that Askelius walks the world on the night of February 1st and blesses any clean house he finds.) The wealthier fume their home with various incenses, and offer a red chicken (Askelius' favorite sacrifice) at his Temple. Priests spend the day in prayer, asking that plague may pass by the people.
February 15 The Parentalia -- the Feast of Ancestors.
Dedicated to Askelius Mortuarius, Askelius as lord of the dead. People share a meal with their ancestors, to honor them. Most commoners take a picnic lunch to the necropolis outside the city walls and eat at their ancestors' graves, leaving a plate full of food for the dead. Nobles often bury their dead in a mausoleum inside their villa walls. On Parentalia they hold a feast in their own homes and leave the doors open, so that their ancestors can join them. Marble busts of their ancestors (which normally line the walls of the villa's atrium) are "seated" at the table. Priests of Askelius pray for the souls of all dead, known and unknown, so that no kin-less ghost feels slighted and returns to haunt the living.
Dedicated to Bella Aegis, Shield of Hosts. March 25th marks the beginning of the campaign season. There are no common rites for this day, but the priests of Bella hold sword-dances in the goddess' honor and pray that she will bless the Rostillan army.
April 15 Ambarvalis -- The Blessing of the Plows.
Dedicated to Crescens Aratrix, Crescens of the Plow. Mainly a rural festival. Urban priests pray for fertility for the kingdom. Rural priests travel to nearby villages and bless the farmers' plows. Farmers who own property carry thuribles of incense around the boundaries of their lands. Counts and those with huge tracts of land burn incense at shrines situated at the four corners of their counties.
May 1 Veneralia -- The Festival of the Green.
Unofficial holiday dedicated to Cresens Verdantis, Crescens of the New Growth. A commoners' festival, primarily rural. In the city, Veneralia is simply an excuse for a huge party which supposedly honors Crescens as goddess of pleasure and love. In the countryside, peasants weave garlands of spring flowers and greenery, which they present to the count to bless his household. The count rewards them with money (usually a few coppers), which which the peasants purchase food for a feast. They, too, spend the night in revelry -- many children are born around February 1st. There are no official rites for this day; it's a popular celebration.
June 25 Midsummer -- Legis Day -- the Day of Oaths.
Dedicated to Legis Iurisprudens, Legis Oathkeeper. The greatest Rostillan holiday, the day on which oaths are taken. The priests of Legis offer a white bull to Legis and pray that all people will be loyal and faithful throughout the year. The pontifex supremus (chief priest) of Rostilla recites a litany of the duties the King owes to the Gods; a rural priest recites the duties that his count owes to the King. Everyone who owes allegience to another repeats their vows on this day. Counselors (or counts, if they're in Rostilla at this time) appear before the King in their finery and renew their oaths of loyalty to him. All knights present themselves to their counts and give their hommage again. This is repeated throughout society, down to the poorest apprentice shoe-maker who pledges to serve his master faithfully for seven years. Legis Day is the favorite time for paladins to take their squires to the Holy Mounds to offer their oaths to the Gods. In addition, Legis Day is the traditional time to take apprentices and so a large hiring fair takes place on this day.
September 21 Mens Messis -- the Harvest Festival.
Dedicated to Crescens Mater, Cresens the Grain Mother. For urban dwellers, a day to party. Rural people feast as well, and include a number of games and contests (such seeing who can throw a sickle through the last sheaf of grain, called "Dulcita" ("little Dulcea") or the Hag). Priestesses of Crescens offer the first fruits of harvest to her and sing her praises throughout the day. Slaves are traditionally given a silver piece on this day by their masters; slaves who present their masters with 20 of these gift coins "purchase" their freedom on this day.
October 25 Equestria -- the Rite of the Red Horse.
Dedicated to Bella Victrix, Bella Triumphant. The end of the campaign year is marked with the sacrifice of a red horse to Bella. The King throws gladiator games and races from October 22nd through October 25th; admission is free, and many people take these days as a holiday. On the 25th, the priests of Bella process four spotless red horses before the crowds. Then the four race. The winner is offered to Bella; the winning rider presents his horse's head to the King and sits at the King's right hand at that evening's feast. Having your horse chosen to be the Red Horse is a great honor; competition among the counts is quite stiff.
November 15 Dies Sanguinis -- the Day of Blood.
Dedicated to Dulcea Cruoris, Dulcea the Gore-Covered. A rural festival. Once the harvest is stored and the farmers know how much fodder they have for the winter, any animals they will not be able to feed are slaughtered on this day. Traditionally one cut of meat from each animal is given to the poor.
December 28 Mother Night. Midwinter.
Dedicated to Dulcea Vates, Dulcea the Prophetess. Except for Legis Day, the greatest festival of the Rostillan year. All who have "authoritas" (kings and counts) offer a black sow to Dulcea on behalf of their subjects. Home-owners sacrifice an animal and smear blood across the top of their door lintel (there are many theological debates about the significance of this rite, as the day after Mother Night is the Festival of Doors, dedicated to Legis Keeper of Boundaries). The evening is given to revelry and the wildest parties of the year are held. Mother Night is also considered the best time for divinations, and many commoners spend the evening trying to divine who their future spouse will be.