THE JORSKDAG FESTIVAL

[sarahbarah 5030]

THE SAINT JOREN’S DAY FESTIVAL

 

 

Penned by

LADY AMAYA COLBORN

On this 15th day of Jula ag Piov of 472 E.S. 

 

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JORSKDAG, or JOREN’S DAY, is a Scyfling holiday that celebrates the first encounter between St. Joren and St. Tara. It was their encounter that thawed the icy plague of winter, thus allowing Spring to finally take hold. Flowers and sprouts bloomed, spanning across luscious, verdant fields as far as the eye could see. 

 

Spring has once more graced the Dual Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, melting away the northern frost that so typically blankets the northern soil. Thus, Lady Amaya Colborn has deemed it necessary to honour the coming of Spring by hosting the Jorskdag Festival, a bright and colourful celebration of the occurring Spring Equinox.

 

 

JORTASLETTRN 

JORTASLETTRN are letters solely written in celebration of Jorskdag, most oft delivered to acquaintances or friends during the holiday. Typically, the youth will enclose small pieces of candy in their letters, while some might add colourful sketches of chickens, Jorskdag eggs, or other various doodles to their letters. 

 

Adults usually seek to exchange pleasantries within these letters, though some may seal dried flowers within their given letters to denote their affection for the recipient. Of course, each flower has a different meaning, thus tasking the recipient of the letter to interpret the true intentions of the writer.

 

A Jortaslettrn-writing stall will be erected within the Haeseni square, so that those who wish to exchange good tidings may do so. Paper, flowers, and candies will be provided.

 

JORSKDAG PERFORMANCES

JORSKDAG is seldom celebrated without the grandiose performances that contribute to the cultural significance of this Scyfling holiday. Performers stand on an assembled platform known as a Jorsktable, and most often, poetry is recited, or music is performed, though it is not uncommon to witness more unusual displays, such as Scyfling sword-dancing or other visual absurdities. 

 

SVARIRIS MAKING

SVARIRIS branches are a cultural staple of the Jorskdag festivities that are decorated with feathers, or, if one is able to afford such, intricately bejewelled eggs, meant to symbolize the rebirth of Spring. Most notably, these Svariris branches represent the bouquet of flowers St. Tara gifted St. Joren during their first encounter, known as Kvisteblom to the Scyfling people. Portrayed as a gift of friendship, the Kvisteblom may be given to any acquaintance or friend on Jorskdag. A stall dedicated to the creation of these branches will be present in the square on the day of the festival.

 

JORAGG RACE AND HUNT

A celebration of Jorskdag is never complete lest the Joragg Hunt takes place. Eggs, or Joragg, will be scattered throughout the Prikaz gardens so that the Haeseni youth may find them and claim the prize hidden inside - typically candy or small trinkets.

 

Once every participant has collected at least one egg from the hunt, they will take the decorated egg of their choosing and race with it in the famed Joragg Race - an infamously difficult game in which attendees must race to the finish line whilst balancing their decorated egg upon a spoon.

 

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Her Ladyship, Amaya Milena Colborn, Lady Protector of Insect-Kind