Legends of Belariath
The Quest of Festivals Common
Erik Bloodaxe - Festivals of the Fresian Islanders
All of these festivals take place in the Fresian islands. This is approximately one hundred leagues south and 120 leagues west of the mouth of the Thalis. Thalis naturally about 30 leagues due West but it meanders a great deal so it might be considerable more if you stay on it as the Chirot fly. In the Fresians our lives are our ships. Our ships are home, mother, father and mate. Our festivals reflect the building and structure of these sacred objects.
K'akrah or Keel is the first. Our keels are straight and strong, taken from the sacred groves and cultivated for one hundred years to grow with just the proper curve for the ship it is made for. One tree for one keel for one ship with one grain, such is our most ancient law and custom. K'akrah is a children's festival. Each child is brought forth, measured and marked on a post and then must summarize what he/she has learned that year. The entire community listens to each child and the custom is that any achievement whatsoever is greeted with cries of universal praise and wonderment that any child could learn so much. K'akrah is done in the spring when the winds turn from the East but before the rains.
Pak or Planks is the second. Our planking too is cultivated, cut and smoothed with care and cunning so that the fit of one to the other is perfect. The public part of Pak is much like K'akrah for adults. However, later at night a second ceremony is held. Only one's immediate family and friends are allowed. Here the approbation is honest and blame is not withheld. Great amounts of mead are used to soften sometimes necessary verbal blows here and it is the custom that all are friends still when the sun rises. Pak is done in the summer, after the rains.
Babrah or Binding, the rope that ties our boats together and chinks between the planks is what makes the Fresian longboat. We use no nails of iron or wood but tie our boats with the Lilyfus vines that can be neither cut or broken and only gain strength the longer they are in water. Thus our boats leap and play like horses on waters that break craft held together by great iron spikes. On this day we commemorate our history and celebrate Motri, who brought us from the cold north to this warm paradise he had discovered many centuries ago. One boy of over 15 but under 20 summers is chosen by lot to be Motri and he becomes the lord of the village for that day with his pick of any maiden or maidens he desires. It is the custom of that day that no female may refuse any male's request. Babrah is done after the rains and before the winds change again.
K'rigger is the outriggers, which are hinged so we can lift them to sail up rivers and enable us to make our ships narrow so they slice the water as a sword. K'rigger celebrates balance and moderation in a typical Fresian way, by showing us what life would be like without it. Thus, it is a celebration of unbridled excess in all things, food, drink and sensuality run amok for three days. Fighting is forbidden by ancient practice to save both lives and property. This takes place after the winds change and the year's coolest temperatures (between 70 and 80) begin to prevail.
Maat is the mast and sails, which we see as one. The Maat festival is a celebration of the winds and currents which propel us, and the knowledge of such which makes us unique and blessed among all the peoples of Gaea. A contest is held at which ship captains recite the guiding verses which they use as maps. The one reciting the most wins a cash prize. Maat takes place in the little summer, a brief period in the winter cooling when the temperature rises back to the summer norm of 85 and swimming again becomes a main recreation.
Moko is oars. The moko celebration is marked by contests of strength and cunning among the youth of the village and the prizes are the comeliest maidens in the village. These celebrations are extremely varied, using games which one or another are cleverly designed so that practically no type of human talent is not called upon by one or another contest. Thus young people are thus apprised of their natural abilities and few go away losers. This ceremony also begins the New Year in the Fresian calendar.