Due to the distinct lack of things I can find laying around on the internet relating to customs. I'd like people here to come up with their own ones. I've already done one, as Taiev will tell you, but that's not particularly for any reason, it's a bit like a oncfession. Anyway, if you could all add something, like a custom for a full moon, new year, etc....I'd be grateful. I pride myself on knowledge of elves, and to have a collection of festivals at my disposal would be nice

Good initiative.

All ideas welcome.

Well I don't know if it's the type of thing you are after but Nishma always follows the same routine in the Temple of the Moon?

She kneels, whispers a prayer, stands, then bows. I do the same everytime for a bit of continuity.

Nish

See that's fair enough, now we have that documented. It's not what I'm after, but it's good, and I suppose it counts

Remeber Eryndels prayer? I had to write that because I could not find anything on customs and celebrations of the Kaldorei, so if anyone comes up with some, it's appreciated...

What with the nature-worshipping aspect of the elves, I see them a little bit like Pagans (not the evil stereotype created by early Christianity of course). I'd like to see celebrations of the summer and winter solstices (22nd of June and December respectively) - great feasts celebrating the fertility of the earth and the gifts that life brings. That sort of thing. Just an idea

*nods* excellent ideas. But i need development on them. Sure, tell me an outline, but if you can go one further. For example, saying- Summer solstice celebration, just like this:
then write an actual ceremony for it. Weddings, seasons, full moons, they all need worshiping etc...

Right, I've got one, I'll add it when I get home, but it's going to run along the lines of a rite of passage for druids. More on it when I get home, like I said, but all ideas would be welcomed for it

I will add some things when I have time.. trying to mix and mash some things worked out for a fantasy LARP, and some pagan / druidic material.

Probably not before the weekend, though.

Also, would it be an idea to make a Forum under General (called "Night Elf Celebrations and Customs" or something like that) to gather and discuss just these kinds of things? I first thought it might be better to place that info under the Glade of Lore, but that is just for Silvereye members, while doing this "out in the open" might be good if we want outside contributors / readers.

The idea would be to post background and outlines of celebrations / customs / rites / festivals / etc., discuss them, and make a "final" version for all to see and use (and change to fit the occasion, if wanted).

Please let me know if that sounds like a good idea.

I offer to be the moderator of that forum, if that is wanted / needed.

Excellent, Blizzard doesn't provide much so we better invent our own.

Celebrating the seasons, as Aludra writes is important, as well as the elements, the nature, etc.. everything that surrounds them. Even if we will never accept the idea of being of Troll blood, most of their customs should relate back to the basics, even if very cultivated.

Rueti's and Odiss' druid and ranger bond felt important, at least to our characters. We gave eachother an enchanted bracelet and promised eternal trust by the lake in Moonglade. Gilthas held a nice speech and Odiss and me tried our best to keep up. It was all very improvised.

(Still abroad)

You asked for it. Remember that!

This is a combination of two posts I think, this one on celebrations and another regarding regular meetings. Here, in my round-about and haphazard way is what I would suggest:

Meetings

Fortnightly, non-compulsory meetings for anyone who might be around and interested. The location changes dependant on the following cycle.

Temple of the Moon
Twilight Grove
Grove of the Ancients
Feathermoon

I've kept it purposefully small so that we 'get used' to the locations and identify with them.

Trawling

For the weeks between meetings and again non-compulsory. These are the walks through Teldrassil by members of the guild. An informal get together to RP and be visible to those players in the starting areas. Confirm our status as an RP guild, reassure new players that RP does exist on the server and hopefully, meet some top quality people!

Meet in Darnassus, start walking to Shadow Glen and see how far you get!

Celebrations

Being a druidic and nature focused society it makes sense that the night elves would celebrate at those times of year most closely related to nature and the turning of the seasons. Below I have compiled the dates of the solstices (longest and shortest days, height of summer and depth of winter), the equinoxes (day and night are most equal, the turning of the seasons), Perihelion and Aphelion (those points at which the earth is closest or furthest from the sun respectively) and some ceremonies observed by the Celtic peoples that spawned druidism. It is all loosely based with some words a direct port from the Celtic where it sounds suitable and some made up on the spot. They need further description if we are to go ahead (words, items, etc, etc) but I thought that could wait till at least someone likes 'em!

You will notice a couple of druid only ceremonies. I like the idea and would encourage each class to come up with it's own celebration or events. A hunter's initiation for example.. a run with no armour or equipment from one end of Kaldorei to the other... or something. I don't know, I'm a druid!

In addition a number of them rely on a spiritual leader to lead prayer, perform blessings etc. Do we have such a thing? Should we? Perhaps we could change the person each time?

Obviously the dates are adaptable to fit in with when most can attend and of course all is open to criticism, hole-poking, hair-splitting, derision or praise.

Perihelion
Date: January 4th
Name: *shrugs* Perihelion
Summary: Druids business. Keep out!
Description: An affirmation of the druidic bonds to the earth. Details are sketchy to non-druids but rumours persist of face-painting, trances, communes with spirits and wild dancing. Who knows how much is true?

Date: February 1st
Name: Imbolic - The Birth of Spring
Summary: The birth of a new year and the beginning of winter's loosening grip on the world. Traditionally Imbolic is a celebration of knowledge and achievement.
Description: A time to celebrate the achievements of those in the guild. Be they RP related or game mechanics. For example: congratulations are extended to Hunter X on reaching the zenith of prowess or celebrate, for Druid Y has overcome her demons. A perfect opportunity to recap our exploits and for newer members to discover a little guild history. Before dispersing our lore master tells a moral tale or some other speech that provides food for thought.

Vernal Equinox
Date: March 20th
Name: Denearth - The Binding
Summary: A turning of the seasons ceremony. Winter has relaxed it's grip on the land and everywhere new life bursts forth. Lambs gamble in meadows, streams swell from melt water and trees burst forth in bud.
Description: Bring out your finest green clothes! Everyone should be head to foot in green to celebrate the spring equinox. Traditionally a time for weddings and love, many Night Elves hold their ceremonies of binding or marriage around this time. Many also send those they admire anonymous poems or well wishings. In a formal ceremony each night elf makes peace with their brethren with words of kindness or admiration then is blessed by our spiritual leader with the water from the Temple moonwell and receives Elune's protection.

Date: May 3rd
Name: Beltain - The Day of Life
Summary: The counterpart to Samhain, Beltain is a celebration of all that lives and breathes. It is on this day that the normally quite reserved and distant Kaldorei really let themselves go.. well, as much as some of them can. The Kaldorei gather in close groups of family or friends. Dancing, drinking, stories, poetry and songs are the order of the day. Make merry and enjoy life is the command. It was traditional, when the first stars appear in the night sky, for everyone to cleanse themselves in an act of rebirth in the mountain pools of Hyjal. This has been continued in the waters that flow though Darnassus.
Description: A light-hearted procession through Darnassus to the Temple of the Moon to offer thanks to the Goddess. Following, a loose knit gathering where we try to get as many passers-by as possible involved. Implore them to tell us a story, a song or a rhyme. Meanwhile we share tales and song of our own. Come prepared! All this followed by an unclothed ceremony in the shallows of Darnassus with prayers of cleansing and rebirth offered up to Elune.

Summer Solstice
Date: June 21st
Name: Jurina'tore - The Great Hunt
Summary: The depths of summer. The land is fertile and rich and everywhere bursts with the green of plants and the hum of insects. Almost everywhere...
Description: Bring out your finest yellow or gold clothes! Everyone should be head to foot in yellow or gold to celebrate the summer solstice. As the land prospers so do the Kaldorei. First is the hunt! A symbolic chase through the lands with the Chased (the hunted) being pursued by the Hounds of Elune (on foot and wearing wolf masks) and the Cowled Riders (mounted and wearing dark cowls and clothes). When/if caught the hunted and the hunters return to Darnassus. As symbolised by the hunt, the Summer Solstice is a time of wealth and bounty and each Kaldorei makes a donation to their organisation (the Circle dummy!). As the donation is made they receive the blessing of Elune for their continued watch over their brethren.

Aphelion
Date: July 5th
Name: *shrugs* Aphelion
Summary: Druids business. Keep out!
Description: An affirmation of the druidic bonds to the earth. Details are sketchy to non-druids but rumours persist of face-paints, deep trances, communes with spirits and wild dancing. Who knows how much is true?

Date: August 15th
Name: Lughnasad - Earth Bounty
Summary: Similar to the English Harvest Festival or American Thanksgiving. I'm afraid I know little of other peoples though I am sure most countries will have the same or an equivalent. (As an aside I'd be interested to know; does your country have an equivalent? What is it? How is it celebrated? Is it the same?) A celebration of the land's bounty and richness. A day for feasting and for sharing food with, and getting to know, strangers. It is also traditionally a day of charity with many Night Elves making generous donations to the less fortunate. None may refuse a request for warmth, shelter or sustenance on this day. It is also common for small impromptu competitions to see who has gathered or found the rarest and most impressive flora and fauna from the farthest corners of Azeroth. Offerings of food are often left in the Temple of the Moon for Elune.
Description: I am picturing a loose knit gathering with some small competitions and as much passer-by involvement as possible. Food and drink to pass around and come ready with the rarest flora or fauna you can!

Autumnal Equinox
Date: September 22nd
Name: Illuridei-lai - Watchers Flame
Summary: A turning of the seasons ceremony. Leaves turn from green to a fireworks display of red and gold while heavy headed crops sway in the fields.
Description: Bring out your finest red clothes! Everyone should be head to foot in red to celebrate the autumn equinox. The autumnal equinox is the ceremony of the Watchers Flame. Held at night, a procession bearing lanterns sets out from Darnassus to Astranaar in Ashenvale. The procession is lead in an answer-reply style chant by the spiritual leader along the way. Once arrived each member receives the blessing of Elune for strength and wisdom.

Date: November 12th
Name: Samhain - The Day of the Dead
Summary: On this day the worlds of the living and the dead are said to be closest. For the Kaldorei it is a day of remembrance and for honouring their ancestors. More recently Samhain has taken on new significance and has become a day to remember the onslaught of the legion and those elves that gave their lives in the defence of Azeroth. A quiet, dignified ceremony followed by introspective prayer and thought.
Description: Possibly a slow procession through Darnassus (all holding some glowing off-hand item) to the Temple of the Moon. Each then makes an offering of a single blossom from a Artha's Tears plant into the waters in the Temple before being led in a few prayers by our spiritual leader. Druids then retire to the Stormrage Barrows in Moonglade to offer their thanks to druids past while others perform whatever personal or classed based ceremony they think is relevant or want to organise. Seems a perfect excuse to wear black too!

Winter Solstice
Date: December 21st
Name: Krakash - The Cleanse
Summary: The depths of winter and land is locked in it's icy grasp. Streams lie frozen and snow covers the ground like a blanket. Wrap up warm, there are colder things than the weather.
Description: Bring out your finest white clothes! Everyone should be head to foot in white to celebrate the winter solstice. Perhaps the most formal of the Night Elf ceremonies. Each Night Elf stands before a trinity of Night Elf priests and is scoured for the shadow, an exhausting and painful process. Thus cleansed and clear they then receive the blessings of the three, one for defence against the shadow, one for the wisdom to recognise the shadow and one for the strength to fight the shadow.

EDIT: Formatting

*gape*

Excellent ideas!

Full moons....

I can't say I've noticed the moons of Azeroth cycle like that. Do they? If they don't and we wanted to celebrate full moons should we use the dates for ours? I've dug them out and listed them below to give an idea of how often we're talking.

July 21st 2005
August 19th 2005
September 17th 2005
October 17th 2005
November 15th 2005
December 15th 2005
January 14th 2006
February 12th 2006

It goes on.

Basically between these and the ones I suggested before (or something similar) we'd be looking at two 'ceremonies' a month. Is that too much?

I'd like to see the full moons celebrated but perhaps in the optional way of the fortnightly meetings and trawling? That would leave just one 'ceremony' a month and whatever 'event' meetings are called as compulsory (I use the term loosely obviously). I think we could cope with that?

I notice this topic's gone pretty quiet since I spammed it!

C'mon.. you must have opinions!

Nish

I love your ideas Nishma.
The only thing I want to add is that if no one has objections you should start adding these events in the calendar.

I bow down before you Nish. This is EXACTLy what i was looking for, you have made a young roleplayer proud *sniffs*

Well, looking at that date, i suggest we have a ceremony tonight then, non-compulsory, meeting somewhere where we can talk over the beautiful new moon, the start of a new period. Perhaps a prophecy for the future even? Readings of the moon....etc..