December – Tribunal Marriage Proclamations

Traditionally, the Tribunal is approached during the end of the year (october/november) and the various clans and families propose marriages. The tribunal has to take note of all of them and deem the matches either suitable or unsuitable. If a marriage is proclaimed unsuitable, the Tribunal has to find an alternative candidate. The newly submitted marriage does not have to be accepted and either a new proposition can be made the following year or the old one can be resupplied.

The festival lasts only 3 days and is held during the first days of December. 

On the first day, the (local) tribunals proclaim the marriages in the meeting hall.
The next day the person who will leave their ancestral home will prepare. They have to pack their belongings on their own, while the parents prepare the last meal their child will consume in their household while still bearing their name. In many regions it is common for the new partner and parts of their family to come visit that night to join in on the meal and bring food themselves to share with the others. The house is filled with music, games and fun. The same night, the newlyweds return home to the “inheriting” clan and spend their first night together. 

This can be slightly altered and the small, new family will move into a completely new house. Newlyweds never move into a new house alone. It is considered bad luck. Instead, typically either a grandparent or sibling will move in with the couple.

On the third day the newlyweds will begin decorating their new home. For this occasion, typically the clan makes sure there is enough food or drink for the helpers. Carpenters, painters and weavers come and either help in furnishing or decorating or they bring gifts of their trade, i.e. kitchenware, tapestries etc.

Thus begins their first month together as a couple.

During December the tribunal members have made sure to visit the couple in their new home and talk. (This can be done by individual tribunal members, not all three at once.) After getting their first impression (and maybe more), they will propose a name and the meaning behind it to the other Tribunal members. The name is discussed. 
Middle Bronze Era: Although this has never been the official meaning behind the “nameless” December period, many couples these days take this period as a “trial” period. While not common, it is not unheard of for a couple to request an official breakup during this time. This is not taken well by the Tribunal, but they do not refuse.

January – Family Naming Ceremony and the Marriage Festival

At the beginning of January, the Tribunal once again asks the clans and families to gather to proclaim the family names of the newly formed families. Typically, the names are received very well and, starting from this point, the new couple is officially a family unit. They exchange their marital threads, which are worn over the loose mantle worn on the shoulders. The threads are very distinct in color from the mantle.

The proclamation is followed by an evening “out in town” that is spent with friends and family. Street merchants sell special food items.

May – Annual Aging Ceremony

Obviously, children are born every time of the year. Yet, because the Palanteinc are quite “public” people, the aging of everyone is celebrated once every year in early May under a full moon. The Aging Ceremony is held in and around the Meeting Hall, with the Clergy and the Tribunal presiding over the ritual. This is the evening with the most music and singing. 

Middle Bronze Era: Since the People of Palanteinc are very communal and space in a city is limited, they have been expanding into more and more cities. Traditionally, the aging ceremony has only lasted one day, but now many families travel around during the aging ceremony, also visiting friends and relatives in the lands. The Aging Ceremony still is, effectively, only one day (midday to evening), but more and more the following week is marked by people traveling and thus, shops and other services might not be operating.