Holidays
Holidays fall on the change of the tides and the movement of the sun and
stars. The constellations are a big part of the culture. We could even have a
class of priest that specializes in astrology to determine when they will occur.
The following no longer represents the culture and needs to be rewritten.
The Season of Soranu; (Rice Festival)
An event in June is rice planting. It is a common sight to find the Priest/ess
of the Temples doing rituals and sacrifices to Ji’Kalna beginning on the first
full moon of May. A blessing of the Rice Paddies for a strong harvest is
believed to bring favor with Ji’Kalna. Once the paddy’s are blessed, rituals
completed the planting begins in June. Throughout the Bishani Kingdom, you see
farmers planting rice seedlings in fields filled with water. Rice is a staple
food and loved by the majority of the Jillhani people here.
All this in preparation for the Festival of Rice, the Soranu. On the eve of
completion, a high Priest/ess from the Temple of the Acolytes can be seen
walking the paths of the rice paddy’s, in ritual and glory to Ji’Kalna. She will
stay throughout the night to assure the seedlings a good start. Her ritual
starts the rainy season that will ensure a good strong crop.
Osojo (Spring cleaning)
Towards the end of the year things get hectic, as there are many things to do
to prepare for New Year's. First people go through what is called Osojo (spring
cleaning). They do it near the end of the year because they believe it is the
time to purify everything so that one can make a fresh start for the coming
year. A great deal of time is spent cleaning up houses, shops and offices. It’s
significance of purification.
Traditionally, this cleaning is done as a rite to prepare for the welcome of
the Mother, Ji’Kalna. To understand Jillhani’s New Year's, it is important to
know that the New Year's celebration in Bishani centers around the belief that
at the end of the year Ji’Kalna visits every house, bringing blessings to them.
After Osojo is completed, very near the end of the year, New Year's
decorations made up of pine tree branches are put up at the gates of the houses.
Kazari, sacred straw festoons, are hung above the front door and Soranuchi, a
tier of two rice cakes shaped like round mirrors, are offered on the household
altar or in the alcove of the main room.
An arrangement of tree sprigs used to decorate the gate to the house at New
Year's much like a wreath. Although there are regional variations in the type of
tree used and places where these arrangements are displayed, it is commonly an
arrangement featuring pine that is placed on the gateposts. This custom is
observed to welcome Ji‘Kalna to the house.
Soranuchi, is a smaller round (rice cake) with an orange on top, placed on a
larger one on a stand called a sampo, a special alter much like a stool usually
of elaborate colors. It is an offering for Ji’Kalna with a more formal
Soranuchi, kelp from the sea of birth, dried Lotus petals; meat and other things
believed to bring good luck are used to decorate it.
Kazari
Although there is a wide variety of Kazari (straw), it in general is a
decoration made of a rope of straw with dangling white paper strips called
shide. Kazari are hung over (or on) the front door of the house to mark the
temporary dwelling place of the Ji’Kalna and to prevent malevolent spirits from
entering the house.
On the last eve of the New Year a great feast is prepared and tables line the
streets of the city loaded with all manner of food and drink while everyone is
in costume with elaborately decorated masks depicting one or more of Ji'Kalna's
aspects and the celebration lasts long into the next morn.
The decorations are removed around Jan 11th
Ranu
From early June to the beginning of July, except for a few breaks, it rains
or is cloudy every day. Although rain at this time of year is crucial for rice
to grow and for people to survive the hot and humid summer, the Ranu rain
doesn't get the appreciation that it deserves. It doesn't rain that hard
compared to other rainy seasons. In fact, a Ranu rain is a sprinkle, not a
downpour. Jillhani people tend to be definitive about their seasons (conscious
of the seasonal changes), especially around Ranu season, which can be seen in
the announcement of the beginning and end of a rainy season by The Priest/ess of
the stars.
Ora
When the two stars are seen high above the moon, the High Priest/ess is
called to make an announcement of the beginning of the Ranu season. On this day
all homes are visited by the High Priest/ess of the stars, to give word to
prepare for the coming festival. When Ranu season ends the same is done, He or
she will visit each house in announcement of Sora, and a special blessing on the
sacred Garden water is given to purify it after the rains.
Sora
On July 7th Bishani Kingdom observe another of the seasonal events. It is
based on the legend of two stars ---Weaver Star (Vega) and Cowherd (Altair) ---
who are supposed to have been lovers and could only meet on the seventh night of
the seventh month, though on opposite banks of the River of Ji’Kalna (Milky
Way). On this day people decorate bamboo branches with ornaments and long strips
of colored papers on which they write their wishes and prayers to the Goddess
Ji‘Kalna. The cities of Aish'yan & Aish'zae, Ashi'naa, Ahsi'tay are particularly
known for their elaborate celebrations of the Sora Festival. These prayers are
then cast upon the swollen river of the Bishani Kingdom in the hopes Ji’Kalna
will cast favor on them. It is the end of the Ranu season and the beginning of
the Sora.
The story goes like this…
Long ago, when Time was still young, there were two lovers. Ji’Kalna watched
over the lovers, adoring them and finding favor in their love. A jealous God,
(one of the siblings of Ji’Kalna, but no one really knows which one) noticing
Ji’Kalna’s favor in the two, heard their song and thought it good sport to tease
them. So the God took the glow from the face of the man and cast it up into the
sky to form the Moon, and he took the soul of the woman and poured it out to
form the Sea, and between them he put the dark distance called Night.
Every day, when the Sun put down its head to sleep, the Moon would peek up
over the edge of the world and send out fingers of light to tickle the tips of
the waves of the Sea. And she would froth for him, and his light tangled in her
froth illuminating her secrets as she gave shape to his desire. And he reached
out to her, and she lifted up her belly and her tides to him, and cradled his
image in her thousand arms, and rocked him gently on her waves, as the world
turned. And when at last, the time of Day was come, the Moon rang out a last
farewell to his far and distant lover, and all her waves collapsed in tears and
light, as the Sun rose. But once a year Ji’Kalna would allow them to meet on the
banks of the river once again. This celebration culminates the end of the Ranu
(rainy season) and the beginning of the festival Soranu.
It is told that Ji’Kalna having had such favor on the two cast a spell on the
lovers, that on the seventh day of the seventh month, they once again could take
physical form on the banks of the River of Ji’Kalna and glory in the warmth of
the sun. Ji’Kalna put the lovers into stars called The Vega and Altair. It is at
this time the Jillhani have celebrate the Soranu, the festival of rice.
The Jillhani people gather in an open space. The best of foods, clothing,
manners, always displayed in hopes that Ji’Kalna will appear herself. The totem
of good harvest is raised in the center of the tables of food.
Everyone brings a dish of food to be shared. Fruits, drink, meats, soups, and
rice dishes of every kind can be found.
It is customary for the Noble houses to appear on the second day. Putting all
ill will aside, they are led in a parade by their houses Priest/ess. Sacred
water is carried in a small vile as though her hands protect the very essence of
Ji’Kalna. Her hands cover the vile in a praying manner as she holds the vile of
sacred water taken from the houses garden. He or she will perform a small
ritual, and the vile of water is emptied into the small pool that will feed the
rice paddies. When all five houses have performed this ritual the festival
begins.
All join in the dancing, even the Noble leaders, for it is hoped that the
goddess herself will find favor in the festival and bless the Soranu with her
presence. It is this day that all the Jillhani’s rituals and prayers are geared
toward. For Ji’Kalna if she appears is likely to either bless the leader of the
council for another year, or choose a new one.
On the morning of the third day of Soranu, just as the sun peaks over the
horizon, the Acolyte Priestess will appear once again. She will have with her
the High Priestess of the Temple of learning. A special ritual of sacrifice (to
be discussed) is given to the Ji’Kalna in thanks. And a sending prayer of the
two lovers spirits back to the Moon and the sea for another year closes the
Soranu for another year.
Thenan Ssyrith (To serve the dead)
This is the day where all of Bishani remembers those who have gone before
them and their ancestors who rest in the embrace of Ji'Kalna. All of those of
Bishani fast from sunrise to sunset out of respect for the fallen. In the Ji'Ken
villages drum can be heard up and down the coast of the river in a slow rhythmic
beat as dancers sway solemnly to the music out of respect for those who have
gone before. On the Mountain Ji'Mal and Ji'Coi lead silent processions thru the
streets to gather at the temple at varying times to meditate and utter prayers.
Toward sunset the Jillhani tend to the graves of their ancestors making sure the
markers are still clearly visible and some may plant fragrant flowers or place
small carefully tended trees near these markers. Individual ceremonies are held
after the trips to the temple to honor the fallen priest/esses, warriors, and
lords/ladies of the past.
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