New Year

On the first day of the new year, the entire kingdom takes to the streets, even if a blizzard is underway, to visit their friends and family and wish them a blessed new year. Typically, each house sets out the best of what they can afford by way of hand held foods that are easily portable. The traditional offerings are nuts, dried fruits, the remaining pears, cookies and breads, as well as dried meat sticks. Warming drinks are also kept over the fire to chase the chill off of the company's travail into the cold.

In the larger cities of the kingdom, the highest ranked noble in the area will typically send out some selections of visiting foods and hot wassail to the city square for the populace to enjoy, as a token of hospitality for the new year. While the populace enjoys the meager offerings sent out, the nobility of the city are typically all gathered in the home of the new year's host, being regaled with fine foods, quality wine and musical entertainment.

The new year is welcomed by all people of all stations. It is considered a holy day by the church, and frequently the people talk of making fresh starts to go with the new year itself. The church endorses and encourages the view of coming clean and living a pure and holy life, and holds a special mass at sunrise for the faithful to come and avow their lives anew as Davites. Following mass, the confessionals are packed for hours, by people wishing to begin their new year with a clear conscience, before they begin their visits.

During the new year's festival, people of all ranks in the city not only greet family and friends, but also go door-to-door as neighbors. The rich hand out small gifts to the poor, and it has become an informal tradition to prove one's wealth by giving the most gifts. The Holy Order distributes a loaf of bread baked with a Chalice crest to every family in Lithmore for each new year's winter.