Rituals and Traditions of the Galuyn

The Traidisiúin Galuyn are loosely translated the rituals and traditions of the Galuyn people. Galuyns observe a variety of clan specific traditions as well as a general observance of same celebrations among their people. Traidisiúin Galuyn range from runic practices to wedding rituals and practices with their specific Gods.

Timthriall na Bliana - The Cycle of the Year
The Timthriall na Bliana refers to the celebratory cycle of the year, observed by most if not all Galuyn clans, though specific blessings during these Taoidí Naofa, or Holy Tides, may vary by clan the general celebration remains the same.

Uasal Earraigh- Noblegarden [The Nobles of Spring]
[Observed during March-April]

Basic tradition among the Galuyn people states that during Uasal Earraigh the Galui people honor their Woad with the first hunt of the season. Dressed in nothing but light leathers, most of their skin revealed and painted with the runes of their people the men and women divide into various groups to hunt a large stag. Usually divided in three groups the first groups single responsibility is to track and lure a proper stag towards the area of the hunt. Setting up certain parameters in the woods to keep the stage in an approximate area. The second and third group are to use their natural skills, armed with only basic weaponry and the woad to protect them they track and seek out the stag to capture, kill and prepare it for the great feast of Uasal Earraigh.

During the feast the group that caught the stag gets to eat first before permitting the other group to do the same.

Begging goodbye of the harsh winters that may have been present the first hunt is a symbol for the arrival of a new year. During Uasal Earraigh the winning team gets to spar against each other, the winner of the spar is granted the stags antlers a symbol of strength and the new beginnings of the year.

Legend claims that any children conceived by the winner of the antlers will go on to be great warriors of a clan, making the antlers a highly sought after prize by the individuals participating.

Each tribe observes their own version of this specific ritual with differences in the Woad markings according to terrain and patron deity.

Mhean Samhraidh- Midsummer [The Tides of Summer]
[Observed during July]

The most important festival of the Galuyn people is Mhean Samhraidh. Among the usual celebration which includes boasting, drinking and feasting, the various clans divide into groups that fight for 4 days. Each group representing their patron deity. The importance of this is that the winning group of the tournament match dictates all celebrations and rituals for the coming year per their patron god. We are currently observing a year of Kryfta.

The tribes come together to a location chosen by the previous years winner. Woad markings are used as protection during the celebration and varies by team and patron deity.

Uasal Fhomair- Harvest Festival [The Nobles of Autumn]
[Observed during September- October]

Uasal Fhomir mirrors the tradition that every beginning has an end, in a circle of completion and renewal. In this spirit the nobles of Autumn not only celebrate the plentiful bounty gathered through the year but also the death of ancestors and honoring the dead of the Galuyn. Since death, in Galuyn tradition is a transformation rather than an end fréimhe domhain [Earthroot] are chief symbols of this time of year.

The fréimhe domhain is a strange plant; it has rather small, thick evergreen leaves growing out of a dense, gnarled root system that protrudes above the ground, and usually is found in rocky soil.

Mhean Gheimhridh- Winters Veil [The Tides of Winter]
[Observed during December]

Mhean Gheimhridh is a thirteen day celebration during which the Galui call upon an individual God of their pantheon every night until they made it through the cycle of their Gods. Through Aisling they attempt to be closer to their Gods and be granted audiences with the deity who is being celebrated on that particular day. Each God is honored with rituals of dance, music, and sacrifice according to their needs and call for worship. The Galuyn seek out the blessings of the Gods during Mhean Gheimhridh to prepare themselves for the coming year, not only are these blessings for themselves but also for their animals, fields and homes in general. That alone marks this festival of similar importance if not the same importance as Mhean Samhraidh.

Bainise- Galuyn Wedding Rituals
Usually the wedding ceremony will take place within the Bride's homestead or some other prominent mutual acquaintance, exceptions can be made. Within the various ceremonies of the varying clans many rituals were performed to ensure fertility and to remove any evil spirits or intentions which seems to be the same among all clans despite ritual differences.

Gnarled
The wedding traditions of the Gnarled generally include two swords. The sword of the groom and the sword of the bride’s father. During the ceremony, the groom offers his sword to his bride who in turn will offer him the sword of her father, symbolizing the protection transferred from the father to the groom over his new bride.

Holding both swords the rings are placed atop the weapon while both swear their loyalty and fidelity for each other before the gods and their witnesses.

Thorned
While all Galuy wedding rituals are connected, and call upon the gods, none do so in detail and with as much effort as those of the Thorned Clan. Easily taking a week for the wedding, the people of the Thorned Clan call upon each God individually for their blessing near and around Hirene, the world tree. The blessings are sought out by both the bride and groom individually first, then a second time together, symbolizing the coming together of two families becoming one.

Wickenden
As the eldest and most respected of clans, members of the Wickenden Clan will fill their halls with poetry and music following their path of nobility. Traditionally the groom and bride will write poetry or music for the other and present their piece to each other at their wedding ceremony.

The bride will wear a set of ornate keys around the belt of her dress that are handed out to the poorer members of the clan, symbolizing the open and giving nature of the clan and finally that wherever the bride may have come from [ex.: another clan] that the members of the clan who she marries into will always find an open door and warm hearth in her own former clan.

Oakenborn
As a clan of artisan craftsman, the Oakenborn and their descendants carry their craftsmanship over into their matrimonial rituals as well. The bride and groom are tasked with forging their own wedding rings and creating and carving a story in both rings of their own choosing, neither story complete unless the two rings are in each other’s presence, symbolizing the wholesomeness the bride and groom have found in each other.

Everflame
The ritual of the Everflame Clan and their descendants is a spectacular show of their magical abilities. Bride and Groom demonstrate their talents in a pompous display of their magical art before combining their magics and offering the onlooker insight into their future by performing further pompous and daring displays.

Wavewalker
Those of the Wavewalker clan choose to celebrate their wedding rituals near or even in the water, surrounded by the element.

Traditionally the bride is rowed up a river or lake in a festive and richly decorated boat, the groom will step into the water to retrieve his bride from the boat and be wed to her. Alternatively, he may join her on the boat and the two are wedded among the rich decorations upon the water.

The boat is later offered to Gurnye for her blessing of protection and watchfulness over the newlyweds.

Chillborn
Because of their duplicity, members and descendants of the Chillborn generally observe their traditions only between bride and groom themselves, rarely even bringing a third person into the fold to act as a witness. To them, their gods are enough witness to their matrimony.

Uirlisí Deasghnátha- The Tools of the Rituals
Uirlisí Deasghnátha are the tools used during the various rituals and traditions of the Galuyn people, the tools of the rituals refer to the Runes, and a variety of smaller rituals observed during the main practice.

Aisling- Lucid Dreaming
Aisling is a ritual during which the Galuyn people force a dream state without being asleep. Described as being both present in their wakened state and free to move in the Dream. The Galuyn people will heighten the sensation of Aisling with the chanting, the beating of drums and addition of other instruments, often horns of the hunt.

The ritual begins with the blowing of a variety of horns by groups scattered about in an area, similar to wolves howling and communicating through these howls. Once a specific number of these calls has been sent out with proper responses the gatherers of the group will hand out the Beannacht Babhla, a wooden bowl carved with runic symbols and filled with a mixture of dried berries, mushrooms, and nuts.

The members of the group will take two or three portioning of this mixture and consume it with a water that has absorbed the properties of an herb the Galuyn people refer to as Aisling Scragall [Dreamfoil]. The combined mixture of the water and the berries known as Aisling Caora is what ultimately pushes those that consumed the water and the berries into a hallucinogenic state that permits the Galui people to speak and interact with the Gods if they are granted such an audience.

During the Taoidí Naofa, the Holy Tides of the Galuyn, Aisling is used to call on the Gods and be in their presence to strengthen the coming rituals of the various tides.

During Uasal Earraigh, the group responsible for pushing the Stag towards the area of the coming hunt are the ones performing Aisling generally each night until the hunt of the Nobles of Spring begin. While Mhean Samhraid, the Tide of Summer observes all tribes performing Aisling as a collective to call upon the Gods in their midst for the blessings to fight in their honors. Finally, during the thirteen nights of Mhean Gheimhridh, each night is dedicated to another God and the Aisling performed during those nights is specific to the God to be called upon for their blessings for the coming New Year.

Aisling is used outside of Taoidí Naofa as well, an example of Aisling being used outside of the Tides are the people of the Gabhatine, who use Aisling for their Runae Caengal process, pushing themselves into the altered state while chanting the hidden names of their Runes over and over again until the Gods permit them insight into the building of new Runes.

Runae Caengal- The Binding of Runes
The key runes of the Gabhatine serve as the base for the greater magical rune sigils created. Each rune in the key set has its own meaning known and understood by the Runesinger as well as the Runesmith. Combining several into a single new rune is an ancient art performed by few knowledgable Runesmith and is called Runae Caengal. As the name indicates it is the union of the runes into one specific symbol in order to bind the power of those runes together-- so they may work and help in specific tasks instead of having separate, singular runes. Normally, and what is most seen, is the binding of two runes only, but it is possible in some cases to even bind nine to thirteen different runes.

During the Runae Caengal process the Runesmiths cut themselves off from all outside influences and retreat to an unknown location to create the new rune. Some claim that in order for the Runae Caengal to properly work the Runesmith chants the secret names of the key runes over and over again in the process of its creation forcing themselves into a trance while carving the runes.