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Description

A lone Shrith can be seen admiring the fireworks show in the distance. Living in a small, rural fishing village, he cannot enjoy the fireworks show in the city up close, but he can still see it from the small dock. Perhaps one day he may be able to visit the city and enjoy the show.

The fireworks show is a celebration of the new year, with the fireworks being one part of a six-hour celebration. The Shrith know this time of year as “Vhxathze,” which simply means “new,” but as a proper noun.

Vhxathze, like mentioned before, celebrates the new year, with the new year beginning around the end of winter, when the trees regain their purple pigmentation after becoming a dull pinkish-grey in the winter. The “purpling” of the trees is referred to as “Phxathze Zhpandhi,” which means “new birth.” One of the biggest characteristics of Vhxathze is fasting, which is to help learn self-discipline and gratitude, but water is permitted. Fasting lasts longer than the six-hour celebration, and lasts for all of the last day of the year, the only meal a Shrith may eat during Vhxathze being their celebratory meal, taking place a couple hours before midnight.

But regardless, the first hour of the six-hour-long Vhxathze celebration is spent entertaining the females, Queen and drones, with a few kithtakols reenacting stories, battles, telling jokes, singing songs and dancing.

In the second hour, the females are now expected to perform for the Queen, drones and kithtakols. This includes sharing their poetry, sharing their art, dancing and singing. Such activities take place in the herd chamber, a room large enough to comfortably fit all the members of the herd. The chamber is also used as a dining room during Vhxathze.

Moving on, the third hour is spent in the chamber, just like with the first and second hours, where the herd will chat, often speaking of their mental wellbeing, any dreams they had during their naps, and, in some cases, speaking of their temptation to sin, seeking help from their herd.

It is in the fourth hour now that the herd feasts on their celebratory meal, called “Vashi.” Normal Shrith meals consist of a thriir pod, a slice of bread and some ptiilol meat. Vashi, though, includes thriir pods, bread, ptiilol meat, fruits and a special treat known as “lyrith,” a food made of mashed thliir pods rolled into balls, filled with a type of spicy jelly in the center and coated with a spicy, crunchy exterior. In addition, the Shrith will sip on a beverage called “klih’nvi,” which is a special beverage made from water, fermented fruit juice and fermented fruit chunks. While good in moderation, drinking too much can make a Shrith “drunk.” But regardless, the only time a Shrith may consume lyrith and klih’nvi is during Vhxathze, or any other major celebratory holiday.

Moving on, the fifth and sixth hours are spent with the whole herd venturing outside, often splitting into smaller groups and frequenting the local markets and jewelry stores. While kithtakols are free to travel where they wish, the drones are always accompanied by the females, with the Queen joining the group as they wander about. In the streets, one may find a majority of spicy foods, with the most popular selections being fried. Spicy foods are among some of the most favorite of the Shrith. But the fifth and sixth hours are not just spent wandering and eating, but are also spent in engaging in Kxoo’thri.

“Kxoo’thri” literally means “celebration,” and it refers to the fifth and sixth hours where Shrith will eat, dance, sing, drink and do other such activities. Because Kxoo’thri takes place deep into the night, the cities and towns are alit, and can be seen for miles away. Often, lamps will be strung up in preparation for Kxoo’thri.

One of the most integral activities in Kxoo’thri is what’s called “Zhkuhri'yyrelyn,” which means “fire dancing.” Zhkuhri'yyrelyn is a traditional spectator sport where talented and skilled Shrith will dress up in traditional robes, often bearing masks that resemble the Thpazi’s, a large flying creature with a wingspan of over twenty feet. The Thpazi’s represents strength and good luck. Focussing back on the fire dancers, the fire dancers entertain the crowd by swirling about their staff, both ends on fire, throwing their staff up into the air, spinning about and blowing the fire into the air. As they dance, singers and drum players will add music to the spectacle, often complimenting the moves of the fire dancers.

Another integral activity is called “A’lyn,” which doesn’t really have a direct translation in English, but it could roughly be translated as “letting go.” During A’lyn, people will light a small candle inside a lantern, and will take a few moments to slowly breathe in and out, allowing their pain to exit their body, letting the lantern go, watching as it floats higher and higher, until it can no longer be seen. It represents the release of one’s pain, anguish and struggle.

After A’lyn, hundreds of fireworks are lit up and are sent into the sky, exploding in the air as the Shrith celebrate in the final moments of the last day of the year. After the fireworks show is over, the new year is marked with the ringing of bells.

Traditional Vhxathze attire sees the Shrith dressed up in their “Asyri,” a purplish cloak outlined in green, the cloak made of a soft, silk-like fabric.

Description

A lone Shrith can be seen admiring the fireworks show in the distance. Living in a small, rural fishing village, he cannot enjoy the fireworks show in the city up close, but he can still see it from the small dock. Perhaps one day he may be able to visit the city and enjoy the show.

The fireworks show is a celebration of the new year, with the fireworks being one part of a six-hour celebration. The Shrith know this time of year as “Vhxathze,” which simply means “new,” but as a proper noun.

Vhxathze, like mentioned before, celebrates the new year, with the new year beginning around the end of winter, when the trees regain their purple pigmentation after becoming a dull pinkish-grey in the winter. The “purpling” of the trees is referred to as “Phxathze Zhpandhi,” which means “new birth.” One of the biggest characteristics of Vhxathze is fasting, which is to help learn self-discipline and gratitude, but water is permitted. Fasting lasts longer than the six-hour celebration, and lasts for all of the last day of the year, the only meal a Shrith may eat during Vhxathze being their celebratory meal, taking place a couple hours before midnight.

But regardless, the first hour of the six-hour-long Vhxathze celebration is spent entertaining the females, Queen and drones, with a few kithtakols reenacting stories, battles, telling jokes, singing songs and dancing.

In the second hour, the females are now expected to perform for the Queen, drones and kithtakols. This includes sharing their poetry, sharing their art, dancing and singing. Such activities take place in the herd chamber, a room large enough to comfortably fit all the members of the herd. The chamber is also used as a dining room during Vhxathze.

Moving on, the third hour is spent in the chamber, just like with the first and second hours, where the herd will chat, often speaking of their mental wellbeing, any dreams they had during their naps, and, in some cases, speaking of their temptation to sin, seeking help from their herd.

It is in the fourth hour now that the herd feasts on their celebratory meal, called “Vashi.” Normal Shrith meals consist of a thriir pod, a slice of bread and some ptiilol meat. Vashi, though, includes thriir pods, bread, ptiilol meat, fruits and a special treat known as “lyrith,” a food made of mashed thliir pods rolled into balls, filled with a type of spicy jelly in the center and coated with a spicy, crunchy exterior. In addition, the Shrith will sip on a beverage called “klih’nvi,” which is a special beverage made from water, fermented fruit juice and fermented fruit chunks. While good in moderation, drinking too much can make a Shrith “drunk.” But regardless, the only time a Shrith may consume lyrith and klih’nvi is during Vhxathze, or any other major celebratory holiday.

Moving on, the fifth and sixth hours are spent with the whole herd venturing outside, often splitting into smaller groups and frequenting the local markets and jewelry stores. While kithtakols are free to travel where they wish, the drones are always accompanied by the females, with the Queen joining the group as they wander about. In the streets, one may find a majority of spicy foods, with the most popular selections being fried. Spicy foods are among some of the most favorite of the Shrith. But the fifth and sixth hours are not just spent wandering and eating, but are also spent in engaging in Kxoo’thri.

“Kxoo’thri” literally means “celebration,” and it refers to the fifth and sixth hours where Shrith will eat, dance, sing, drink and do other such activities. Because Kxoo’thri takes place deep into the night, the cities and towns are alit, and can be seen for miles away. Often, lamps will be strung up in preparation for Kxoo’thri.

One of the most integral activities in Kxoo’thri is what’s called “Zhkuhri'yyrelyn,” which means “fire dancing.” Zhkuhri'yyrelyn is a traditional spectator sport where talented and skilled Shrith will dress up in traditional robes, often bearing masks that resemble the Thpazi’s, a large flying creature with a wingspan of over twenty feet. The Thpazi’s represents strength and good luck. Focussing back on the fire dancers, the fire dancers entertain the crowd by swirling about their staff, both ends on fire, throwing their staff up into the air, spinning about and blowing the fire into the air. As they dance, singers and drum players will add music to the spectacle, often complimenting the moves of the fire dancers.

Another integral activity is called “A’lyn,” which doesn’t really have a direct translation in English, but it could roughly be translated as “letting go.” During A’lyn, people will light a small candle inside a lantern, and will take a few moments to slowly breathe in and out, allowing their pain to exit their body, letting the lantern go, watching as it floats higher and higher, until it can no longer be seen. It represents the release of one’s pain, anguish and struggle.

After A’lyn, hundreds of fireworks are lit up and are sent into the sky, exploding in the air as the Shrith celebrate in the final moments of the last day of the year. After the fireworks show is over, the new year is marked with the ringing of bells.

Traditional Vhxathze attire sees the Shrith dressed up in their “Asyri,” a purplish cloak outlined in green, the cloak made of a soft, silk-like fabric.