Holy Days

Some of the holy days have canon support and some are made up based on references to typical worship in the Seven Kingdoms. 
Feast Day of Our Father Above

 Occurs in late winter and is considered "a most propitious day for making judgments." It is a day for reckoning and reconciliation. Septs hold open hearings, lords announce pardons, and debts are forgiven in the Father's name. It marks the turning of the year toward fairness and order.

 

Traditions

  • Lighting white candles at the Father's altar
  • Disputes are laid before the sept
  • Feasts following the settlements of grievances and the granting of mercy

 

Day of the Mother's Mercy

Occurs in early spring to coincide with the sowing season. Women who have borne children light candles before the Mother in thanks for the gift of life. Women might gather to pray over a woman struggling with fertility, placing offerings of bread and milk before her statue in the sept to ask the Mother’s gifts upon her. 

 

Traditions

  • Sprinkling of babes with holy oils
  • Blessing of fields, livestock, and hearths
  • Green garlands hung on sept doors for life renewed

 

The Warrior's Vigil

Held in late summer, just before the harvest.Tourneys are held to celebrate the combative strength given by the Warrior. It is a day on which knights gather in the sept to renew their vows and receive the Warrior's blessing and bells ring for those fallen in defense of their liege or kin. 

 

Traditions

  • Oath renewals before the sept
  • Blessing of swords and shields
  • Sevenfold tolling of bells at dusk for the dead

 

Smith's Day

A day in early summer for the mending of relationships, both interpersonal and between houses and regions as well as the honoring of honest labor from the humblest farmer to the master armorer

 

Traditions

  • Blessing of tools and worker's hands with oil
  • Display of crafts and new apprenticeships
  • Forges burn incense of charcoal and iron fillings

 

Maiden’s Day

A holy day in mid spring on which maidens of noble houses are required to go to the sept to light tall white candles at the Maiden’s feet and hang parchment garlands about her neck to receive the maiden's blessing. Mothers, prostitutes, widows, and men are barred from the sept. Those maidens who enter the sept sing songs of innocence. 

 

Traditions

  • Processions of girls carrying candles and singing prayers for love and virtue

  • Lighting of tall white candles at the statue's feet

  • Men, mothers, prostitutes, and widows barred during the hymns of innocence

 

Day of the Crone's Light

A day in autumn when the faithful look to the Crone's lantern to guide them through darkness. Lanterns of seven-colored glass are lit in windows and along roads, symbolizing the light of wisdom amid encroaching night.

 

Traditions

  • Evening processions carrying lanterns

  • Elders tell parables and prophecies in the sept

  • Offerings of honeycakes shaped as lanterns to honor wisdom sweetly given

 

Night of the Stranger's Embrace

The final holy day of the year on which bells toll for the departed and families leave bread, salt, and water for wandering souls. All septs are dimly lit, save for a single flame at the Stranger's feet.

 

Traditions

  • The extinguishing of all but one candle at midnight

  • Prayers for lost loved ones

  • Offerings left at tombs or graves

  • Wealthier regions might also hold a masquerade that honors the anonymity of the Stranger

 

Note: Different regions or houses may have differences in the ways they observe the various holidays so be creative!