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undergrounds2015-08-01 02:14 pm
kleptofaeniac) wrote in undergrounds2015-08-01 02:14 pm
Fall into Summer (OPEN)
Some witch holidays were meant to be enjoyed by all, regardless of species, alliances or preference to magic. Holidays like Lammas! Think of it as witch Thanksgiving.
An old woman by the name of Agatha Chapman was of the personal opinion that there was just too much infighting between her fellow witches this year. Those Circle Midnight witches were practically children! Agatha had raised enough children to know they were just going through some rebellious phase. It would pass. But this wasn't the time for expressing such things. This was a time of togetherness! Which was why Agatha had, through her daughters and granddaughters, sent a very public invitation to the supernatural community:
~Lammas Day Celebration~
Come celebrate the great tradition of the first harvest and shorter days with a beach party and bonfire!
Food, fun, and sun! No limits on guests, bring your friends!
AUGUST 1st 2015
12 PM - 2 AM
(public rituals @ 10 PM)
KINGSGATE CASTLE, JOSS GAP ROAD.
BROADSTAIRS.
KENT.
Transportation from the city will be provided from Victoria Station. Present this invitation at the ticket office.
You totally want to go right?
Like the invitation said, all guests transportation will be provided. The train happens to go directly from Victoria Station to the castle, which totals up to a two hour trip - giving plenty of time for people to run into one another on this train-ride. Let's get along everyone.
Upon the guests arrival everyone is greeted by the hostess; a very old, very cheerful lady who insists on being called Ms. Agatha. She introduces her daughters and their daughters. Hit on them at your own peril. After the brief introduction and delicately worded warning that no witch need reveal their coven to others, and no one need attempt to confront them about their choices, everyone is invited down the side of the slow incline of the cliffs to the beach. Time to have fun.
Lammas was traditionally a holiday to celebrate the last day of the wheat harvest. It seems like the witches hosting this party went all out in incorporating that. Golden colored canopies cover the tables that are set out for food. Along with them are large punch bowls filled with different colored liquids and a small bar for anyone who wants something a little stronger than fruit, both of which are abundant - after all this holiday was centered around a community feast. There seems to be a general theme following the decor; apples, cinnamon, and vanilla feature heavily in every dessert of pies, cakes, puddings and ice cream in very creative ways. The more savory foods, less so. But they all fall into the category of typical beach party foods.
There is a changing area towards the face of the cliffs along with bathrooms.
Another fun tradition of Lammas is competitive and athletic games! There are two volleyball nets set up, and what looks like an area for sandcastle building. The team that wins the most games, and the person who builds the best sandcastle wins a prize! The prize is a Maen Magl necklace. The stone is said to bring good luck and good health to the owner. Additionally, they can cure diseases of the eye if rubbed on one's eyelids.
If you're not interested in games, there's always the golden sand to relax and tan on and the water to swim in!
Later, after the sun sets a bonfire is constructed - you can help, but enough driftwood has been collected for the fire itself. As the sun sets, the women hosting the event let everyone know what the purpose of it is. The fire is meant to - while also help people make amazing smores, roasted corn, and apples wrapped in foil - allow the witches and everyone else in attendance to participate in the Lammas rituals. Everyone is encouraged to engage in the rituals, though no one is required to do so.
Nowadays, Lammas is the time to cast off bad habits, thoughts, and what is no longer needed in your life. This spiritual cleansing is represented by fire, and burning things. There are two that will be done tonight, but they won't take longer than thirty minutes when alls said and done. They maybe be performed in any order.
A ritual called 'Winnowing' is meant to cleanse, where everyone writes down negative emotions and bad habits they want to lose on a piece of paper. The witches in the group will all know the chant:
Blessing and curses
Come from the harvest
Return to the earth
To nourish next years
The paper is then thrown into the fire, where it will spark and disintegrate.
The second is highly encouraged for everyone to participate in, as the more people who do so, the more the blessings will be! Everyone is given nine sheaths of wheat, which they are to weave into a braid, and then attach a ribbon to the base of the braid. The witches in the circle around the bonfire should, as the braids are being done, chant:
We weave you and hail you
As queen of the corn
When all's gathered in and
When you are sown.
Once the braids are done, those that weaved them are meant to grab a piece of paper and write what blessing they wish for their friends to have, such as 'Friendship' or 'Mobility'. They must keep the blessing secret and secure it to the ribbon. The ribbons are meant to be kept till Imbolc - another witch holiday - and then be burned, while the ashes are meant to be kept on the individual until the next Lammas. Hope you'll attend that party wherever it is!
After the Ritual, there are plenty of smores to make and some lovely music to listen to while everyone gathers around the bonfire and relaxes until they want to leave. There is no curfew, but the witches hosting the party will be going back up to their flat in the castle around two in the morning.
Happy Lammas!
An old woman by the name of Agatha Chapman was of the personal opinion that there was just too much infighting between her fellow witches this year. Those Circle Midnight witches were practically children! Agatha had raised enough children to know they were just going through some rebellious phase. It would pass. But this wasn't the time for expressing such things. This was a time of togetherness! Which was why Agatha had, through her daughters and granddaughters, sent a very public invitation to the supernatural community:
Come celebrate the great tradition of the first harvest and shorter days with a beach party and bonfire!
Food, fun, and sun! No limits on guests, bring your friends!
AUGUST 1st 2015
12 PM - 2 AM
(public rituals @ 10 PM)
KINGSGATE CASTLE, JOSS GAP ROAD.
BROADSTAIRS.
KENT.
Transportation from the city will be provided from Victoria Station. Present this invitation at the ticket office.
You totally want to go right?
Like the invitation said, all guests transportation will be provided. The train happens to go directly from Victoria Station to the castle, which totals up to a two hour trip - giving plenty of time for people to run into one another on this train-ride. Let's get along everyone.
Upon the guests arrival everyone is greeted by the hostess; a very old, very cheerful lady who insists on being called Ms. Agatha. She introduces her daughters and their daughters. Hit on them at your own peril. After the brief introduction and delicately worded warning that no witch need reveal their coven to others, and no one need attempt to confront them about their choices, everyone is invited down the side of the slow incline of the cliffs to the beach. Time to have fun.
Lammas was traditionally a holiday to celebrate the last day of the wheat harvest. It seems like the witches hosting this party went all out in incorporating that. Golden colored canopies cover the tables that are set out for food. Along with them are large punch bowls filled with different colored liquids and a small bar for anyone who wants something a little stronger than fruit, both of which are abundant - after all this holiday was centered around a community feast. There seems to be a general theme following the decor; apples, cinnamon, and vanilla feature heavily in every dessert of pies, cakes, puddings and ice cream in very creative ways. The more savory foods, less so. But they all fall into the category of typical beach party foods.
There is a changing area towards the face of the cliffs along with bathrooms.
Another fun tradition of Lammas is competitive and athletic games! There are two volleyball nets set up, and what looks like an area for sandcastle building. The team that wins the most games, and the person who builds the best sandcastle wins a prize! The prize is a Maen Magl necklace. The stone is said to bring good luck and good health to the owner. Additionally, they can cure diseases of the eye if rubbed on one's eyelids.
If you're not interested in games, there's always the golden sand to relax and tan on and the water to swim in!
Later, after the sun sets a bonfire is constructed - you can help, but enough driftwood has been collected for the fire itself. As the sun sets, the women hosting the event let everyone know what the purpose of it is. The fire is meant to - while also help people make amazing smores, roasted corn, and apples wrapped in foil - allow the witches and everyone else in attendance to participate in the Lammas rituals. Everyone is encouraged to engage in the rituals, though no one is required to do so.
Nowadays, Lammas is the time to cast off bad habits, thoughts, and what is no longer needed in your life. This spiritual cleansing is represented by fire, and burning things. There are two that will be done tonight, but they won't take longer than thirty minutes when alls said and done. They maybe be performed in any order.
A ritual called 'Winnowing' is meant to cleanse, where everyone writes down negative emotions and bad habits they want to lose on a piece of paper. The witches in the group will all know the chant:
Blessing and curses
Come from the harvest
Return to the earth
To nourish next years
The paper is then thrown into the fire, where it will spark and disintegrate.
The second is highly encouraged for everyone to participate in, as the more people who do so, the more the blessings will be! Everyone is given nine sheaths of wheat, which they are to weave into a braid, and then attach a ribbon to the base of the braid. The witches in the circle around the bonfire should, as the braids are being done, chant:
We weave you and hail you
As queen of the corn
When all's gathered in and
When you are sown.
Once the braids are done, those that weaved them are meant to grab a piece of paper and write what blessing they wish for their friends to have, such as 'Friendship' or 'Mobility'. They must keep the blessing secret and secure it to the ribbon. The ribbons are meant to be kept till Imbolc - another witch holiday - and then be burned, while the ashes are meant to be kept on the individual until the next Lammas. Hope you'll attend that party wherever it is!
After the Ritual, there are plenty of smores to make and some lovely music to listen to while everyone gathers around the bonfire and relaxes until they want to leave. There is no curfew, but the witches hosting the party will be going back up to their flat in the castle around two in the morning.
Happy Lammas!
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"Didn't expect to see you here. Your cousins have a good time?"
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He knelt down to take a seat next to Nancy. "You doin' okay?"
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"yeah! it's a gorgeous day out, ain't it?"
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"Don't wait too long, okay?"
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"You're a friend, so if something happens... I'm just lettin' you know I'm here if you need me. That's all."
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If only he knew just how too late it was.
"Of course. " Awkwardly, she placed a hand on his shoulder. "I appreciate it, Heiji." There was no way in hell she was asking him for help.
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But in any case, if she didn't want help, it wasn't as though he could do much about it. He gave her a quick nod of acknowledgment.
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Sometimes, it was really nice to know someone was watching out for her.
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"So, um... are they gonna have some witchly activities later? Maybe roast some marshmallows?"
Nailed. It.
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She raises her drink to her lips and takes a nice, long sip. She needed that. "You bet. There's a group ritual, everyone's allowed to participate, if you want."
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He was curious about this group ritual, though. "So what exactly are you supposed to do? It's not like the Quiet Game, is it?"
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She shrugs. "It's Lammas, so we're going to welcome in the harvest, change of the seasons. There'll be a huge bonfire, and we can ask for blessings for ourselves and others. Pretty standard stuff."
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"I guess as long as no one tries to exorcise me, it'd be fun. What're you gonna wish for, or is that supposed to be a secret?"
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She tossed her head back, laughing. "No, no exorcisms here tonight. At least, not any I know of." She looked over both shoulders warily, a clear joke. "Not unless you need it. Then I think it's my duty as a friend to exorcise you." That was how it worked, right?
"I'm not sure yet. But I'd prefer to keep it a secret, all the same."
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"Hmm... so are you allowed to wish for anything?" He had a feeling the lottery was going to be mentioned once or twice during this ceremony.
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"I don't think there are rules against wishing in a ritual."
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One of the three: definitely Sasuke. That dude needed some serious help.
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"So in your opinion, and totally not related to any wishes you're actually planning to make later -- what would you wish for? Like somethin' that'd happen in the next year or so? Something nice."
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"I really don't know." She drags her toes through the sand idly. "For all my friends to be happy, I guess. Or for everything to work out, in the end."
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"It'd be nice if everyone could come to parties like this all the time, yeah? No strings attached, nothing to really worry all that much about. Just come down to the beach whenever ya feel like it. I think if London were more like that, it'd be great."
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"I guess it would be. But that's, unfortunately, not how life works for working class girls like me."
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"Is it really that bad around here?" Heiji didn't have much experience with British classes -- maybe check back in when someone had questions about old samurai families.
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"There's a huge difference, yeah. Ain't much of a middle class. I'm poor as anything."
For both of your sake, please don't ask how she was always dressed so nicely.
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