Spring Festival

Spring Festival[edit]

This time of year is usually when fresh food is at its lowest, as everyone is coming out of the winter months eating stored food, so the King has sent some fresh foods from warmer climes and grain to bake breads to help celebrate.
The King's representative gives a speech on the first day, then the Elder of Albor and the High Monk of Pem. These speeches can go long so, by the time it's the High Mayor's turn, he's cracking jokes and drinking ale and it's a signal for merriment to begin.
Ket is a fishing village at heart so there has to be a fishing contest, overseen by the monks of Pem.
There's a "plow race" to begin cultivation of the town's common plot of land. Each man would try and furrow as many lines as possible, as he would be able to sow those lines during the coming year.
Children would play the role of "Fool Plow" and go from house to house asking for copper pennies. Those who refuse would find the ground in front of their door plowed up.
There will be contests of strength. Men and women compete to carry barrels of ale from one place to another as fast as possible. Afterward, everyone drinks!
These competitions generally happen in the afternoon, followed by a bonfire at dusk.
There is no local lord so there's not a Tournament (alas, no jousting or melees) but there would be an Archery contest.