Tebaba-Tiyake Day

Tebabe-Tiyake Day (translated to King-of-Kings Day, or Monarch Day), also called National Day, is the oldest and perhaps most popular public holiday in Adwa. It celebrates the unification and founding of the Adwan Empire from the Kingdoms of Amlak and Yarim by the revered historical figure Amlak the Great, regarded as the first King-of-Kings to rule over the nation. Tebaba-Tiyake Day is celebrated by the exchanging of food and gifts, forgiveness of debts, and giving tribute to the reigning monarch. Other customs include parades, public celebrations, and consuming large amounts of libations.

History
Amlak IV was from the line of Amlak kings who broke away and formed their own nation in the wake of the Irenya Kingdom’s collapse in 426 BC. However, in 5 AC, he finalized his conquest of the Kingdom of Yarim in the southeast. He declared himself to be Tiyake (King) of both Kingdoms, and piled onto himself another title: Tebaba-Tiyake (King-of-Kings). The priesthood of the newly united nation declared him to be the deity Balemuya’s son made flesh, and his ruling representative in the mortal realm. Every year, the nobility of Adwa would come on the anniversary of his coronation to prostrate themselves before the King-of-Kings, and deliver tribute to him in the form of rare or valuable goods. Although the practice began only with nobles, as time passed and the middle merchant class gained power and wealth, the empire’s wealthiest merchants began presenting themselves before the monarch and delivering tribute as well, in hopes of elevating their own social status as well as currying favor directly.

Tebaba-Tiyake Day is celebrated in Spring, around the harvest time of many staple crops in Adwa. Many believe that this is deliberate, and that Amlak the Great ensured that the holiday would be observed at that time in order for it to coincide with various regional harvest festivals, and boost its popularity. Intentional or deliberate, exactly this occurred, and Tebaba-Tiyake Day remains the most popular holiday in Adwa. The holiday gained a more national focus for many during the reign of the widely-disliked Salih Dynasty from 1346-1534 AC, rather than wanting to give direct praise to the monarchy. After the ascent of the Zara Dynasty in 1535 AC, however, associations of the holiday with both Amlak the Great and the office of the monarchy became strong once more.

Observance and traditions
On the days immediately before the celebration, Adwan families give their homes a thorough cleaning, as the holiday often involves numerous guests. Brooms and dustpans are actually hidden away for the day of the celebration, to avoid the appearance of only having recently cleaned, as well as to preserve the day’s energies. Homes are often decorated with pieces as simple as paper cutouts, or as complex as flashing string lights and colorful banners. Home altars dedicated to family and nature spirits are cleaned thoroughly as well, and prayers of safety are given for any relatives who will be traveling. As a national holiday, all schools, banks, post offices, and government offices are closed, with the exception of state-run hospitals. Many transport and taxi services choose not to operate on this day as well. Most essential shops (such as marketplace food stands) will normally open, but close much earlier than usual.

In the Imperial capital of Kedala, the grandest of the nation’s festivities occur. In the grand tradition reaching back millenia, the nation’s Agatami (the equivalent to a Duke or Duchess) present themselves before the reigning monarch, and swear an oath of undying fealty to them and the nation’s people, as well as presenting tribute in some form. The rarer or more valuable the tribute offered, the greater the status gained. Other nobles, and even some non-nobles, can appear and request an audience to present tribute of their own, although all non-nobles must wait for even the lowest noble to be seen, and are expected to wear masks at such a formal event. Most non-nobles who present before the monarch are either wealthy businessmen and CEOs, or representatives of large private organizations within the nation wishing to gain favor with the monarch. Foreign nobility, if present, are permitted to present tribute after all Adwan nobles, but are only required to issue some kind of blessing to the monarch rather than swear an oath. Once either all tribute has been presented or the monarch calls a satisfactory end to the collection, a feast is held in the Jubilee Palace, the seat of Adwa’s monarchy. There, all tribute-givers, among others (foreign dignitaries, nobles or non-nobles not in attendance), are invited to partake in the monarch’s generosity by attending the yearly Jubilee Ball, celebrating the auspicious anniversary of the birth of Adwa as a unified empire.

Outside the capital, celebrations are far less formal. Parades are common, with processions and floats alike utilized to celebrate the event. Community organizations commonly operate such floats or march, celebrating their ecstasy as Adwans before throngs of joyous crowds. While Agatami are typically indisposed, more local nobility, such as Kitafi (similar to a Baron), will be the leaders of the celebratory processions. Games and feasting are common accompaniments of such processions, either a gift from the local Kitafi, civic organization, municipal government, temple, or some combination of the four. Priests of all deities, but especially Balemuya, are present for larger processions, commonly marching directly behind the Kitafi at their fore. Tebaba-Tiyake Day is considered to be an auspicious day for forgiveness of debts, meaning that one will be especially blessed for their kindness if they release others on this day. This makes the holiday the most popular day of the year for doing so, to the further joy of many.

Once the festivities of the day are over, extended families dine together in the home of the eldest member of the father’s family. Even if travelers were not able to attend the daytime processions of their home area, this part is the most vital. Mirroring the giving of gifts to the monarch, family members present gifts to the eldest members of their family as a sign of respect and filial piety. In return, the eldest family members provide them with blessings, and host them while they enjoy great amounts of food and drink. Many religious families carry on the tradition of eating vegetarian-only meals as per the guidelines of the Imperial Conformist Temple, but this is not universal in its observance, even among the faithful.

Post-holiday celebrations
Historically, after the festivities of Tebaba-Tiyake Day have passed, for the following seven days, farmer’s markets and fairs appeared up in villages, towns, and cities across Adwa. Following an edict by King-of-Kings Zara, this seven-day affair was moved to before the holiday, to encourage more shopping before the main event that is the holiday itself. Not having any spiritual significance compared to the main holiday, the shift nonetheless still raised some ire among traditionalists. Still, the markets are busier than ever in the seven days preceding the celebrations. These markets are usually open-air and involve farmers selling much of their recently-harvested crop, but also include more luxurious products, such as clothing, flowers, toys, and home appliances imported from abroad.