Blessing of the First Tide

Folloch 3

Observed by: the Island of Marosh

At the first safe sailing window after the harsh winter storms, Seahaven gathers along the docks for the Blessing of the First Tide, a festival dedicated to Betshaba the Wavequeen. Ships are garlanded with ribbons, shells, and bits of polished driftwood, while priests walk the piers offering blessings and casting sanctified salt into the waters of Mandrake Bay. Captains compete to launch first, believing the earliest departure ensures a year of favorable winds and profit. The festival is both reverent and celebratory, with music, bonfires along the shore, and communal feasting, marking the symbolic reopening of the sea lanes after winter’s grip.