Day of the Patron

Beltain 7

Observed by: Common on Gallorea, where Thalia is highly revered, observation is relatively recent in the rest of the known world

One of the high holy days of Thalia, the Day of the Patron is a day set aside to honor fathers and fatherhood. Traditionally, it is a day where fathers are granted a day free of work, where their family attends to their needs, where practical. The day begins with a ceremonial footwashing, conducted by the man's wife (or, lacking such, one of his daughters). Children are expected to give a small gift that they crafted themselves to symbolize their thanks to their father. In the Old Empire, it was also considered a day for clients to recognize the beneficence of their patrons, even between client states and the Emperor himself. Though this tradition has waned since the fall of the Empire, the day has recently been celebrated in a more traditional manner.