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How Vulcans Celebrate their New Year
by Salatrel
The slight clatter of metal against the stoneware dish signaled the end of the meal.
"You may finish your meal later, Pris. It is time now." The Matriarch of the T'Grapel clan solemnly suggested to her three year old daughter.
As the little girl slipped down from her seat, she took a moment to grab a last cracker and munched on it as she followed her family up the narrow staircase. The quiet echoes of the family's footfalls were the sole noise of the ascent to the roof top.
Sasev watched his bondmate, the matriarch, glide up the stairs. He projected to her his solemn joy of this occasion. But his efforts were meet with a wall of silence. Her mental shields were still in place since their disquieting discussion last night. He had anticipated that she would have been over his dissension in her decision to bond their son to their neighbor's young daughter. He was used to this behavior pattern of hers after 30 years together, but her willingness to shut him out for long periods of time was still discomforting to the Vulcan husband.
With the unlocking of the heavy metallic door, the clan was admitted to the roof top of their urban dwelling. One by one the family filed out of the stuffy narrow hall and into the vast warmth of the Vulcan night air. The bright rose hue of the dusk sky domed over head. From horizon to horizon all that could be seen were the rows upon rows of dwellings which was the city of Tan-free.
"Yatau?" Sasev's only son inquired as he tugged on his fathers light evening robes.
"Yes, my son," Sasev replied with a tinge of affection his voice.
This son had been hard earned after many miscarriages. Though he regarded all his daughters with equal sentiment, this ten year old boy, he possessed a special bond with. Both males were repeatedly made aware of their matriarch's preference for the daughters.
The young boy glanced over to the neighboring rooftop and discreetly indicated to the young girl standing with her family.
"She is my intended?" The boy evenly inquired looking to the young girl dressed in red. She stood close to her own father and looked to the impending sundown and not at the staring boy across the chasm.
"Yes, Soltek. She is the one your mother chose for you." With a heavy heart the father looked to the family across the way. Soon his son would be promised to that family, no longer his alone.
A sudden hush fell over the city as each family on their respective rooftops feel silent to observe the sunset. Not every sunset was observed in this fashion. But this particular one signified the traditional Vulcan new Year. Though the new solar year by scientific standards began 13 minutes ago, tradition had held that it began the moment of sundown. Each matriarch steeped forward on her rooftop, the closest to the night fall. Each family member arranged themselves according to their hierarchal place in the family.
The warm winds buffeted their robes and whistled through the momentary silence of the vast gathering. With her bondmate by her side and her children arranged around her person, T'Grapel faced the slipping sun, awaiting the night and with it the new year. This was a tradition from the time of the beginning.
Even during times of war and bloodshed, the sentient beings of the planet T'Khasi would cease all their doings and take this moment to usher in a new year. A new beginning an acknowledgment that all continues and preservers. It is a nod to hope especially during the darkest of times. Now that the inhabitants of T'Khasi were a logical, calm, bred to peace people, this event was a time to gather in one unifying voice. An affirmation of their long struggle to retain their peace and their existence. Wars, natural disasters, alien invasion and lately the joining of their kind with outworlders. There was much to be joyous about.
As the sun dipped lower into the sky, the scant distant clouds blazed into fuchsia streaks against the glowing pink sunset sky. The light and life giving disk sank slowly and majestically into the horizon. A flicker of anticipation rippled through the family as they cleared their throats readying themselves for the moment. It is the loudest and boldest sound a Vulcan will utter in her or his lifetime. It is a moment of utter unity as all join their voice to the others.
Then it happened. The moment the sun disappeared beneath the horizon, a great cry filled the twilight.
HEEEEEEEYAAAAA
Little Soltek's body tensed, then quivered in the great effort. Every voice in the city cried out this utterance, an ancient word, THE word. All that was inside the Voolcanha was released in this primal scream to declare themselves to everything. Hope, joy, the ages, the future. All that has been, all that is, and all that will be, transpired in this single moment of solidarity. The unified voice traveled around T'Khasi with the sunset, like a rippling ribbon slipping around the ever revolving ruby orb.
Happy Hanukkah everyone.
Feedback is always welcome. You can write me at salatrel@excite.com
