Traditional Ceremony Words

[Sunny]

This thread is created to help the leaders of the Clans know the rituals and words for the separate ceremonies, including apprentice, warrior, deputy, and elder ceremonies. Leader ceremonies are carried out by StarClan in the Mooncave, and medicine cat apprentice and medicine cat ceremonies are carried out by medicine cat mentor in the Mooncave.

[you]Apprentice Ceremonies[/you]

Leader: "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the __________ for a Clan meeting."

Clan: Gathers.

Leader: "(Kits who are going to be apprenticed), please step forward."

Kits: Step forward.

Leader: "You have reached the age of six moons and it is time for you to be apprenticed. Until you are made a warrior, you will be known as (kit's prefix)paw. You're mentor will be __________ and I trust (he/she) will teach you all (he/she) knows. May StarClan guide you to become a great warrior." Rests muzzle between the new apprentices' ears.

New Apprentice: Licks leader's shoulder respectfully. Moves up to new mentor and touches noses.

New mentor: Touches noses with new apprentice.

[you]Warrior Ceremonies[/you]

Leader: "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the __________ for a Clan meeting."

Clan: Gathers.

Leader: "(Apprentices who are about to be made apprentices), please step forward."

Apprentices: Step forward.

Leader: "I, __________, leader of __________Clan, call upon our warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. (Apprentices), do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this Clan even at the cost of your life?"

Apprentices: "I do."

Leader: "Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior names. (Apprentice), from this day you will be know as (apprentice's prefix/new suffix). StarClan honors your (recognized personality #1) and (recognized personality #2)." Rests muzzle between the new warrior's ears. Repeats for each apprentice. "As per tradition, you will hold a silent vigil and guard the camp tonight. This starts at sundown. Now we will celebrate these new warriors with a feast." Walks to the fresh-kill pile and begins handing out a piece of prey to each cat.

[you]Deputy Ceremonies[/you]

Leader: "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the ___________ for a Clan meeting."

Clan: Gathers.

Leader: "I say these words before StarClan, that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of __________Clan shall be (name of cat)." Starts a feast by handing out a piece of fresh-kill to each cat.

[you]Elder Ceremonies[/you]

Leader: "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the ____________ for a Clan meeting."

Clan: Gathers.

Leader: "We gather here today to honor (warrior who is about to become an elder), who has dutifully fought and hunted for ___________Clan for many seasons. (Warrior who is about to become an elder), is it your wish to give up the life of a warrior and retire to the elders' den?"

Warrior: "It is."

Leader: Dips his/her head at warrior who is about to become an elder. "Very well. ____________Clan honors your (recognized personality from when he/she had become a warrior #1) and (recognized personality from when warrior had become a warrior #2) that you have shown for so long. May StarClan grant you many moons of rest."

New Elder: Sits in front of elders' den.

Leader: Starts a feast by handing out a piece of fresh-kill to each cat.

[you]Medicine Cat Apprentice Ceremonies[/you]

Leader: "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the ____________ for a Clan meeting."

Clan: Gathers

Medicine Cat: Cats of ____________Clan, as you know I will not be around forever. So it's time I took an apprentice. I have chosen a cat to follow me in my pawsteps and fulfill the post of a medicine cat when I have passed. Your next medicine cat will be (apprentices name).

Leader: "(Apprentice's name), do you accept the post of apprentice to (medicine cat's name)?"

Apprentice: "I do."

Medicine Cat: "Then at the half moon, you must travel to the Mooncave to be accepted by StarClan before the other medicine cats."

Leader: "The good wishes of all the Clan go with you."

New Medicine Cat Apprentice: Touches noses with new mentor.

Medicine Cat: Touches noses with new apprentice.

[you]Name Changing Ceremonies[/you]

Leader: "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the ____________ for a Clan meeting."

Clan: Gathers.

Leader: "Spirits of StarClan, you know every cat by name. I ask you now to take away the name from the cat you see before you, for it no longer stands for what (he/she) is. By my authority as Clan leader, and with the approval of our warrior ancestors, I give this cat a new name. From this moment (he/she) will be known as (new name) for (reason)." Leader rests his/her head on newly-named cat. The newly-named cat licks the leader's shoulder.

[you]Dying Apprentice Ceremonies[/you]

Leader: "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the _____________ for a Clan meeting."

Clan: Gathers.

Leader: "I ask my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. (He/She) has learned the warrior code and has given up (his/her) life in service of his/her Clan. Let StarClan receive (him/her) as a warrior. (His/Her) new name will be ___________. Let StarClan receive (him/her) as a warrior."

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