The
Legend of Gorath
Rites
of Ascension
R'uustai
Ceremony
Kot'baval
Ceremony
Wedding
Ceremony
Tea
Ceremony
Day
of Honor Ceremony
Sto vo qor Ceremony
muvneS 'Iw Ceremony
|
Ritual |
Age of Ascension Ceremony
|
This ritual, also known as the Klingon Rite of Passage, marks the
attainment of a new level of spirituality for a Klingon warrior.
First the ascendee proclaims
"
DaHjaj SuvwI'e' jiH. tIgwIj Sa'angNIS. Iw bIQtIq jIjaH.
"
- Today I am a Warrior. I must show you my heart. I travel the
river of blood. Then the ascendee walks between two rows of warriors
who subject him or her to painsticks. The ascendee is expected to
express his or her most profound feelings while under this extreme
duress. The ceremony can be repeated as the warrior grows in
maturity. Worf repeated the ceremony as a celebration of the ten year
anniversary of his Age of Ascension.
|
Ritual |
Age of Inclusion
|
The point in a young Klingon child's life in which he or she earns a
rite of passage.
Reference: Heart Of Glory
|
Ritual |
Brek'tal |
If the leader of a Klingon house is slain in honorable combat, the
victor may be invited to take his place and his wife. The ritual
ceremony can be completed with just a single witness who requires no
special status
—
even a servant will do. Wearing ceremonial robes, each member of the
couple recites
"
Go'Eveh lu cha wabeh to va re'Luk,
"
followed by the witness proclaiming
"
Ghos ma'lu Kah
"
.
Reference:
|
Ritual |
Challenge Rituals |
When a Klingon Warrior is accused by the Council, he has the right to
challenge them. He presents evidence to the Council which then passes
judgement. While being heard, the challenger appoints a cha'Dich
(
a second
)
who stands with him during the challenge or trial. Results of
challenges can be exoneration, discommendation or even death.
|
Ritual |
DAY OF HONOR |
Testing ones Honor through traditional ritual
ordeals and examining ones behavior over the past year to see if one
has maintained Klingon standards is the main focus of the Day of
Honor. A warrior first feasts on targ and drinks mot'loch from
a ritual grail of Kahless. A ritual of twenty pain sticks
precedes a fight with a bat'leth master and traversing the sulfur
lagoons of Gorath.
At the beginning of the Day of Honor.
an interrogator waits for the participant and asks a series of
questions.
What warrior goes there?
Have you come to have your honor challenged?
are you willing to see the ceremony through to the end?
After receiving the proper responses The interrogator continues.
It will be a lengthy ordeal. First you will eat of the heart of a
sanctified targ. The heart of targ brings courage to the one
who eats it.
Next you will drink mot'loch from the grail of Kahless. Drink
to the glory of Kahless the greatest warrior of all time.
Kahless defeated his enemies on the field of battle and built
a mighty empire. How have you proven yourself worthy?
After receiving the proper responses The interrogator continues.
A warrior must endure great hardships. To test your mettle you
will endure the ritual of twenty pain sticks. After which you
will engage in combat a master of the bat'leth. Finally you
will traverse the sulfur lagoons of Gorath.
Once a warrior has successfully completed these
tasks, he has reclaimed his honor.
|
Ritual |
Death Related
Rituals
|
a
)
The Black Fleet
(
according to John Ford in the novel The Final Reflection
)
b
)
Fek'Ihr
Mythical Klingon beast that was the Guardian of Gre'thor.
c
)
Gre'thor
The place that the dishonored go when they die.
d
)
Klingon Death Ritual
A ceremony involving the death of a comrade. The fallen warrior's
eyes were pried open and his comrades gathered around him. Then
they
"
howl
"
. This is a powerful howl that is not one of sorrow, but of victory
for the fallen warrior. Klingons believe that the howl warns the
dead that another Klingon warrior is about to arrive.
e
)
Klingon Death Howl
Part of the formal Klingon Death Ritual.
(
see above
)
f
)
Jat'lyn
Klingon term for
"
spiritual possession
"
. Translated it means,
"
The taking of the living by the dead
"
.
g
)
Sto-Vo-Kor
Mythological place of Klingon afterlife.
|
Ritual |
discomendation
|
Discommendation is the process of being socially barred and declared
a
"
non-person
"
in Klingon society, labeled publicly as a coward and thereby being
stripped of honor. The discommendation ceremony is brief and yet
powerful in nature -- the accused is surrounded by a circle of
persons facing him, who in turn cross their clenched fists over their
chest and turn outward on their heel.
At Worf's discommendation, even his brother Kurn turned away from
him, to preserve his secret relation to Worf. Worf accepted this
disgrace rather than let the Empire fall into civil war by revealing
the Ja'rod as the true traitor at Khitomer.
Worf's discommendation was finally revoked circa stardate 44998 after
he and Kurn helped Gowron ensure his installation as High Council
leader. In retrieving his family honor and name, Worf performed a
ceremony which included gripping the razor-sharp edge of Gowron's
extended dagger until blood was drawn; he did so without flinching.
Reference: Sins Of The Father
|
Ritual |
divorce |
The Klingon divorce involves the petitioner striking the defendant
spouse, and reciting the words
"
N'Gos tlhogh cha!
"
and then spitting as a closing act.
This ceremony is demonstrated by Grilka, a Klingon woman married to
Quark, the Ferengi proprietor on space station Deep Space Nine.
Similar to their marriage practices, the divorce ceremony requires no
further witness nor official to complete the process.
Kligon culture provides that a spouse may divorce his or her mate by
declaring it before a witness. This declaration involves striking,
swearing, then spitting on the mate. Few of these divorces are
contested, as the spurned mate would be dishonored to chase after one
who had publicly humiliated him or her in such a way. Division of
property is based on other Klingon traditions, but usually the male
will keep his property and the female will return to her father's
house with any dowry, personal possessions, and children under the
age of Ascension.
Reference: The House Of Quark
|
Ritual |
Hegh'bat
|
Literally translated as
"
The time to die
"
, this is a Klingon ritualized suicide. When a Warrior can no longer
stand and face his enemies, he brings himself an honorable death thru
this ceremony. The eldest son of the individual, or a close friend
would bring a ceremonial knife to the warrior who would plunge it
into his or her chest. The son or friend would then remove the knife
and wipe it on their sleeve.
|
Ritual |
Ja
`
chuq
|
Modern Klingon practices have seen the Klingon Rite of Succession
ceremony conclude with only a brief proclamation that two challengers
vying for leadership had been decided upon. However, the older form
of the ceremony concluded instead with the ja'chuq -- the listing of
battles won and the prizes taken by each challenger.
Captain Picard, when he was chosen to act as Arbiter of Succession by
K'mpec, found this bit of Klingon governmental tradition very useful.
He was able to buy enough time to delay the pronouncement of fit
candidates until one of the challengers could be proved to be linked
to the poisoning of K'mpec, and then later, for a bombing.
Reference: Reunion
|
Ritual |
Kal'Hyah |
A mental and spiritual journey that a Klingon man and his friends
traditionally share during the last four nights before his wedding.
The ritual was made up of six trials:
deprivation, blood, pain, sacrifice, anguish, and death.
Filled with song and fellowship, the Kal'Hyah was difficult by human
standards but exhilarating to Klingons.
Reference: You Are Cordially Invited...
|
Ritual |
Kot
`
baval Festival
|
Annual celebration of the legendary Kahless-Molor battle, featuring
operatic mock fights.
Reference: Firstborn
|
Ritual |
Manhood Tradition |
A Klingon youth
was considered a man on the day he could first hold a blade. |
Ritual |
MajQa, Rite of |
A ritual vision quest of Klingons, it manifests itself in deep
meditation which is undertaken in the lava caves of No'Mat. The
effect of the intense heat in these caves after a time induces
hallucinations in participants, many of which are considered
profound. The most important revelation one can achieve on this quest
is a vision about one's father.
The Rozhenkos allowed the young and curious Worf to try this, and he
did indeed have a vision.
Reference: Birthright, Part I
|
Ritual |
Mating Ceremony |
a
)
Selection and commitment to a mate
The words
"
jIH dok
"
(
my blood
)
are spoken to one's mate and the mate replies
"
maj dok
"
(
our blood
)
. This exchange seals a marriage vow.
b
)
Tlinghan jIH
These words complete the oath between husband and wife during their
marriage ceremony. It translates as
"
I am a Klingon
"
.
c
)
jinaq
This is a traditional amulet studded with jewels that is given to a
Klingon daughter when she is old enough to take a mate.
|
Ritual |
Mauk-to 'Vor
|
Ritual killing of
an individual so that his honor can be restored. |
Ritual |
Meditation,
Religious |
When Klingons find themselves in moral quandaries or inner turmoil,
one tradition holds that lengthy meditation and earnest faith will
result in a vision of their spiritual guiding light, Kahless the
Unforgettable. The desired result is a vision that would help one
find solutions.
Reference:
Rightful Heir
|
Ritual |
Oath of Union, |
Klingons usually mate for life, and the union -- once a couple is
"
engaged
"
-- is solemnized with a sacred traditional oath.
Lieutenant Worf felt honor-bound to propose to K'Ehleyr after they
finally made love, but she rejected him, feeling no need for
tradition to interfere with their separate careers. By the time she
was ready to take the oath with Lieutenant Worf nearly a year and a
half later, he declined so as not to bring his dishonor upon her and
Alexander. For a moment, they exchanged vows which may be the formal
beginning to the oath:
"
jIH dok
"
(
Worf
)
and
"
maj dok
"
(
K'Ehleyr
)
.
short form
The female looks the male directly in the eyes and makes a sound at
the male like a chim'vah,
(
a sound like a cross between a growl and a purr
)
. Or/then, the male will take a warrior's stance
(
hands on hips, feet shoulder length apart, turned slightly to the
side
)
, and growls at the female. If accepted, the other person shall
respond as above, and the two shall mate.
(
no description of mating is given I think we all know how by now
)
If not acceptable, refer to the
"
Power Klingon Tape
"
, side B, for appropriate responses.
Refernece: Hide and Q
long Form
Courting consists of the female roaring at the male, then throwing
heavy objects at him. The male reads Klingon Love poetry... and
ducks often. When the confrontation ends, the male will grab the
female by the hair at the nape of the neck, stare directly into her
eyes, and growl:
"
jiH dok
"
(
ancient klingon for
"
my blood
")
. The female responds by grabbing the hair at the nape of the males
neck and saying:
"
maj dok
"
(
our blood
)
.
Biting of the neck is often included in this ritual, but not vital
to its sacredness.
Reference: The Emissary
|
Ritual |
Qab jIH nagil! |
The Klingonese challenge uttered by each witness during the Sonchi
ceremony when applying the painstik to the corpse of the leader to be
succeeded. It translates literally to
"
face / me / dare.
"
Reference: Reunion
|
Ritual |
Restoration of
Honor |
When a dishonored Klingon is finally cleared of the disgrace
suffered, his name and House must have their honor restored to them,
sweeping away all past shame. The ritual by which honor is restored
takes place with the Chancellor and the High Council present to
witness the restoration publicly. During the restoration ceremony the
formally disgraced party must endure pain. Worf performed the
ceremony, which included gripping the razor-sharp edge of Gowron's
extended dagger until blood was drawn; he did so without flinching.
Reference:
Redemption, Part I
|
Ritual |
Right of Vengeance |
The Right of Vengeance being both a way to avenge a wrong done by
someone else and the honorable path to correct a wrong done, both
honorably and legally.
bortaS nIvqu' 'oH bortaS'e
(
Translated to Federation standard
)
"
Revenge is the best revenge
"
If someone wrongs your family or yourself you are given the
oprotunity to enact the right of vengeance. Which can be
handled by the chancelor offering you the life of the one who has
wronged you. It can also be applied by announceing to all
present that you claim the right of vengeance and state the wrong
done you. No other honorable warrior will interfere with the
combat. The victor of the battle claims his honor back for either
the wrong donw or being wrongly accused. It has been said that
"
A klingon who denies himself the right of vengeance is no Klingon at
all.
"
|
Ritual |
Rite of Ascension,
First |
As a young Klingon approaches the Age of Ascension
(
about 13 years old
)
he must declare his intention to become a warrior by lighting a
Kor'tova Candle which is a symbol of the fire in a warrior's heart.
Then his fighting skills, stamina and knowledge of Kahless' teachings
are rigorously tested.
Reference: Firstborn
|
Ritual |
Rite of Ascension,
Second |
This difficult trial marks a new level of spiritual attainment for a
Klingon warrior. The ritual begins when the warrior, facing a phalanx
of fellow Klingons, proclaims,
"
Today I am a warrior. I must show you my heart. I travel the river of
blood.
"
He then walks a path between two columns of Klingons who test him by
subjecting his body to jolts from powerful painstiks. Finally,
exhausted but showing no ill effects of the rite, the Klingon
proclaims,
"
The battle is mine. I crave only the blood of the enemy.
"
Thereafter, a warrior often celebrates the ten-year anniversary his
Second Rite of Ascension.
Reference:
The Icarus Factor
|
Ritual |
Rite of Passage |
Another term for
the Klingon Age of Ascension Ceremony. |
Ritual |
Rite of Succession |
This is the process by which a new Klingon High
Council leader is chosen. First the Sonchi was performed, next the
Arbiter of Succession chooses the challengers for the position of
Council Leader and then the two strongest challengers would fight
for the position.
a
)
Sonchi
Formal certification of the death of the previous leader.
b
)
Arbiter of Succession
see link for a more detailed description
c
)
Qab jIH nagil
Translated this means
"
Face me if you dare
"
. This was a ritual challenge made during the Sonchi in which a
contender for the position of leader would challenge his rivals.
d
)
ja'chug
An ancient aspect of the Rite of Succession. In the ja'chug, the
candidates would list their victories in battle, the prizes they
had won, and their prowess in battle to make their claim for the
Leadership of the council. It was considered obsolete because it
was so time-consuming.
|
Ritual |
Ritualized Killing |
Also known as the
Mauk-to 'Vor
|
Ritual |
Ritualized Suicide |
Also known as the
Hegh'bat
|
Ritual |
R'uustai |
The rite in which two people bond and become siblings.
An elaborate Klingon ritual steeped in ceremony.
The two warriors wearing honor/battle sash's within a darkened room.
Five Klingon candles are in the background only one is lit.
with two candles at the center of the room on a table,
(
others are placed around the room at even spaced intervals of
approximately 3 feet
)
. With the two warriors standing in the middle of the
room beside a Table. Each Klingon removes his sash and places
it across the shoulders of the other. Then each takes a candle
walking to the lit candle lighting the one he holds, as they go
around and light the other candles the instigator of the ceremony
begins with.
Sos jiH balth Soh
which honors each warriors mother and bonds the two.
making both famlies stronger
translated to Federation Standard
"You will become part of my
family now and for all times, we will be brothers."
Reference: The Bonding
|
Ritual |
Sonchi |
The Klingon death succession ceremony, and also the word of
confirmation used when all parties have challenged and confirmed the
death of the passed-on leader. It literally translates as
"
He is dead.
"
Reference: Reunion
|
Ritual |
Suicide |
Depressed at the fear of the unknown ailment and apparent inevitable
death, Lieutenant Worf prepared to kill himself with a boxed,
ceremonial dagger, kept on display with tall vials of liquid and an
ornate round metal plate. He held the knife tip to the plate and
poured one of the liquids down the blade. No translation or spelling
is available on the Klingon he spoke, although at least part of it
meant roughly,
"
Alexander, I hope you will forgive me,
"
a reference to his son.
Reference: Night Terrors
|
Ritual |
Sos jIH batlh SoH
|
Literally, Klingon phrase meaning
"
Mother
[
s
]
I
[
we
]
honor you
"
, the oath Lieutenant Worf swears after he and fellow orphan, Jeremy
Aster, complete the candle-lighting of the R'uustai bonding ceremony.
Reference: The Bonding
|
Ritual /
Culture |
Sto-vo-qor
|
The place were all honorable Klingon warriors go, the place where
the honored dead gather to continue to fight and reveal in the glory
of battle.Klingon tradition calls for the warrior to have at some
time eaten the heart of an enemy as well as to have died in glorious
battle. It is said
Kahless himself awaits each warrior who enters Sto-vo-qor.
For those fallen warriors who died but not in
battle, a family member must take on a dangerous mission of some
form and dedicate it to the memory of the fallen warrior. More
than one warrior may participate in this mission.
Vond Shoo-vwee Dun Mahh-Qeqq huh-Qov-Vahm
Jeh Yin-Moj Mah-Muqh
Sto-ve-qor Pah-dahkh-tin baht-leh
el-eegh-cha yay-moj
We dedicate this mission and our lives to the memory
of a great warrior through our victory, he/she will enter
the sacred halls of Sto-vo-kor.
the crew then shed their on blood by slicing
their hands and reciting:
YuWee-modge. baht-leh-modge. Yah Dodge.
Lohn-Ict-lihj push-Mochh-ludge Sto-ve-qor.
Blood. Honor. Glory. Open your gates, Sto-vo-kor
.
Reference: Rightful Heir
|
Ritual |
Tea Ceremony |
This is a ceremony
to test one's bravery. In this ritual, two friends share poisoned tea
served on a tray decorated with simple flowers. This ceremony gives
the friends a chance to share each other's mortality and to remind
them that death is an experience best shared - like the tea. |
Death Rituals
|
|
Klingon Death rituals celebrate the succesful life of a warrior. They
do not grieve the loss of the body which is only a husk that holds
the soul during life, but celebrate the releasing of the spirit. Many
Klingon maxims focous on the inevitability of death.
bogh tIhlnganpu', SuvwI'Pu' moj, Hegh
Klingons are born, live as warriors then die.
Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam.
It is a good day to die.
Baylh blHeghjaj,
May you die well
|
Ritual |
The Death Chant. |
For a Klingon when a friend has died in battle, it is a joyous time,
the chant sings the praises of the fallen warrior.
nelt talk Qo'nos
heg bat'lhgu Hoch nej malt
nelt talk Qo'nos
yay je bat'lh manob Hegh
Only Kronos endures
All we can hope for is a glourious death
Only Kronos endures
In death there is victory and honor.
|
Ritual |
The Death Howl |
When a warrior has fallen in battle his fellow warriors gather around
while one pries the fallen warriors eyes open, a low howl starts
among the warriors rasing in volume and pitch till all are howling as
one at the death of a warrior. Thsi howl is not of lamentation but is
a warning to the warriors in the afterlife that a warrior is on his
way to sto-vo-qor.
Reference: Heart Of Glory
|
Ritual |
The Funeral Dirge |
a funeral dirge can be sung in honor of the deceased this is rarely
done but can be for any warrior who has fallen in combat.
qi-naH-naH, lo-maytoo;
qi-naH-naH; lo-maytoH;
qo-no-ma. qo-no-mayy
Reference: Blood Oath
|
Ritual |
TEA CEREMONY |
Heghly'Di' mobbe'luchugh QaQqu' Hegh
wani'
Death is an experience best shared
Two friends share poisoned tea to test their bravery and prove the
quote above.
Paying tribute to warriors who have battled side by side as well as
to the dignity of death in battle.
The Tea Ceremony takes place between wars to reinforce the central
warlike culture and nature of Klingon's.
A tray set with two plain delicate cups, a stone
teapot and a thorn covered branch with a single blossom midway up
the branch is all that is needed for this ceremony. One
warrior strips several throns from the branch and puts them is the
hot water of the teapot. The other warrior places petals of the
blossoms of the flower in each cup, then pours the tea through the
petals into the cup.
The Tea Ceremony is a test pf bravery, of ones ability to look into
the face of both mortality and death. And it is also a
reminder that death is an experience best shared, like the tea.
Reference: Rightful Heir
|
Ritual |
Aq'voh |
This is the traditional practise of staying with a fallen warrior
after death to keep the predators away, a death howl is accompanied
with this tradition. It is believed that while the warriors stay with
the body it allows the time the fallen warriors spirit needs to leave
and begin its long journey to sto-vo-qor.
HeghDl' SuvwI' nargh SuvwI' qa'
When a warrior dies, his spirit escapes.
|