Holidays and Festivals

Various holidays and festivals (mainly religious) are described below.

The Dawning: In the Triumvirate of Light, the time from Deepwinter 17th (the first day after the Winter Solstice) to the Spring Equinox is a period known as the Dawning. During the Dawning, the church revels in the glory that night is slowly giving ground to the day. The Dawning culminates in a great festival on the Spring Equinox, which is the greatest holiday of the faith. The equinox symbolizes the tipping point of the battle between light and dark, after which light continues to ascend (until Midsummer). The rites of the equinox celebrate the "healing" of the world after its "wounding" during the winter. It has been observed that many of the Alyaran-specific rituals of the Spring Equinox are not unlike those that occur in the Earth Mother's religion.

Feast of Honor and Memory: The Feast of Honor and Memory (Autumnturn 27th) is the holiest day of the year for the Triumvirate of Light. On this day, the faith's temples hold solemn ceremonies in which the assembled show their thankfulness to their gods for the gifts they have granted them. The Feast of Honor and Memory is also a time to remember those who have fallen while in service to the Triumvirate.

Feast of Saint Larinus: This day, Springsebb 23rd, is sacred to the Dyad of Order. Larinus was an accomplished priest of the Third Age who was beheaded while traveling to Ilmara around 1072. While his body was lost, Larinus's head was recovered and brought to the Golden Athenaeum where it was interred in the temple crypt. A year later, on the anniversary of his death, Larinus's head spoke, slowly and cryptically. The temple priests later determined it was giving predictions of various types for the coming year. This has continued annually since. The priesthood devotes a great deal of time afterward to decipher Larinus's mutterings.

Reaping Night: Springsebb 30th, when both Ralos and Meera are new, is known as Reaping Night to the Dark Court (Mordalis in particular) and is one of its most sacred holidays. On this night, Reapers and Bloodknights take advantage of the darkness of the evening and go on killing sprees for the glory of their faith. In areas where the Dark Court is openly active, people will barricade themselves indoors for protection and often take turns on watch, even in their own homes. In cities and large towns, the streets will be bare except for the town guard (who travel in groups as big as they can make them).

Tournament of Steel: The Tournament of Steel, a celebration dedicated to Karnus, is a five-day event that begins on Highsummer 11th and ends on Highsummer 16th. It takes place at the Iron Arena, an ancient amphitheater east of Essengard. The Tournament consists of various martial tests and gladiatorial games.