Selis, the Festival of Lights
This world is very much a work in progress, so please forgive any continuity mishaps
And as the waters hath been, so all the wilderness of the forest,Selis is an annual festival held throughout Strasia and Rushon Prye, celebrating the first day of the year and the return of summer. The week-long festival is held primarily in the main cities of both countries, featuring parades, sprawling pop-up markets, asaba races (a common pack animal used by the Eno, resembling an Earth kangaroo, only without the hopping), and traditional ceremonies at the gods' temples, predominantly those of Ju.
as the wings hath been, so shall the hearts be,
trouble is all things but light shall the eyes be of him who sees the Stars.
— High Sacrement's closing blessing for the festival
History
Selis began sometime in the years of 2400 - 2300 Yon, as a way to celebrate the ceasing of the ocean rains. The earliest known festival included harvest gifts to the gods, hunting games, releasing of paper lanterns, even roof thatching contests.
While the games and the church traditions changed, a staple of the festival has always been the paper lanterns. Traditionally a simple paper-wrapped frame with a small flame inside, these have evolved into complex and highly decorative lights. Wealthier families may spend quite a bit of money of their lantern, as a display of both wealth and devotion to Ju. Many families also craft two lanterns: a lightweight paper lantern for the releasing ceremony; and a more permanent lantern, made of solid materials, wood, metals, fabrics, glass. The second lantern is kept as a keepsake and decoration for the family's home, or gifted to newly-weds.
It's quite common to get married during Selis, and there is a special blessing during the closing ceremony at the temples of Ju for all the couples married during the festival. The lantern they are given at the festival is the first of many in their new home.
While the games and the church traditions changed, a staple of the festival has always been the paper lanterns. Traditionally a simple paper-wrapped frame with a small flame inside, these have evolved into complex and highly decorative lights. Wealthier families may spend quite a bit of money of their lantern, as a display of both wealth and devotion to Ju. Many families also craft two lanterns: a lightweight paper lantern for the releasing ceremony; and a more permanent lantern, made of solid materials, wood, metals, fabrics, glass. The second lantern is kept as a keepsake and decoration for the family's home, or gifted to newly-weds.
It's quite common to get married during Selis, and there is a special blessing during the closing ceremony at the temples of Ju for all the couples married during the festival. The lantern they are given at the festival is the first of many in their new home.
Execution
Selis begins on the third day of the year, opening with a temple ceremony at the temples of Ju. The priests perform mansol dances — elaborate six-person dances with large branches from the Ssalfas tree (a leafy tree much like an Earth willow) waved and swung around like flags or sashes. These are followed by traditional chants from the Ascension Scrolls, the holy books of the Flame; and finally the first lighting of the temple fires, two huge metal bowls at the front of the priest's platform (always located at the northern end of the people's court).
Then the city governor pronounces a blessing over the new year, and performs a short ceremony known as gors. He takes a branch of brillic, a thorny shrub that produces hundreds of bright yellow flowers, and waves it over the crowd, shaking the flowers off. That signals the "summer rain," the releasing of brillic flowers over the crowds from huge nets suspended over the temple court. Then the festival markets open and the various festival games begin. The second day begins with a paradde throughout the city, beginning at the governors chambers and ending at the temple, where another, shorter temple ceremony takes place. This includes more mansol dances and other traditional dances, and water offerings, poured onto the ashes of the temple fires from the previous day. After the ceremony are the announcements for the day's games, which include the first of the hunting games. Each day continues in a similar fashion, with parades, temple ceremonies, markets, games, dances, and weddings. Each day is alternated a lighting of the temple fires and a water offering on the previous day's ashes. During the festival, everyone spends some time making their two lanterns, to be ready for the lantern releasing on the sixth day.
On the last day, there is a final parade, and a closing ceremony at the temple. The governor blesses the new year once more, blesses the newly married couples, and announces the end of the festival. The final water offering is poured on the ashes, enough to make a slurry, which is then drained from the bowls and poured on the temple gardens. Then the lantern releasing is held, often along the beach, and the lanterns released over the rarely calm ocean, representing the sacrifice of Ju, the Stars in the sky, and the Eno themselves.
Then the city governor pronounces a blessing over the new year, and performs a short ceremony known as gors. He takes a branch of brillic, a thorny shrub that produces hundreds of bright yellow flowers, and waves it over the crowd, shaking the flowers off. That signals the "summer rain," the releasing of brillic flowers over the crowds from huge nets suspended over the temple court. Then the festival markets open and the various festival games begin. The second day begins with a paradde throughout the city, beginning at the governors chambers and ending at the temple, where another, shorter temple ceremony takes place. This includes more mansol dances and other traditional dances, and water offerings, poured onto the ashes of the temple fires from the previous day. After the ceremony are the announcements for the day's games, which include the first of the hunting games. Each day continues in a similar fashion, with parades, temple ceremonies, markets, games, dances, and weddings. Each day is alternated a lighting of the temple fires and a water offering on the previous day's ashes. During the festival, everyone spends some time making their two lanterns, to be ready for the lantern releasing on the sixth day.
On the last day, there is a final parade, and a closing ceremony at the temple. The governor blesses the new year once more, blesses the newly married couples, and announces the end of the festival. The final water offering is poured on the ashes, enough to make a slurry, which is then drained from the bowls and poured on the temple gardens. Then the lantern releasing is held, often along the beach, and the lanterns released over the rarely calm ocean, representing the sacrifice of Ju, the Stars in the sky, and the Eno themselves.
Participants
Almost everyone nationwide tries to attend the opening ceremony of Selis in one of the main temples, in a large city. The priests of the Flame, the temple of Ju, are the main performers in the three temple ceremonies during the festival, as well as the city governor, who opens and closes the festival.
In smaller and more remote towns, Selis is observed on a much smaller but no less vibrant scale, with the local Lesser Palatine (a minor priest within the church of Ju, often one not studious or politically inclined enough to compete for a place in one of the major temples, and instead sent to a small rural temple) acting as the High Sacrement, Greater Adepts, and Cheif Palatine all in one. Similarly to the grand festival, the town governor will open the ceremony, and the palatine will perform the priestly rites.
In smaller and more remote towns, Selis is observed on a much smaller but no less vibrant scale, with the local Lesser Palatine (a minor priest within the church of Ju, often one not studious or politically inclined enough to compete for a place in one of the major temples, and instead sent to a small rural temple) acting as the High Sacrement, Greater Adepts, and Cheif Palatine all in one. Similarly to the grand festival, the town governor will open the ceremony, and the palatine will perform the priestly rites.
Observance
Selis is celebrated in the first week of the Eno year, from the third day to the ninth, after the ocean rains cease for the month of Lusynn (the first month of summer).
Primary Related Location
Important Locations
Related Organizations
Comments