Extinguishing of the Hearths

Winter Solstice Ritual

AKA: The Night of Demons

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The ritual of the Extinguishing of the Hearths is observed on the winter solstice by those who attend the Temple of Justice and adhere to the teachings of the Book of Laws.
Demons are said to come out on the winter solstice and seek out any trace of light to lead them to the homes of those who may be influenced or tempted by their dark magics. According to the teachings in the Book of Laws, the demons will attempt to latch onto the souls of anyone they find. To protect themselves the devout of the God of Justice darken their homes at sunset on the winter solstice. At sunrise they rekindled their hearths using bottles of fire that have been blessed by the clerics of the Temple of Justice to ward off demons.
This is a solemn ritual for the devout of the God of Justice and is one of the most important days of observation within the Temple of Justice.
Those who do not observe the tradition are seen as weak and susceptible to the influences of demons. The devout of the God of Justice will often try to warn others of the importance of extinguishing their fires in the days leading up to the winter solstice. Many devout will pray for the safety of others during the long dark night, and see their prayers and devotion as the reason for those that did not extinguish their fires having evaded the threat of demons.
Special logs, carved with symbols of the sun and a prayer to the God of Justice, are placed in the hearth before it is kindled. Some create kindling sticks that are held throughout the long night. It is believed that the sticks absorb the fears and weaknesses of the one that holds them, which is then incinerated by the fire when the hearth is kindled. (Other traditions have the devout write out the things they fear or want to leave behind on parchment, that is then burned in the fire when it is ignited.)

History

This ritual began as a celebration of the turning of the seasons, when people used the extinguished and re-kindled fires as a form of sympathetic magic to end the year that had just passed, and welcome the light of the new year to come. Many still observe this tradition.
As the Temple of Justice grew in popularity, the ritual was absorbed and altered by the Temple Clerics to appeal to the fears of demons that the Temples claimed hid in the dark of night.
The Temple of Justice has long sold special bottles of fire, blessed by their clerics, to be used to light fires and lamps throughout the year. The bottles are blessed on the dawn following the winter solstice and are claimed to have the blessing of the God of Justice, so will protect the home from demons.

Execution

As the sun begins to set on the winter solstice, the devout of the God of Justice extinguish all of the fires in their homes. Wrapped in blankets to stay warm, the family spends the night in prayer to the God of Justice; seeking protection from the demons of the night. As the sun rises the oldest male in the home lights the hearth fire, using a special bottle of fire that was blessed by the clerics at the Temple of Justice. The fire of the hearth is then used to light other lights throughout the home, a brief prayer is spoken as each light is kindled to thank the God of Justice for protecting the home from demons.

Components and tools

The fire used in the ritual is a magical flame that the devout believe that the God of Justice bestowed his power on through the prayers of the clerics of the Temple of Justice.
Each small bottle is given to the head of a devout household in the final prayer meeting before the winter solstice, and is used throughout the year to ignite the hearth in the home as needed.
The bottle is presented in a small box, that includes a collection of prayer sticks to be used with the bottle to draw out the fire. A single stick is taken from the case and a prayer to the God of Justice is recited as the stick is slowly dipped into the bottle. When the stick is drawn out of the bottle the end can be seen to burst into flame that can be used to ignite the hearth fire.
This is considered to be the magic of the God of Justice by the devout, but it is simply the science of white phosphorous matches.

Participants

The ritual is performed almost entirely by the oldest male in the home, although it can be performed by a younger male if the eldest is of great age or otherwise unable to perform the ritual. Often younger boys are tasked with arranging the kindling while the eldest male explains the significance of the ritual and the dangers of failing to perform it with proper respect toward the God of Justice.

Observance

From sunset on the winter solstice until sunrise.

Observed by

Followers of the God of Justice.

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Sacred Symbol

The sun is a sacred symbol during this ritual and women will spend the year quilting blankets with sun motifs to give out to protect those they love during the cold evening when the hearths are extinguished.

Primary Related Location

Temple of Justice