Feast of the Octet

The Feast of the Octet

August 1-8, celebrated anually

The Feast of the Octet is an annual event celebrating the Octet, the pantheon of eight gods worshipped in Allynor. This feast happens in the 8th month of the year for 8 days. During this time, businesses close, families and neighbors are encouraged to come together to break bread. Each day corresponds to one of the Octet and is accompanied by a specific activity or sacrifice:
Day 1: Etér, Goddess of the Earth Etér's day is the prime feast day and commemorates the summer harvest and advent of the harvest season. Families often spend much of Day 1 and Day 2 cooking in preparation for the night's feasting. Whole neighborhoods will often come together to share a meal, even eating in the streets if an indoor space is not available in the city.
Day 2: Velloc, God of Industry Though Velloc's day has traditionally been one for the exchanging of gifts, many cite Velloc's industrious nature as a reason to start new projects, try a new hobby, or tie up loose ends from the summer months.
Day 3: Ykannis, God of Trickery Ykannis's day, unsurprisingly, is most popular among young people throughout Allynor, who use it as an opportunity to play practical jokes on friends, siblings, or parents without consequence. Adults also do get in on the fun, sometimes dressing in costume, showing off minor illusions or cantrips at small gatherings, or playing their own jokes on their friends and family.
Day 4: Malena, Goddess of Tempest The days of debauchery continue on Malena's feast day, which is normally celebrated with games of chance and feats of strength and endurance, usually against the natural world. Mortal believers insist that Malena joins in on the fun, intentionally setting up rapids in rivers to test mortals' navigation skills, or brewing rough seas to test the mettle of fledgeling sailors. Daring games of chance (often involving weapons and plenty of alcohol) mean this is the day most prone to reveler injuries.
Day 5: Une, God of Love Une's feast day is one that lovers of every age look forward to all year. The day is dedicated to love in every form: romantic, platonic, and familial. In the case of romantic love, this is a popular day for declarations of sentiment, sometimes done out in public, or (more commonly) passed through written note in long, obscure hand-delivered mail chains. This day is all about spending quality time with those you love, and in every town, music and poetry pours from open windows all day and night as offerings to Une, a lover of art and beauty.
Day 6: Mor, God of Death Mor's feast day is the only feast day with a definitive split in mood, occurring at sundown. The morning is usually extremely quiet in reverence to the dead. Many will fast and refrain from drinking until sundown as a gesture of communion with those who have passed. At sundown, however, what was a vigil becomes a celebration: mourners light candles and lanterns for those who have passed and sing songs from open windows and in open squares. Those with a talent or skill in magic can attempt to communicate with the departed through séances, and a grand feast is prepared for both the living and the dead as the two worlds, living and dead, come closer than at any other point during the year. Celebrations for Mor's day often extend far into the early morning hours, and candles and lanterns are left to burn out on their own time.
Day 7: Oko, God of Time Oko's feast day is a day spent in quiet reflection, amendments, and communion. On Oko's day, believers gather together in community spaces and share their hopes for the new year, memories from the one past, and together "burn the bad" from the past year. This involves writing things, memories, and people one would rather leave behind on slips of paper and setting them ablaze with the intonation "I release to Oko what no longer serves." This day is emotional and cathartic for many, and tears are not uncommon. Meals on this day are eaten slowly, and a special emphasis is placed on wholesome, process-intensive food like breads and roasted meats.
Day 8: Lesczya, Goddess of the Heavens Lesczya's feast day is marked by its focus on spreading good will. It's a day for doing good deeds for others without hope of repayment, settling debts, and making amends with foes in preparation of Lesczya's eventual judgement of mortal souls. It is traditional to sleep out of doors on the last day of the Feast of the Octet in reverence to the beauty of Lesczya's creation. Many revelers will stay up all night telling stories by candlelight, watching the movement of the stars and planets, and parting with loved ones who had come to visit for the Feast.