The Burning Night Festival
A winter solstice tradition in most of Southeastern Everdawn. The festival is a celebration of the ending of winter, but also believed to come from Pre-Awakening times as a celebration of when the Everlight and Dawn-Bringer defeated the Blackness from the Stars from consuming the Sun
History
While most see the festival as just a celebration of the ending of winter and the coming of summer, Many devout priests and clerics teach that it has a much greater meeting. Learned Followers of the Everlight and Dawn-Bringer teach that in the Pre-Awakening epoch, When the Gods and Primordials did war with the Elder Ones and their minion, A powerful being called the Blackness from the Stars had tried to consume the Sun in Arkhold's Sky. With all the other gods doing battle against the Elder Ones and Great Old Ones elsewhere, Defense of the Sun fell to the Pelor and his then Lieutenant Celestial Sarenrae. The two Gods managed to eventually push back the Elder One and force it into retreat, saving the sun and preventing the coming of eternal darkness and despair.
Before The Rising of the Armitage Empire, the festival was more a devout religious ceremony where the followers of the Everlight and Dawn-bringer would light flames in their home and keep them lit through the night while they give thanks to the two gods and perform ceremonies said to keep the servants of the Blackness from the Stars and Itself at bay and keep it from returning in full to the Material Plane. When the Armitage Empire rose to prominence in Everdawn and worship of the two gods became some of the Empire's Official practices, the Ceremony went from a private quiet affair to a Grand Festival celebrated by communities all over the Empire. Even after the Empire fell, many in its former territory still follow this practice to the present day.
Some more devout followers of the two gods believe that if the Ceremony were not to take place, or The Great Bonfires all over were to go out, It would mean that the Darkness from the Stars would be able to awaken in the Far Realm and break through to the Material Plane again in the coming year
Before The Rising of the Armitage Empire, the festival was more a devout religious ceremony where the followers of the Everlight and Dawn-bringer would light flames in their home and keep them lit through the night while they give thanks to the two gods and perform ceremonies said to keep the servants of the Blackness from the Stars and Itself at bay and keep it from returning in full to the Material Plane. When the Armitage Empire rose to prominence in Everdawn and worship of the two gods became some of the Empire's Official practices, the Ceremony went from a private quiet affair to a Grand Festival celebrated by communities all over the Empire. Even after the Empire fell, many in its former territory still follow this practice to the present day.
Some more devout followers of the two gods believe that if the Ceremony were not to take place, or The Great Bonfires all over were to go out, It would mean that the Darkness from the Stars would be able to awaken in the Far Realm and break through to the Material Plane again in the coming year
Execution
The Festival begins at Sundown. In communities (from Hamlet to Metropolis) as the sun dips into the horizon and night comes, A great Bonfire is lit in the center of the town (or in designated areas in districts for larger cities) which symbolizes the sun itself. Local temple priests to Pelor and/or Sarenrae, or communities leaders if no such priests are available, will announce the start of the festivities. In more devout communities, the announcer of the festivities will resite the story of how the Everlight and the Dawn-Bringer defended the Sun and defeated the Blackness from the Stars, keeping light and hope alive in the world. These stories are usually accompanied by actors or community volunteers reenacting this story in costumes, two actors dressed as the two gods standing between a depiction of the Elder One and the bonfire acting out a mock battle.
Either way once the festival begins, It is followed with a night of merriment and revelry that will go on from dusk till dawn the next morning non-stop. How this is done depends greatly on the community. In larger and more prosperous communities, stalls of vendors provide endless variety of food and drink to people attending while Bards tell stories and provide music to large groups dancing. Smaller Communities will be a bit more subdued with everyone bringing food and drink to share together as some locals may provide some entertainment. It is not uncommon for all these communities to have a assortment of games and competitions that all can join in as the night goes on. This is done both to celebrate the ending of winter and surviving through it to start seeing summer, while also embodying the strong connection of community and family that both gods often symbolize. It is not unheard of for grudges and feuds to be negotiate and brought to a end in recognition of this.
Near dawn or as folks begin to leave the festival throughout the night, it is customary for them to take a torch and light it from the bonfire to take back to their rooms or homes to light the local hearths there. This both signifies the victory of the two deities' victory over the Elder One by sending light and hope back out to the mortal world, as well the strength of the community as a whole going with everyone as they survive the end of winter and the coming of summer again together
Either way once the festival begins, It is followed with a night of merriment and revelry that will go on from dusk till dawn the next morning non-stop. How this is done depends greatly on the community. In larger and more prosperous communities, stalls of vendors provide endless variety of food and drink to people attending while Bards tell stories and provide music to large groups dancing. Smaller Communities will be a bit more subdued with everyone bringing food and drink to share together as some locals may provide some entertainment. It is not uncommon for all these communities to have a assortment of games and competitions that all can join in as the night goes on. This is done both to celebrate the ending of winter and surviving through it to start seeing summer, while also embodying the strong connection of community and family that both gods often symbolize. It is not unheard of for grudges and feuds to be negotiate and brought to a end in recognition of this.
Near dawn or as folks begin to leave the festival throughout the night, it is customary for them to take a torch and light it from the bonfire to take back to their rooms or homes to light the local hearths there. This both signifies the victory of the two deities' victory over the Elder One by sending light and hope back out to the mortal world, as well the strength of the community as a whole going with everyone as they survive the end of winter and the coming of summer again together
Participants
The entire night, Designated light-bearers are given the duty of making sure the Bonfire remains lit throughout the night. It is said keeping the Flame lit though the night will bring the light of the two gods on the community, dispelling curses and exorcising evil spirits from the surrounding land to lead to a bountiful harvest. If the flame were to go out before dawn, It is said doom will fall on the community for the year to come.
Important Locations
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