First Light Celebration

Nearly all cultures across the world have some sort of celebration following the five days of complete darkness at the end of the year, known as the Dark Days. Due to the significant temperature drops and increase in predatory wildlife activity during that time, this time period is incredibly dangerous, leading many to breath a sigh of relief and even celebrate when dawn returns.

In Cogys, this takes the form of merely return to business as normal as they possess the technology to dispel the darkness using artificial light and repel the predators with their advanced defenses.

In Morydal, this involves its inhabitants emerging from the mines in the mountains and feasting of the creatures killed during the Dark Days. It seems that eating the corpses of the fallen Morydans was common in the past, but they have been able to depart from that practice due to the trade facilitated through the Tryvyum Trade Consortium.

In Ohedyn, everyone makes a pilgrimage to the Great Fountain to drink of its waters. They believe that the spirits of those that died during the Dark Days seep into the earth and are mixed in with the water of the Great Fountain, allowing them to live on by distributing their souls throughout the fellow Ohedyns. Sanctified Dryn (referred to as Scourge in that part of Aroka), are excluded from this practice, though they are frequently used to help carry their sponsors' baggage on the pilgrimage.

On Okanu, each of the individual cultures usually participate in a version of their home nation's celebration, though there are instances of where some traditions have been combined. Those that don't desire to adhere to any of these traditions will usually participate in various feasts hosted by local taverns.

In the Remnant, the four cities hold their own feats, but these pale in comparison the great festival held in Sanctuary after enough snow has melted to make travel feasible 100 days later. This festival is where the nation comes together to showcase what they accomplished during the previous year, presenting new inventions, philosophies, and works of art. It is also where a large portion of annual trade occurs.

History

As long as the Dark Days have occurred, cultures have celebrated its end. How this was practiced during the Age of Ascension is unclear, especially since most major civilizations had the magical or technological knowledge to significantly reduce the risks associated with the Dark Days. During the Age of Ice, it was rarely practiced as it essentially served as a perpetual Dark Day. Formal celebrations didn't emerge until the Age of Reclamation when cities began being established.