Eyarkujále

Eyarkujále, from eyarkar = spring/new year + jále = feast/celebration.
The eyarkujále is one of the most important events on the calendar.  It is celebrated in the spring equinox, on the first day that there is equal amounts of light and darkness.
Its origins are not recorded, but it is clear how in such northern latitudes the coming of summer is such an important event after the long and dark nights of winter. However many events that take place at that time are more modern, such as the meeting of the hväninarcs in skúdvíj.
Even though the event takes place in the equinox, it starts many weeks before.  The settlements dress up with many sacred flags, full of inscriptions that are placed from house to house or in long and tall posts. Because of the longer days, dinner can be outside, and many communal gatherings happen around this time, such as the competition for the best last pumpkin pie, a pie done with the last pumpkin of the previous season. Not everybody is capable of maintaining enough pumpkins in a good state though the entire weekend, so the ones that manage to make a pie (this of course is not held in all the provinces or towns, but similar food-oriented competitions do happen).
In many places, very important rituals happen on the equinox. Mostly rites of passage. These rites usually test individuals in various tasks and the ones who pass, are considered warriors and can join the ranks of the hváninarc of the area. At the same time, warriors get the privilege of joining either the monster hunter's guild, the royal army, or the lone knight order.
But the most important thing that happens is the annual meeting of the hväninarcs of each province. The territory is divided into seven provinces, and each province has several boroughs. Each borough has a landlord or hväninarc, usually the most accomplished man or family of the area. This title although can be inherited, it is also disputable and on rare occasions, the queen can make someone a landlord, but this is not very well regarded unless the person is viewed by all as a person of great accomplishments, worthy of being a landlord). In each province one hväninarc is elected by the rest, because of his wealth or fame, to represent that province in the annual meeting. So, when the days start to get longer, meetings happen within the provinces, the hvänings get together and gather the tribute and goods to trade. This big caravan then sets to the capital. The big meeting then accomplishes two things. Firstly is a very important political instrument where all the territories get together to discuss events and actions that benefit everyone and secondly, all the goods from different places are taken to the capital, thus trading happens with very distant places and wealth is distributed. As is natural, in the capital, this event is of paramount importance and the fest lasts several days of intense trading that starts as soon as the caravans arrive, a day or two before the equinox, and lasts several weeks after that.  When the time is right, the caravans with their newly acquired goods return to their homes with revised laws, strategies, and so on.
As a note, the goods are managed by the goods house, who manages all the distribution. Thus every hvänin has very specific royal orders on how to distribute the wealth depending on the collection. Is not meant to be equitation, but just, thus boroughs that produce a lot, also get a lot in return when the trading is done for them in the capital by the representatives in the caravan, so very precise and thorough records are kept to avoid mala praxis.