Saint Alesia's Day
Saint Alesia's Day is a holiday held widely across The Calradian Empire which is specifically to celebrate the cleansing of the last Greater Daemon, Moth'Taron, from the continent of Calradia back to The Shadowfell. Though the Daemon was not actually slain by the Saint herself, the day was dedicated to her because she is the Saint of the cleansing of the unclean (and was responsible for the "lion's share" of the Daemon deaths regardless).
As Daemon's often feast on the worst aspects of mortals, especially fear, this day is dedicated to religious introspection. This day is essentially the antithesis of The Feast of St. Aethelstan, as it seeks to remind everyone that evil is real, and that despite it being pushed out once, it can always seep back into the world in the most insidious manner. Due to it being held shortly after such a joyous and exuberant time of year, it is often considered by many young people as "the bummer after the feast".
History
The holiday itself was first instituted by a joint decree in the year 1201 between the first Emperor Sigvard and the nascent organization that would eventually become The Holy Church of the Saints of Order, as a way to ensure that Daemons could never return to their place of dominance over the mortal plane.
In the beginning, the event was more of a symbolic day than an actual celebration. However, the longer time went on and the memory of the Daemons themselves faded away from anything a living person could remember, the Church took it upon themselves to slowly evolve the day from a symbolic day to an actually observed religious holiday. In order to encourage folks to attend church en masse, the Church and the Empire decreed in 1289 that noone would be permitted to do work on Saint Alesia's Day. Then the Church used the day to encourage introspection and prayer on this day, as a day of solemn remembrance of the results of heresy.
Execution
In the current day, Saint Alesia's Day is a day of solemn prayer, where all citizens are expected to find a peaceful place to pray in silence for the entire day and refrain from any activity good or bad. Churches across the Empire will open their doors to anyone and everyone who can fit within, and even set up huge prayer tents outside, and will lead day-long prayer sessions. For those who still cannot fit (usually the poorest classes) they will frequently just stay in their homes or residences and pray in silence in front of their household shrine, giving offerings to the Saints and reflecting on their own failures in following their example.
It is considered improper to eat or drink anything other than water on this holy day, or to do anything else that may distract from the contemplations and reflections of the faithful. Anything other than absolutely necessary activities are banned to make the most time for prayer and remembrance.
The day is also a chance for parents and grandparents to pass on their wisdom and religious experiences to the younger generation of their families, and for all the faithful to renew their resolve to not allow the Daemonic influence into their lives.
Those who have the resources to do so, or those who are particularly fervent and religious, will sometimes take pilgrimages to remote or holy places for Saint Alesia's Day, so that their prayers may be even more at peace and in places of natural beauty. It is rumored that it is this day of all days that your prayers may be heard if you were exceptionally faithful throughout the year, and that the more remote or beautiful the place, the more likely you are to possibly have your prayers heard by your patron Saint(s).
Components and tools
Though it is preferable to attend the day-long prayers held at churches or church-tents, this is not feasible for all. As such, all households are encouraged to have a household shrine for giving offerings and for daily prayer. families will often find goods related to their patron Saint to offer on this day. On this day only though, when the offerings are left on the shrines, folk wake to find them disappeared in the morning, accepted by the Saints themselves.
Observance
Saint Alesia's Day is held annually within the Empire on Felnight the 2nd.
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