All Souls Day

All Souls Day is a celebration of the dead that takes place on the 3rd Monday of Rethe. All Souls Day is a day of prayer and remembrance for the souls of those who have died . Many All Souls' Day traditions reflect popular notions associated with the afterlife. Lighting candles is believed to kindle a light for the dead souls languishing in the darkness. Out of this grew the traditions of "going souling" and the baking of special types of bread or cakes.
"Souling" refers to a tradition in which groups of people roam the streets sharing "Soul cakes". These cakes are believed to release a loved ones soul from anguish in the afterlife. Children commonly wear costumes and have their own celebrations. People decorate their houses by displaying flowers in the windows and leave warm food and drink and lit candles on the dining table at night, in order to make the souls happier on their journey out of the darkness. Stealing this food and drink is seen as a major disrespect towards the resident's ancestors.
It is expected on All Souls' Day that each citizen and visitor must visit and decorate the shrines of the 12 Gods in order to gain good luck in the following year. Not decorating these shrines is seen as an affront to the Gods and your own ancestors.

History

The history of All Souls' Day is rooted in pagan traditions that have been preserved through living memory. The tradition was adopted by the Gathering Of Holy Light, as many priests who served the 12 Gods also practiced the tradition. Thus it was given grounding in the Religion. The Gathering changed the original purpose of the "Soul cakes" from food for the ancestors into a way to save the souls from darkness in the afterlife.

Execution

The day starts with the citizens of the settlement baking their own "Soul cakes", Conversely the citizens could also purchase them as they are commonly sold in the market early in the morning. The children and women begin to decorate the houses and streets with flowers and plenty of candles. The men clean the graveyards and crypts.
At noon the citizens begin to decorate and pray to the shrines. During the day at lunch/dinner if the residents of a house have had a family member die in the past year, a place is to be set for them along with food;In order to properly honor the deceased.
In Between lunch and dinner the families begin to walk the streets handing out soul cakes to the passersby families/ people. These soul cakes are eaten after dinner and some are always left for the dead when the family retires for the night.

Components and tools

Flowers are needed to decorate the houses in order to make them seem inviting to the deceased. Any flowers can be used to decorate however, the more colourful or exotic ones are seen as much more inviting.
Soul cakes are a lightly spiced biscuit, rather cheap to make. Thus making the tradition upholdable even to the poorest family.
Soul cake recipe (makes 12):

• 340g Plain flour
• 170g Sugar or 50 ml of Honey
• 170g of butter
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
• 2 tsp of White wine vinegar
• 1 Egg
• Splash of milk

Method

1. Preheat your oven/ kiln
2. Sift the flour into a large bowl then add the spices and sugar. Give it a good mix. Cut the butter into cubes and rub them into the dry mixture until it resembles breadcrumbs.
3. In a separate bowl, beat the egg and then pour in the vinegar.
4. Add the eggs and vinegar into a well in the dry ingredients and mix until you have a firm dough- you might need a splash of milk. once combined, cover the bowl and let it rest.
5. After resting for about 20 minutes the dough should be ready to roll. Roll the dough until its about a half centimetre thick.
6. Cut out circles of dough and place them on an oven tray, using a knife carefully score the cake in a cross shape.
7. Put your soul cakes in the oven to bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Now the cakes can be served to the soulers, if desired the cakes can be decorated further with icing or such. But such decoration is not required.

Participants

The Priests of each god are placed at each of their shrines in order to help with decoration, prayer or any other service. The Highpriest is expected to make a speech in which he honors and helps the townsfolk respect the dead.

Observance

The Tradition takes place on the 3rd Monday of Rethe annually.