Festival of Aitnesuza (Feh-stih-vul of Eye-it-neh-sue-zah)
Isona carefully drew the thin-tipped brush down from the edge of her eye and across her cheek before ending at the jawline and looked herself over in the mirror. The artfully placed pigment highlighted her pointed features and gave her a tearful look. With the completion of her ornamentation, she adjusted the symbol of Selune on her bosom and prepared to exit the shrine to join the rest of the celebrants, excited to enjoy the festivities in honor of her beloved goddess of the moon.
History
It is said that long ago the goddess Selune, when her moon was new and her mood at its lowest and most sensitive, happened to turn her divine gaze upon a port town to view a drunken sailor courting a woman. Her attention was peaked because the sailor, between hiccups and belches loudly proclaimed, "gaze upon the sky, fair lady, for even the moon hides its face in the presence of your beauty, for fear that a direct comparison would show that you are truly the most radiant." In her delicate state, Selune was taken aback in shock at the direct insult of her counterpart and representation before being overcome with rage. In an instant, the goddess called down a rain of meteorites upon the village, destroying many of the buildings, docks and ships as well as taking the lives of many, including the foolish sailor and his sweetheart. From then on, the people of the town pledged to not toy with the feelings of Selune in such a way and, in an attempt at penance, formed an annual festival known as the Festival of Aitnesuza, also known as The Day of Moontears. This festival has been performed ever since and no such catastrophic event has repeated.
Execution
Despite the apparent importance of the festival, the execution is relatively relaxed with all participants enjoying food and drink and song in the name of Selune. Several verses and praises are also shared among the celebrants as a further act of good faith in the goddess of the moon. It is also considered rude and an insult to Selune to attempt courting someone on this day and is highly frowned upon.
Components and tools
All individuals within the town dress themselves in flowing white garments with the more affluent members adorning themselves in moon-themed jewelry and other trinkets. The clergy of Selune also decorate their faces with silvery white paints in a design of lines of various lengths running across the cheeks from the eyes to imitate glowing tears.
Observance
The Festival of Aitnesuza always occurs on the night of a full moon in the summer when the days are longest and the moon is seen the least, this is done to show Selune that although her presence is protracted, the people remain loyal and attentive to her.
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