Drahkun's Day - Midsummer Moon

It's really just an excuse for everyone to get drunk after seeding the chitin wheat fields.

Drahkun's Day, also known as the Midsummer Moon, is celebrated on the first full moon after the beginning of summer (that is, the 36th of Tritrag, the third month of the calendar year). In the Aemark Kingdom, it is the second largest celebration of the year, dwarfed only by the Day of Agranthor at the beginning of the year. While originally an observance of a Rundic tradition, due to chitin wheat's planting period, it is now used as a day of rest after considerable farm work.

Drahkun's Day Tradition

The Rundic Three's calendar stipulates that the midsummer moon is a day of reflection focused on Drahkun (of the Body). First, the daily ritual of moving through a sequence of poses to stretch and strain the body in observance of Drahkun is observed four times instead of just at dawn and dusk (the additional observances are at noon and midnight). For each of these, the number of poses and the length of each is extended significantly, usually lasting a full 30 minutes or more.
Origins of Drahkun's Day are unclear due to midsummer moon festivals being prevalent for centuries before the Rundic religion became widespread. However, scholars generally agree that the nation-wide observance of it began with Ald Yvren, the sister to the King during the reign of Markus the Second. As the leader of the Aemark Church and the dominant sect in the nation, any religious event prescribed by her was all but law.

Secularization

As Aemark became more militaristic and looked to expand its borders, the growing need for chitin wheat to sustain the Kingdom's military wizards grew considerably. A greater and greater percentage of the Southern Fields were devoted to growing chitin wheat in lieu of other crops. This was only possible due to technological advantages discovered over time and managed to not significantly hamper food production in the nation.
Chitin wheat is best planted at the height of summer, usually beginning around the 19th of Tritrag at the half-moon. Even with three full weeks before the Midsummer Moon, some farmers struggle to plant all of the chitin wheat crop in time, but modern advances have made the process easier over time. With the intense work and speed with which it must be planted, the farming populace began to use the observance of Drahkun's Day to rest from the arduous work.
For many, rest equated to a day-long party full of drink and merriment. While lip service is given to Drahkun and the daily rituals, the event itself is a form of release from the day-to-day labor of farm work. The Aemark Church and government appear to be in mutual agreement (or a manner of compromise) to allow the rather secular event to continue as is, likely due to the significant resistance they would experience should they crack down on such celebration.

Drahkun's Drinks

Come and get the best beer, wine, and liquor here at Drahkun's Drinks, located in Vaevuldri on Yvren Street! The finest selection anywhere!
I am just shocked that the Church hasn't thrown them into the South Sea to be eaten by leviathans.