Feast of Termin

"Today, on the Autumn equinox, we gather in a celebration of those we have lost over the last year. Together we honor and remember them, passing their names and accomplishments down generations so they may never be forgotten. To those who have no family left to remember them, we raise our lights to guide their souls into the arms of Termin."

A Day of Remembrance

Termin is the deity of endings and thus has a Feast dedicated to the lives which had ended in the past year. On this Feast day, held on the Autumn equinox, families gather together to honor the dead. The ways in which families honor their loved ones vary from region to region. For some, this is as simple as reciting the names of those lost over the past year, while others see fit to perform complicated songs or rituals to honor each loved one. As night falls, families light candles for each death between the current Feast and the last year's. Some families will also make offerings in graveyards for their loved ones who have been buried there. It is not unusual to see entire graveyards bedecked in flowers and candles on this night.

Traditional Foods

The Feast of Termin is typically celebrated with a large meal at the end of the day as the sun sets. Traditionally, this meal is hearty, reminiscent of the autumn and the preceding harvests. Bakeries fill their shelves with poppy seed buns, which are hand-sized, glazed with sugar, syrup, or honey, and filled with a sweet poppy seed paste. Families will roast root vegetables or cook them into a stew, flavored with various herbs. Rice or another grain is boiled and served alongside the meal. The centerpiece of the meal, however, is a special brew. This drink, known as memory brew, is made differently in various regions, but its main ingredients are typically dandelion and burdock, with apples or other fall fruits providing a bit of sweetness. This brew is made every year on the Feast of Termin as the family tells stories of their lost ones, sharing in the memories of those they love. It is left to ferment for a year and then consumed the following Feast of Termin. Most families have a ceremonial casket in which to hold the brew. This casket is passed through generations from each head of the family to the next. The names of the dead are carved into the casket's sides, and most families have caskets completely covered in names. These names are usually recited as the drink is poured.

Queen of Memories

Some towns, more commonly in the Jade Sea region, will choose a girl to be crowned Queen of Memories. To be chosen is an honor, and the girl is usually bedecked in ceremonial clothing and presented with small trinkets. The Queen's duty is to preside over the town's celebrations, usually giving a speech in honor of the dead. She is also responsible for making a large meal, which is distributed to various graves and burial sites around town. This food is placed before unmarked graves or graves without adornment, to honor those that no one remembers. At these graves, a single red candle is lit. This candle is meant to guide the forgotten soul to Termin, where it will be passed over to Ceria and eventually sent back to Galactus as a new life, with no memory or attachment to its previous existence.