Ëpàrìstèye kèn Àntrötrelis (ˈəpɑɹɪ stɛjeɪ 'kɛn ɑntɹɔːtɹelis)
Known in common as the Festival of the Fire Star, Ëpàrìstèye kèn Àntrötrelis is a Feloran festival meant to bring good fortune on the seas. It is based around the comet Àntrötrelis, the first comet observed by the ancient Felorans, which shows up once every 315 years. Evolving out of a ritual ancient Feloran explorers would do before each voyage on the unexplored seas, the ritual now happens as a community festival in Feloran communities with a strong naval tradition. It's observance has died out in many inland Feloran societies, however particularly spiritual Ëlhyaeans will conduct some of the rituals on their own or in their communities.
History
The Èrintrèlis Noble family had long held a fascination with the night sky and the stars. Much of the earliest Feloran records on star charts are attributed to the family. This fascination with astronomy was imparted to the Formeni people, when after the Conquest of the Formen (4620 – 4590 EIE), Emperor Leswena Mirenelis IV placed the imperial province of Dothara (the Feloran name for the lands of the Formeni) under the Stewardship of family. Thaelin Èrintrèlis first identified the "Àntrötrelis" in 4610 EIE, however the association between the comet and good fortune on the seas was still a few centuries away.
A ritual for the safe passage of ships on the "great sea" began as a way for the first oceanfaring vessels to ensure safety on the dangerous ships early explorers used, crude vessels hastily adapted from canal and river-based designs. These "water coffins" – as they've been derisively named by subsequent shipbuilders – were used for less than one generation, and after the invention of lanteen rigging (2304 EIE), the ritual died out. When Àntrötrelis returned in 350 EIE, the 2nd Èrintrèlis Dynasty resurrected the tradition, as the astronomers sought to realign State Practice with their interest in the stars. The revisions of subsequent Lèlbrìkèrns morphed the ritual into one of a handful of festivals held less than every century in Feloran societies.
Participants
This festival is where many Felorans learn about their heritage and past, as the younger generations are strongly encouraged to participate. Older Felorans will recount stories of their first Ritual, and the eldest are tasked with attuning to the needs of the sea. The eldest will often be those attending their 2nd festival, as there are many things one cannot know unless being present at previous rituals. Though the festival predates Feloran adoption of Ëlhyaean practice, Shrine Custodians organize the festival for their communities should the comet return during their custodianship, and many special rituals have been developed by Ëlhyaean Druids.
Related Ethnicities
