The Sparking of the Flame

... sun was low when we started, and low when we collapsed to the ground, our limbs spent and our skin tight. The flames roared around us as we laughed, bodies unable to lift us from the dirt. They weren't what was taken from us, but they would do...
~ fragment of the First Sparking, a mudborn legend

A tradition that has lived on through hardship and tragedy, the Sparking has become an anticipated event where the most skilled and artful dancers among the mudborn dverge can display their passion and their devotion to their community. Many see it as a way to attract and prove oneself to a potential partner, for passion and skill are what Hyrrhorn instilled a love for most in the mudborn.
Despite the change of their circumstances, the Sparking proves vital each year for the mudborn.

History

A tradition dating to the start of the Time of Darkness, the Sparking began as a thing of necessity, spurred by divine inspiration among the mudborn fleeing persecution from the hands of their brethren. It allowed the mudborn to hide high in the mountains around the base of the trunk, higher than any fortborn would travel.
This kept mudborn alive until the forts fell and they were able to descend safely from their chilly exile. Today, it is kept alive to honor those that came before, and to give thanks to their sacrifice - and more than that, it helps the mudborn keeps themselves independent and protected. The flame generated by the Sparking emulates that of an Ember - for a decent length of time. But not forever.
Many young mudborn likely are not even aware of the true purpose of the ritual, thinking of it only as a time to prove their skill and dedication.

Execution

The Sparking begins with a Elder Mother blessing the day and the dance, and offering a special brew to those dancers who would partake. The brew will help the dancers move with exceptional fervor and grace, generating more sparks for it all the while. Dancers are encouraged to continue for as long as they can, even to the point of exhaustion - there have even been instances of death among those who drank from the brew and fasted in honor of the First Sparking.
When fully underway, and with the sun at the zenith of its motion, a great central flame will arise, drawing in all the many sparks and flames that the dancers have been casting about. This flame centralizes and condenses quickly, becoming a few meters in radius and towering into the sky. Until the sun dips below the horizon, the dancers will continue, casting their sparks into the flame and helping it reach higher.
Once the sun has slept, and the dancers have cast their last spark of the day, the Elder Mother will take the flame and carry it to the center of the village where the Hearth is, depositing it within. With this, mudborn villages need not have Embers.

Participants

An Elder Mother must be present to oversee the ceremony, for without one the flame cannot be contained and transported. Mudborn are the primary participants, but any hooved race could theoretically take part.

Observance

The Sparking takes place when the summer is at its zenith, the hottest and brightest day before the slow fall into winter.