Independence Day
The most recent addition to Helstav's holidays, Independence Day, which provides a contrast to Empire Day, celebrates personal freedom and individual diversity. These two are connected, and are seen as working in symbiosis: unity of diverse individuals strengths the union in question, and without diversity, unity can only get so far, while without trying to find common ground to unite different people, individuals would just be too different and never be able to agree on anything or get anything done.
Independence day is also popularly called the Festival of Colours, due to its abundance of colours and dyes.
History
Just as Helstav celebrates Empire Day, they also celebrate Independence Day, though somewhat less so than Empire Day, which is the day when Emperor Valtyv was finally defeated and his empire destroyed. It had been instated by the other regions after Emperor Valtyv fell, and was quickly adapted by the Helstavites.
Execution
The night before the celebrations is a night of silent contemplation, with each person meditating alone on every characteristic that makes them unique. Come morning, the city becomes adorned with colours as a free-for-all festival takes place. People tend to smear each other with various dyes. A parade through the city, starting in the Garden Octant and working its way through the other Octants to end in the Centre Octant. Colour-filled baloons are also used to play and colour each other. Anyone and everyone is fair game, friend or stranger, rich or poor, man or woman, children, and elders. The frolic and fight with colours occurs in the open streets, open parks, outside temples and buildings. People carry drums and other musical instruments, go from place to place, play, sing, and dance. People visit family, friends and foes to throw coloured powders on each other, laugh and gossip. At the end of the day, a city-wide feast is held, where rarities from all over the world are tasted.
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