The Procession of the Sun
Pachuco harvest ritual celebrating the Vernal Equinox
I greet Ia, Goddess of the Dawn,
Herald of morning; the stars recede,
And fly before your face; both sleep and night
Are scattered by your torch, and put to flight.
The flowers are awakened by your dew,
And turn toward the light, to be renewed
So may your dew also inspire my soul
And render my desire to be made whole.
You care for all that's fresh and young,
So care for me, to whom your dew clings.
For you remind us that the darkest night
Must yield to day and flee before the light.
I pray you, shining Dawn, to bring to me
Abundant wisdom, love, and energy.
I ask you for a wealth of hope,
Of time to do, of strength to endure.
Especially this day I implore you:
In the name of the Sun, whose Light is Great.
<Here the supplicant blows a kiss towards the Dawn Goddess and kneels in adoration.>
This event takes place during the Vernal or Spring Equinox and marks the beginning of the spring harvest season for the Pachucese and other agrarian Zoner cultures. The people of Pachuco welcome their Spring Harvest with a weeks-long celebration including a procession that travels west from Pachuco City to a place called the Shrine of Stars located amidst the Rift Mountains. This procession symbolizes the apparent motion of the sun northward across the terrestrial equator during the Spring Equinox.
History
The Vernal Equinox has always been observed by the sun worshiping Pachucese, though the precise origin of the Star Shrine procession is unknown. It is believed that the practice began among the people of the Fallen Empires, from whom contemporary Zoners derive the mythology of their solar cults. There is evidence to suggest that the observance of the Equinox was once a far more austere event, meant to vouchsafe the people's prayers for continuation of the sun's celestial motion. By now the ceremony has evolved into a jubilant spree, a festival to celebrate the success of the busy winter harvest cycle.
Execution
At the beginning of the procession the high priest (wearing the likeness of the Thunderbird) and a male youth offer prayers to the Dawn Goddess. These prayers are an invocation of the Dawn entreating her to bring the sunrise and to begin the westward march of the sun. At six intervals marked by significant landmark shrines, the Procession is halted for preparation of additional dawn invocations commemorating the courtship and consummation of Ia's union with the land. The procession ends on the morning after the end of the march with the symbolic union of the Dawn and the selected youth atop the altar of the Star Shrine. This pairing of the youth and the priestess signifies the renewed fertility of the land and augurs the success of the coming harvest.
Components and tools
The procession includes a number of carried totems and effigies as well as raised litters bearing priests and other dignitaries through the jungle path. These litters are carried for many miles by young men who volunteer for the task in order to ingratiate themselves with community leaders and demonstrate their loyalty and physical endurance.
The centerpiece of the procession is a massive wooden litter that is carried through the jungle from Pachuco City to the Shrine of Stars. The litter is decorated with gold and silver accents including a golden chair representing the Seat of Heaven. Upon this throne sits an actor representing the sun god Ormaz. He wears a reflective costume fashioned out of gold leaf including a masked golden headdress fitted with radiating golden spikes. Beside this actor sits a priestess dressed in a saffron-coloured robe embroidered with sweet-scented flowers. She represents "Ia," the Goddess of the Dawn who is chief consort of the sun god and accompanies him during his journey through the celestial arc.
Participants
Aside from the actors representing the Sun and the Dawn, the High Priest attends wearing an eagle costume decorated to symbolize the Thunderbird. The Thunderbird leads the way bearing a golden brazier containing a fire that must be maintained day and night throughout the procession. This burning cauldron represents the Thunderbird's lightning bolt, weapon of the gods.
Observance
The event starts on March 20th with a massive street celebration in Pachuco City. The ensuing procession begins at dawn on the following day and continues for the following weeks until the pilgrimage is completed.
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