Cilain
The Festivals of the Changing Seasons, Cilain is an ancient celebration, practiced by the peoples of the northern borders of the Allfire Peaks. It is a tradition of duality, and holds great significance in across the north.
Execution
Cilain is actually two seperate holidays, each respectively connected to the ends of summer and winter. They tie into the land and how the gods perceive the inhabitants, and thus many take this celebration very seriously. While they are under the same name, the two holidays are executed very differently.
During the end of summer, citizens collect some of the best of their crops and livestock, and bring them to a designated spot to be sacrificed. Animals have their more succulent parts burned (such as the fat and tenderloin) and keep the rest for themselves to eat during the cold months. This is done as an offering to the gods, in the hopes that they will make the winter less easier on them.
The second Cilain is a much more cheerful event, a celebration of the end of winter and beginning of spring. During this event, prepare themselves various costumes and masks, usually meant to represent some sort of animal, and spread flowers around their town and fields, to drive of an mock dark spirits and færies. When twilight falls, the day is nothing but dancing, drinking, and other joyous shenanigans and good times.
Components and tools
Regardless of which event, very little components are needed. For the winter sacrifice, a priest requires a knife, for the livestock that will be offered, and a fire pit, to burn the offerings and send them to the gods. The sprin celebration only truly requires a costume and a wooden mask, both of which are easy to make. The “costumes” are in actuality just furs and skins wrapped or tied around themselves. A few remote locations use Oracledust to further release their in inhabitions, insuring that are their cares are truly forgotten on the night.
Observance
The holiday of Cilain is known and celebrated all around the lands north of the Allfire Peaks and some have brought it to the regions south of ths mountians as well. They correspond to the ends of winter and summer, either as soon as the environment begins to change (leaves change colors, snow begins melting, etc.) or during the respective summer and winter solstices.
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