Eochai - the Festival of the Autumn King

The holiday known as Eochai started out as an Elvish day of sorrow, mourning, defiance, and defense. It marks the day that the first vampire, an Elvish bard whose name has been lost to time, rose transformed into the undead monster that forever thirsts and sang a magical song of discord that twisted the hearts of many Elves and other Fey creatures and turned them to evil. Elvish communities would gather ta'nuall seeds and after sunset, burn them in specially made lanterns. The ta'nuall, or "sunfire" seeds burn very brightly, casting away the darkness. Holding their lanterns high in a protective circle around their settlements main square (in some communities, they would ring the entire village), the Elves would sing loudly, to drown out the first vampire's song. Over time, this holiday would come to include feats of martial ability, especially archery. The Elves would make straw men, often with a head made from a gourd on the top, and compete with each other, feathering these targets with their bows of ash and yew.
As the Elvish communities began to join with other peoples, especially Humans, the holiday began to change. Human customs that celebrated the end of the harvest season coincided with Eochai on the calendar. It is unknown where the tradition of the Autumn King started, but before long Human children were carving heads from turnips and placing them on straw men, parading them through their villages after sunset while the crowds would sing loud (and often rude) songs to "drown out the Autumn King's siren song." As the parade reached the outskirts of a settlement, adults would place the straw men in a haphazard line. Lights were doused and the community waited until a selected singer, usually an Elf, started the traditional song. The rest of the settlement would come in on the chorus and as the song reached the final stanza and final chorus, the ta'nuall seed lanterns were lit. While the people continued to sing the last part of the song, competitors attempt to hit every maipiwr, or "straw invader" in elvish. The archer who scores the most hits with the most points was crowned the Autumn King. Music, dancing, and drinking usually follows.
Eochai is celebrated in most kingdoms to varying degrees. In the forest realm of Veltingard, close to the Dark Forest and home to a great many Elvish villages, the holidays stays closest to its origins as a somber night of defiance against evil forces. In the kingdoms of Rosalind, Carador and to a lesser extent Erynland, it is celebratory holiday. Along with the singing and straw men shooting, contests for scariest or most beautifully crafted turnip head often take place. In some villages, Eochai has completely merged with the Harvest Fest holiday of Maia, with exhibitions of large plants and baking competitions during the day before a raucous night of revelry.