Kindlemas

"Sweet Raya, remember us.  Gentle Raya, forgive our weaknesses. Glorious Raya, return to us.  Let not your creation suffer your absence again.  Rise high in our skies and grant us the warmth of your love,

your power, your light.  We entreat you Raya, return to our skies.  This is our plea."

-Kindlemas prayer to Raya

History

The tradition of Kindlemas is one of the oldest holidays in the Lands of Legend.  While there is no authority for its celebration prior to the Cataclysm, there are records dating back to the beginning years of the Second Age that mention the holiday.
Kindlemas took on a greater importance during the Third Age, when Raya and the Matriarchy became the de facto state religion of the Kingdom of Rosalind.  As Rosalind grew, so did the influence of the Matriarchy and the traditions of Raya.  The Matriarchy turned Kindlemas into a major holiday in their liturgical calendar, marking the victory of Raya over darkness.  Even after Carador and Erynland broke free from Rosalind and became independent nations, Kindlemas remained an important holiday

Execution

Kindlemas starts on the shortest day of the year, winter solstice.  The tradition is to rise before the dawn and eat a cold breakfast, then spend the entire day collecting kindling and firewood. Using only the wood collected during the daylight hours, families or communities will build bonfires, which they will light in the last moments of sunset. Then they keep the fires lit all night until the next morning, to convince Raya to return her sunlight to the world. During the night all food is cooked over the fire, and most people will stay up all evening around the fire, singing hymns to Raya (earlier in the evening) and more bawdy songs (later on after drinking). In case of inclement weather (very likely in many places), tents are erected around the bonfire, but always remaining open to the fire itself.
In cities, celebrants will instead perform manual tasks, like sweeping the streets or repairing roads, bridges and public buildings, especially churches to Raya.  Woodcutters and others will bring in kindling and logs and people will assemble bonfires in public spaces.  At sunset, the fires will be lit and prayers to Raya will be said under the direction of the leading priestess of Raya.

Components and tools

Firewood and kindling are the biggest components of this holiday, although food and alcohol (especially mulled wine and cider) have become part of the tradition of Kindlemas.

Participants

Ardent followers of the goddess Raya are the typical celebrants of this holiday, but over time, Kindlemas has become a staple holiday even among unbelievers living in the northern half of the continent, particularly Rosalind, Carador, and Erynland.  Cochford in the Fens also has a Kindlemas ceremony, but is much more secular in nature and few of the religious observances held in other countries.

Observance

Kindlemas occurs on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.  In the Lands of Legend, this is the last day of Darkinculd, and is the last day of the year.