Eclipse Festivals

Written for WA Summer Camp 2021 - Prompt 10

Ritual: Create a festival associated with a celestial body in your setting.

Among the many celebrations of the Ram, the Eclipse Festivals are perhaps the most exuberant and sacred to them.
Alluding to demonstrations of great power by the Moon over the Sun, they take these two dates to run the year's biggest celebrations. When the Moon delivers its mightiest attack and overcomes the Sun, the people reach the peak of the celebration singing and dancing and rejoicing in the Moon's power. Now, when the Sun sneaks a dishonourable assault and temporally overcomes the Moon, the peak of the festival is showing off the Moon's blessings, shared power and shine so the people can together help the Moon surpass the Sun. Both festivals should last for 3 days and nights.
During the festivals, the Ram also take time to welcome new people and remember the lost ones. Rites that celebrate life usually occur during the [Sun Eclipse] time, and those who remember death occur during the [Moon Eclipse].

Execution

Strictly speaking, the festivals start at the beginning of the day before the eclipse, have their peak during the eclipse itself, and go until the end of the day after the eclipse. Preparations to verify all that is needed for the festivals to happen without difficulty usually take 2 to 3 days leading up to them; many use this time as an extension of the festivals and do indeed celebrate them as well.
The people leave their homes to roam the streets with their Moon honouring items. Simply being out and about is enough to partake in the celebrations, and it is considered a sin to stay indoors. Music, dance and prayers begin in earnest when the eclipse starts; during the five minutes of totality, a special song is sung and only rune lights must be active; after totality is over until the eclipse completely ends, the dance and prayers pick up once more.

Related Ethnicities

• Ram