Flight of the Dragon

The myths of creation detail a swirling balance between good and evil, in the form of a good dragon and an evil dragon. The dragons play tricks on each other and have mischievous intentions but they always end up balancing each other out. The Flight of the Dragon is a time to re-balance the world. Fall reflects the balance because as the people collect the last sustenance provided by the land, the plants begin to die and the animals hide away for winter. The festival celebrates growth and death, which the people believe are woven by the two dragons, and natural cycles, which is the movement of these two dragons in flight.

The First Day

A dragon born priest travels to each town, timing it so that they arrive on the first of the month. The villagers greet the priest somberly. This time is spent in mediation and story telling about the people's history and ancestors. It is a time to reconnect with ones past.

Middle Days

The first 15 days of the Flight of the Dragon are spent in remembrance of ancestors. This is the time where people are encouraged to meditate and fast. The old must die before the new can thrive. The last 15 days are spent in celebration of life. There is a lot of dancing and feasting. The Flight of the Dragon ends in a field burning ritual. Many of the family's take this time to teach their children traditional family recipes and family history.

The Last Day

The last day is celebrated by burning the fields. This ritual takes place on midnight on the 30th day of the Month of Harvest. The dragon born priest in each town and the head of each farm spends the two hours before midnight praying and meditating in the village square, or as central as they can get. The villagers bring offerings of food and trinkets. A half hour before midnight, the priest rises and lights a series of torches, giving one to each farmer who meditated with him. The villagers divide themselves up and walk with their group, led by a farmer, to the fields. The priest goes with whichever farmer has the most influence. Once at their destination, the villagers sing a sacred song and burn the fields.

Participants

• The dragon born priests are the drivers of the festivities and ceremonies.
• Since the main city does not have many fields outside it, city dwellers often pick a smaller village to spend the last few days of the festival in.
• The King often holds a special ceremony in his residence to meditate on the history and needs of his kingdom.

Observance

The Flight of the Dragon begins on the first day of the Month of Harvest which is always a double full moon, and end on the last day of the month.