Shupva Shataz
For Sashagda, Shāmalta in particular, the holiday of Shupva Shataz is the largest and most commemorated of the major holy days in Shegid. It lasts for three days, commemorating Shapla, heaven, and earth.
It honors the Zamtha Thekdrolir's obedience to Shapla and willingness to offer everything of himself for his people, and the sacrifice made by him and the rest of the Drat Unlishar to buy time for their people to reach safety.
In respect of this sacrifice, animals are ritually slaughtered by Sashagda families. The immediate family keeps a third of the meat, and usually has a big feast or meal together. Another third is given to their distant relatives who might not live with them. The last third is given, along with the thirds of everyone else, to the poor and needy. No Sashagda should go hungry during Shupva Shataz.
History
Then reigning Regdāhid, Thekdrolir Thekdralornu, was charged by Shapla with many tasks during his life and reign. He was to deliver the last revelations and wisdom to his fellow Shāmalta, and follow in the path of his ancestors as zamtha, emissary, of Shapla.
He was gifted with knowledge of the trials to come, and so prepared for decades for the devastation and horrors coming. He did this duty with gladness in his heart, for he was in service to Shapla and his people. As the time approached where his preparations would be tested, the zamtha began to have dreams.
He saw a light shine upon him in the darkness, surrounded by lifeless Shāmalta. But when he lay down upon a ritual altar and gave of himself, the dead vanished and were replaced with the living.
Thekdrolir knew what was required of him. When the time came he stood in defense of his people and offered himself as a sacrifice, instead of retreating to safety while others did so. The shedding of his blood saved a race, and this is honored every year.
Execution
There are special prayers for the holiday that are conducted between the start of the day and the final meal, though these are usually done among the family.
The community will gather at the Shāvāpar for scheduled communal prayer. They gives thanks in a prescribed fashion, seven times to honor the seven vegrāhid and seven days of creation, before the Shāvapra delivers a sermon chosen for the occasion.
After the prayers, thanks, and sermons are complete the community celebrates. They're already gathered, so why not enjoy the time together? Sashagda embrace, exchange greetings, socialize, and engage in other allowed pastimes. There may even be gift exchanges.
After that communal gathering, families return to spend time among themselves or visit friends and relatives, where further gift-giving and socializing are common. Specifically, it's common for the elders of the family to 'sacrifice' a small gift or money to their juniors: parents to children and older siblings to younger.
Another major part of Shupva Shataz is the ritual sacrifice of an animal, the meat to be shared with close family, extended family, and the poor in equal measure. This is done along prescribed shedsha lines, cruelty-free and with great respect for the animal's sacrifice. The premise is furthering community; every Sashagda should have meat in their belly and community in their heart.
Every part is used in some fashion, nothing wasted that would disrespect the animal. It's quite common that people will get more than three days of food from this between the meat cuts, organs, and blood pudding.
Observance
The holiday starts on the seventh day of the last month of the Shegid lunar calendar, and lasts for three days. This causes it to shift dates when considered by others using a solar calendar.
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