Week of Warmth
Heartwarming Holidays
It's the season to go out there and show one last chance to do something good before the year ends. Warm the hearts of others, have a fun holiday tale to tell later.
Every year, the Week of Warmth is celebrated at an end to the calendar year in association with the Church of the Wandering Flame. Held by both believers and non-believers alike, it's a time of gathering for many. And for some, it's the one chance they might do a good deed for society.
The 7 Days of Warmth
Day 1: The First Spark
To begin the first day of the Week of Warmth, church officials light a bonfire outside of their doors. In Luxaltar, the Fire Maiden herself lights the local bonfire. Those living outside the reach of any church also keep a candle lit at home for seven days straight.
In the belief, the bonfires represent the final spark of life the old year can give, a final chance to do something for this year. It's also the day when people being fasting, eating the bare minimum to get around. Most household only survive on bread and water, with some devoted followers even reducing it to one meal per day.
Day 2: Embers of Good Deeds
On the second day, the Church begins gathering deeds of the locals. In the morning, each person writes down something they want to accomplish by the end of the year. This can be anything from visiting family more often to helping construct something. Once written down, it's kept locked away until Bonfire Night.
When it first began, this wasn't part of the festivities. Instead, it was a local tradition held by people to encourage the spread of good deeds. The Church took notice and helped with it, eventually implementing it into the holiday itself.
Day 3: The Lantern Walk
On the third day, people come together to hold a parade at the evening. The main theme is the usage of lanterns and ashes, gathered from things burned with a holy prayer carved into it. During the parade, priests swing their lanterns around to ward away evil spirits. To avoid them from returning, doorsteps and gateways are sprinkled with the ashes.
Some people also ensure extra safety measures by burning some firewood in the fireplace, collecting the ashes by the evening. To ensure they have the same holy nature, prayers are carved in the wood or a prayer slip gets burned as well amongst it.
Day 4: Day of Ashes
On the fourth day, once the evil spirits have been vanquished with the Lantern Walk, people visit the graves of their relatives. They sit around, polish up tombstones, chat with other people and spend the day looking to catch up with the dead.
It's also the most common day for many who got cremated to have their ashes spread around. Some even let the ashes get blessed by a priest so that the ashes might help further ward off evil for the next year.
Day 5: Bonding Fire
For me, this week isn't really about the countless sugary goodness family brings to the table...It's just being able to be together. To tell tales, to hear what they experienced while I was out there. It's one of the few times in the year I can feel happy around others.
On the fifth day, family members come together from across the land, celebrating the week with a big family diner. It's a tradition to bring one's own meals to the table alongside gifts. One common thing is apple bread pudding, which became the holiday treat of the Week of Warmth.
Day 6: Fasma's Feast
On the sixth day, what becomes a celebration for family turns to community, as people come together to celebrate the day with everyone. Like with yesterday, people bring meals to one big banquet, offering everything from bread to entire oxes.
A big focus is on those that could not celebrate Bonding Fire due to certain circumstances, whether it be a lack of family or homelessness. As such, many shelters open up for the holidays, providing a bed and clothes for those in need.
Alongside that, entertainment is also common, whether it be street performances or carnival games for anyone to enjoy. A common tradition is to have people tell stories from the past year, and find out whether they were true or not.
Day 7: Bonfire Night
On the last day, the good deeds are evaluated by the priests, with each one fulfilled having the paper burned in the holy flame. Those that aren't completed by the end of the day are kept as promises for the next year, getting burned during the following Week of Warmth.
Deeds are collected and burned until the end of the day, where at midnight the bonfire lit on the first day gets put out. Afterwards, people light up their own candles, basking their homes and cities in a warm light, calling in the new year.
Celebration outside the church's beliefs
Although the holiday is rooted in the beliefs of the Church of the Wandering Flame, outsiders participate as well. Many non-believers join into the celebration, welcomed by believers regardless of their own ideals.
As such, many of the traditions of the Week of Warmth have leaked into other cultures across the world. Reoccuring themes of candles, lights and fire in other new years holidays might have their roots in this one. Some believe it's the opposite, as the Week of Warmth got inspired by other cultures instead.
Aw this sounds so lovely and warming. <3 I love the different traditions for the different days. I think the lantern walk is my favourite. <3