Festival of the Blood Moon

"The Festival of the Blood Moon is the one night a year when a person can dress up like a total slut and no one can say anything about it."

History

Began amidst The Age of Anxiety's incredible instability, the Festival of the Blood Moon was originated by a cult who followed two gods that they believe went hand in hand: Eros, Uthilithian conception of erotic love, and Notus, the primordial spirit of the summer season. In an attempt to escape this oppressive atmosphere circa CY 420, the Order of Passion declared the summer solstice to be a day of sweltering hedonism. Siduri Caligulae - the foremost leader of this Order - sacrificed herself in a ritualistic frenzy after consuming a psychedelic mushroom that showed her the forms of ancient spirits similarly partaking in this eve of lust. Eros took note of this extraordinary form of devotion, enchanting the moon to become red on Garland Moon 18 from every year thereon, immortalizing her love for pleasure.

Observance

The rites are observed yearly on the summer solstice, as Verna hands the reins of seasonhood to her brother Notus. This date is Garland Moon 18, and it's frequently known to cause minor accidents throughout the whole of Uthilith. Children are typically prevented from going into the streets, lest they scar themselves.