Holidays

~The Brightening of the Festival~
"There had been a low buzz of excitement in both high and low households for three cycles, as everyone enthusiastically prepared for the holiday. The festivities began before the suns had fully risen above the mountains. Everywhere there were celebrations, feasts, and colorful banners flying. There were grand parades through the city streets in the afternoon; that evening, we held a grand masquerade ball in the Castle, and feasted until the suns rose again." -Lady Elanara Al'lende, "Thane Observations at the Shari'lea"

Within Aelyria, rich traditions of culture and heritage pervade everyday life. The Holidays mostly originate from the Age of Empress Michelle the Great, whose reign typified such an evolution in culture and individual expression that worship of life and society became commonplace.

Aelyrian Holidays

Reginaliar (Ponutis 31): A festival in commemoration of the sovereign monarch of the Aelyrian Empire; parades and picnics are typical of this public, festive holiday.

Corinalia (Melora 14): A festival celebrating Candace, the Enchantress of Love, who now reigns and lives in Aetheria; typified by balls and religious observances.

Creana Festival (Optia 16): This holiday has become quite popular among the higher classes within the land of Aelyria. Finding its roots within the cultures of Aelyria, which were organized as matriarchal societies, it has now become an excuse to hold another festival or ball. It is celebrated by women actively seeking the hands men to accompany them to such events.

Kestrel Tourney (Ioannes 1): A traditional tournament in which warriors and knights of the realm battle in display of their might and magic and in honor of their houses and families.

Midsummer's Day (Imperos 1): The Rakrya calls a special plebiscite, "The Quaestorial Order", which may pass important legislation directly to the Crown.

Memorianam (Imperos 15): A nationwide brightening of honor and mourning fallen Aelyrian heroes and soldiers who have helped to defend the Empire and advance Aelyrianism; all offices and places of business are closed.

Selhaim (Junctior 31): The traditional festival honoring the dead and departed, in Aelyria it is celebrated by feasting in graveyards and cemeteries in honoring the new life to which the dead now belong in Aetheria.

Empress Michelle Day (Kalendryas 1): Honoring cultural advances of the year, the Imperium bestows a "Michelle Award" to the overall best fiefdom, best Imperial city, and best citizens in their chosen fields.

Royal Day (Kalendryas 9): The national holiday of the Aelyrian Empire, this marks this historic ascension of Diana into the heavens and the proclamation of a government. Military parades, fireworks displays, and nation-wide festivities mark this holiday.


Local Holidays

Silrosia:
Libertas Brightening (Imperos 10): A commemorative holiday honoring the liberation of Silrosia from the tyranny of rebels who had seized the peaceful Aelyrian city; typified with military marches, the holiday closes the nation's businesses.

Archadoon:
Archon’s Eve (Junctior 35): An annual holiday observed in Archadoon. This solemn occasion takes time to remember the razing of old Archadoon wherein one third of the populace perished. The citizens of Archadoon celebrate it by lighting candles and sending them out into the waters of Lake Archadoon.

Primus Gaudeo:
Doli's Brightening (Aperitus 1): The founder of our magnificent city, Duke Doli, was a known practical joker and wit. He declared this brightening to be a public holiday so that the populous could enjoy jokes, comedy, and entertainments of all sorts. The climax of the celebration is the crowning of the "Fools Emperor" a person selected from the peasantry to enjoy all the privileges and wealth of the nobility. Each citizen must obey his every whim and the brightening after the crowning the emperor he receives an amnesty for his behavior and goes back into obscurity.

Arconis:
Dies Ignis (Ioannes 30): This festival occurs on the traditional date of Arconis' destruction by fire and subsequent rebirth "from its own ashes". Thus it has come to symbolize renewal and growth, celebrating the city past, present, and future. All businesses are closed on this brightening. It is customary for all the citizens to gather together whatever flammable waste they have and to haul it outside the city, whereupon a great bonfire is built and there is much feasting and dancing. The fire burns from dawn way until midnight, whereupon it is allowed to die and with the upcoming dawn the festival is concluded with hymns in praise of the suns and the gods, particularly Carmelya.

Mystique:
Crystaltide "Welcoming of Winter" (Kalendryas 27): Crystaltide is held in Mystique's open fields by the citizens of Mystique and is overlooked by the resident Druids. It is a brightening when all of Mystique comes together and rejoices with open arms, welcoming winters snow and cold embrace. The people play winter games and contests throughout the brightening, like ice sculptures and snowball fights. When the festivities are over everyone comes together to eat a huge dinner and hand out gifts to those they love and hold next to their heart. It certainly does have a uniting effect on all the citizens.

Abestat:
Feast Of Cats (Melora 5): A brightening held in celebration of the extermination of the chesley that once infested Abestat. Wiped out by the feline population of the city, the Feast of Cats is a brightening when, traditionally, cats in Abestat are pampered and given treats to eat, and are held in high regard for the remainder of the brightening. Traditionally, Abestat’s children hold a great game of cat and mouse throughout the city. Dressed as cats and chesley, they chase each other in the Market Square until all the chesley have been 'caught'.

Candaceburg:
Pecunia (Aperitus 41): Providing a one-week economic rest, the Bank Brightening allows the economy to self-regulate herself after the usually high trading sessions in Candaceburg and Port Constantine during the month of Aperitus; all places of business are closed.

Port Constantine:
Pecunia (Aperitus 41): Providing a one-week economic rest, the Bank Brightening allows the economy to self-regulate herself after the usually high trading sessions in Candaceburg and Port Constantine during the month of Aperitus; all places of business are closed.


Seasonal Events

Prima Vera (First Brightening of Spring during each Era): The first annual phase where the two of the three suns of Aelyria shift to provide equal warmth, this holiday is characterized by religious rites honoring Carmelya the deity of growth and fertility. This event marks the first brightening of the official planting season. It is highly celebrated in most farming communities by having a high ranking official or elder plant the first seed in the fields.

Priaestas (First Brightening of Summer during each Era): The second annual phase of the twin suns of Aelyria shifting to provide an excessive warmth on the continent, with fire and ice on the outer rim isles, this holiday is characterized by good works.

Prautumnus (First Brightening of Autumn during each Era): The third annual phase of the twin suns of Aelyria shifting to provide equal warmth, this holiday is characterized by fasting and religious observances.

Primehiems (First Brightening of Winter during each Era): The fourth and final annual phase of the twin suns of Aelyria shifting to provide excessive cold and ice. This date marks the beginning of the harvest season when Carmelya returns to slumber to await the rebirth of spring. This holiday is characterized by feasting, questing, banquets, balls, and tournaments throughout the Empire.

It should also be noted that, like each of the seasonal changes, these events are of special significance to the druids in Aelyria. It is during these times in which many rituals and other rites are carried out throughout the Druidic Order.


Event Holidays

Springtide. This special event, occurring once a pattern, takes place during the time when the two suns of Telath are seen in the sky together. Marking the end of Spring in Era I and the beginning of Summer, this event usually corresponds closely to the seasonal festival known as Priaestas. Many races of Telath view this as a very important event and have developed many different ways to celebrate its occurrence. Springtide Festivals have gained great interest in recent patterns. Such festivals will normally include games, grand balls, and plenty of feasting.