Fall Festival
From FiranMUX
Fall Festival
The second of Firankind's two yearly Festivals, the Fall Festival, is held in November on the traditional grounds on the shores of Sarkaran and is attended by people from all clans, near and far. Farmers bring the finest samples of their harvest to offer to the Gods in thanks for the year's bounty, no matter how sparse it may be, and the people of the Republic eagerly embrace one last chance at merrymaking before the cold of winter drives them indoors. The Fall Festival, in contrast to the Spring Festival which pays special respect to Eesha for it's length, has a single day dedicated to each of the Gods. It is also popular as a time of gorging. The snow will create shortages in grains and produce, which will in turn make livestock thin and more valuable for producing dairy than consumption. The result is a spartan winter diet for even the wealthiest families and so Firans take the Fall Festival as a final opportunity to glut themselves, eating and drinking beyond their normal means so as to leave as little for spoiling as possible. That impending winter certainly adds a degree of urgency to the Fall Festival as people try and get in their last celebration for months, which leads to a bigger inclination toward drunkenness and conflict during the Fall Festival (of which there is no more infamous example than the broken Festival Peace of 24 A.U.).
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Fall Festival Attire
Clothes and Flowers
With the winter cold quickly encroaching, and without the novelty of Spring, attire for the Fall Festival tends to be not quite as jubilant. Finery is wisely coordinated to combine festivity and warmth. Noblemen and women may combine silk tunics and stolas with wool togas and pallas or enjoy their final days in their full-silk wardrobes wrapped in warm fur cloaks. Middle Class citizens, without the option to wear silks, will instead wear their finest wool or cotton garments and cloaks while most other Commoners will simply rough it out in their only article of clothes (usually linen), depending on spirits to warm them. Fall flower garlands are also a staple during this time and can be seen in and out of the festival, reminding everyone of the time of year and Festival Peace, while young women always carry bouquets of whatever they can afford. Those who are able also indulge in perfumes of earthier, Fall scents.
Masquerades
Masquerades (or Masked Balls) are popular events during festival time. During such events, upper-middle class Firans can push social limits and indulge in wearing any silks or platinum they might be able to afford without any social backlash. In fact, most social boundaries are thrown to the wind and members of Firan society mingle in anonymity so long as masks are worn, which makes these events particular favorites. Masks are usually provided for those who can not afford their own. Generally, masked balls are held in the spring -- but people always enjoy a good party.
Fall Pentathalon
The Fall Pentathlon still features the original million stenis prize and plot of Republic land, but the third price has changed over time. Traditionally, Ranivor Elianos granted winners a third option of a nobility title, having proven the strength of their blood in contest. Full blooded nobles eventually became annoyed with so many commoners joining their ranks and managed to have the prize limited to a single Pentathlon winner per year, who was chosen by drawing straws. The nobility award has long since been entirely eliminated and replaced by a second marriage prize, which a winner could use to marry into an existing noble families if he or she so chooses.
Festival Peace
Because of the intensely spiritual nature of the festivals, they are a time held sacred by bothe the divine and the mortal. In the interest of maximizing and celebration honoring the gods, there has been an unwritten law of peace during festival time.
To call festival peace a 'law', however, is a misnomer. It is a divine commandment so ingrained into the culture of the clans that it would be inconceivable even to write it down. Men who attempt to slaughter each other on the battlefield drop their weapons and drink side by side the wine from the festival tables. Firans of different clans are expected to throw aside their differences and consider each other brothers and sisters under the gods. Executions are stayed, and those arrested are spared physical punishment until the festival's end. When peace is broken, disaster strikes and the gods themselves take notice.
During the Fall Festival of 24 A.U., Lord Philander was executed by Lady Proxy Junia of the Bear Clan. The Firan people rioted in outrage and Junia was forced to surrender her proxyship. The gods withdrew their favor from the Firans; chickens refused to lay, women could not conceive, alcohol grew potent to the point of poisonous, the sun refused to shine and the eternal light in Eesha's temple went out. It took the Firans much hard work and prayer to earn the favor back. A repeat would be catastrophic.
(OOC Note: Breaches of festival peace should be reported to staff via @request. Please provide a log as well.)
