The River of Souls

Once a year, on the night of the first full moons, the villagers gather on the banks of the mighty river, their hearts filled with reverence and awe. The river, a ribbon of silver winding through the darkness under the starry sky, is said to carry the souls of those that left since the last year to the great beyond.
The air is thick with the scent of roasting meats and sweet pastries, as the villagers gather around a crackling bonfire. They feast and laugh, sharing stories of their loved ones who have passed on. Storytellers regale them with tales of the ancestors' bravery, wisdom, and compassion, their voices carrying out into the silent night.
After the feast, the villagers come together on the riverbanks and begin to build their ships. The ships are small and delicate, woven from reeds and wildflowers, and adorned with ribbons of brightly colored fabric. Each ship is carefully prepared with offerings of food and drink, lovingly selected to nourish and please the ancestors on their journey. When the ships are ready, the villagers light them on fire and send them floating down the river. The ships bob and sway on the gentle current, their fiery glow casting a warm light over the water. The villagers watch as the ships disappear into the darkness, their hearts filled with hope and longing.
They believe that the ghosts of their ancestors will guide their offering into the afterlife. The food and drink that the ships carry will nourish the ancestors in the great beyond, and the light of the fires will guide their souls on their journey, wherever they may be.
This night, the river is a sacred place, a bridge between the world of the living and the world of the dead. The barriers between the two worlds thin, and one can feel the spirits of those who have passed on just behind the veil, like fleeting whispers on the wind.