The Jeweled Festivities

The Kingdom of Merjoux has a celebration once a month, each one different from the rest. They are paid for and put on by the nobility of Merjoux for the benefit of the commoners. While this is an obvious plot to keep the masses entertained so they don’t revolt and many commoners know this, the fact remains that the celebrations are a source of free food, clothing, money as well as ways for the commoners to improve their lives in the short term. As such the celebrations are events that the majority of the populace look forward to.
The Garnet Carnival – The last of the winter celebrations, The Garnet Carnival is an indoor and outdoor experience with traditional winter activities food and drink, but also dozens of indoor performers, song and dance. It is a celebration of the ending of winter and the beginning of spring. Bards often come to perform during this celebration.
The Amethyst Festival – The first of the spring celebrations, The Amethyst Festival is a celebration where love is often proclaimed. It lasts three days and many commoners are encouraged by their friends to not only speak their heart to their beloved but also to get married. The Clerics of L’iaris are at their busiest during this festival. It is not only a celebration of love but the nobility in charge also pay for any wedding that happens.
The Bloodstone Gala – The second of the spring celebrations, The Bloodstone Gala is a celebration of the hardiness of the commoner. It is a week-long festival where commoners are invited to compete in a fighting tournament to see who is the strongest among them. It all culminates in the champions from each region fighting into a tournament in the capital.
The Diamond Jubilee – The last of the spring celebrations, The Diamond Jubilee is a celebration of the ending of spring and the beginning of summer. It is mainly an outdoor experience with tradition spring activities, food and drink along with song and dance. Illusionists often come to perform during this celebration.
The Emerald Feast – The first of the summer celebrations, The Emerald Feast is a celebration of all the culinary delights that Merjoux has to offer. A massive feast is put on for the commoners all day long with so much food and wine, as much as they can eat and drink. No expense is spared.
The Moonstone Fair – The second of the summer celebrations, the Moonstone Fair is a celebration of the fey. According to old stories the nobility of Merjoux can trace their roots back to the Seelie fey and the commoners can trace their roots back to the Unseelie fey. The Fair is five day celebration of the otherworldly creature with fine food and drink and a great many plays and stories being told of the fey.
The Ruby Pageant – The last of the summer celebrations, The Ruby Pageant is a celebration of beauty. Much like the Bloodstone Gala a contest is held all over Merjoux, but instead of fighting, it is a grand Pageant to find the most beautiful man and woman among the commoners. They will be crowned the Ruby King and Queen until the next year.
The Peridot Exhibition – The first of the autumn celebrations, The Peridot Exhibition is a celebration of commoner ingenuity and cleverness. Architects and engineers and tinkers come from all over the world to display their ideas and inventions and showcase them to the delight of all. Commoners from Merjoux have only to present their own creations to secure a spot within the Exhibition and many a commoner has improved his life by being discovered there.
The Sapphire Market – The second of the autumn celebrations, The Sapphire Market is a celebration of the efforts of hard work. It is a two day celebration where on the first day there is plenty of food and drink and games of chance where the commoners can win tokens. On the second day those tokens can be brought into any merchant and used to receive a random discount from their purchase.
The Opal Parade – The last of the autumn celebrations, The Opal Parade is a celebration of the ending of autumn and the beginning of winter. It is an indoor and outdoor celebration consisting of a parade throughout the town or city before adjourning to an outdoor pavilion of food and drink and a number of indoor entertainments.
The Topaz Revue – The first of the winter celebrations, The Topaz Revue is a celebration of sex that takes place over three nights of debauchery. Food, wine and both men and women, are provided at special houses prepared for the event. Interesting enough though there are a lot of commoners who volunteer to “assist with the Revue” as they are well paid for their services, there are also a number of nobility who also do so, in disguise of course.
The Turquoise Cabaret – The second of the winter celebrations, The Turquoise Cabaret is a celebration of song and poetry. Several Inns are rented out so that commoners may go and listen to music and poetry composed and performed by some of the best artists in Merjoux and beyond. It is a four day celebration and on the third day any commoner who wishes to perform has only to step up and ask and they will be allowed.