Thranish Holidays

Thrane’s holidays are some of its most striking differences from the rest of Khorvaire. While the holidays in the Church of the Silver Flame are celebrated wherever there are communities of the faithful, only in Thrane are they recognized by the state. In turn, the Thranish theocracy does not officially recognize Sovereign Host holidays. While ordinary services rarely refer to holy texts, holiday services are the exceptions, turning to the stories of Tira and many other saints who have wielded the holy power of the Silver Flame.
The first holiday of the year is Bright Soul’s Day, which takes place in the middle of Olarune (February). It celebrates the end of winter with a commemoration of all those who have given their lives in defense against darkness. Because the church prefers to cremate rather than bury bodies, the faithful do not have graves to furnish; instead, churches keep records of those who have joined the Flame on stone tablets, which are washed with holy water on this holiday.
Tirasday, the 5th of Therendor (March), celebrates the birth of Tira Miron. Given its proximity to the beginning of spring, the holiday has taken on attributes of a sowing festival, a time to work rather than relax. After dusk sets, gifts are exchanged, and the celebration begins.
First Dawn, celebrated on the 21st of Nymm (June), celebrates over 80 years of theocratic rule. The Thranish government has used it to replace Aureon’s Crown, a Host holiday marking transfers of authority as well as conclusions of academic years.
Silvertide, celebrated on the 14th of Lharvion (July), honors the couatl who make up the Silver Flame. This midsummer holiday is a joyous celebration of a world that was unshackled from demonic rule aeons ago. The advent of affordable paint in the eighth century introduced a new element to the holiday—rainbow paint fights. Throughout the day, communities are splattered with a special paint manufactured in Athandra. At dusk, however, the local priest transmutes the paint into silvery dust, symbolizing the valor of the couatl and the significance of their sacrifice to kindle the Flame.
The Ascension, on the 1st of Sypheros (October), commemorates Tira’s sacrifice. This harvest time holiday emphasizes community service. Dusk services typically feature dramatic re-enactments of the defeat of Bel Shalor—the assassination of Samyr Kes by servants of the Shadow in the Flame, the defeat of Durastoran the Wyrmbreaker, and finally Tira’s plunge into the fiery abyss, Kloijner hilt-deep in Bel Shalor.
Rampartide, celebrated on the 24th of Aryth (November), marks the transition from fall to winter and calls for the faithful to fortify against the winter ahead. The holiday is celebrated through fasting and atonement; neighbors are expected to resolve quarrels, debts are settled, and family feuds concluded.
Khybersef, which begins on the 21st of Vult (December), marks a week of taking precautions against Long Shadows. The end of the year is a dangerous time in Eberron, as the border between the Material Plane and Mabar grows thin during Long Shadows. While Vassals choose to keep the darkness away through parties and celebrations, Flamists take a more serious tone, returning to the teachings of the church’s many celebrated templar-saints and preparing for conflict with the forces of evil.