Winterball

Winterball was an annual celebration of dancing and feasting at the beginning of winter. It was widespread across human cultures on Eiren.

History

Winterball initially started as a holiday celebrated by the Icenslavs in Gothai sometime after the formation of the Kingdom of Icen. The Ice King, Piotrev I, recognized the holiday and declared it sanctioned state-wide. The Ice King even participated in the formalities, taking his wife, Katalina, upon the ice rink in national celebration.
Sometime in the 3rd millennium, the tradition of the "Shaman of Winter" sprouted from the holiday's legend and formed into a regular part of the holiday. Contemporary bards, like Jethro of Lysandus, believe it was to include children into the adult celebration. Remarkably, adults still like the tradition themselves!
The tradition of Winterball spread to the Kells, who grew fond of the celebration. It would be celebrated in Obesfeld in 3200, and the tradition grew traction among humans wishing to spite their Hill Dwarf rulers who celebrated no winter holidays. It would eventually spread to Lisanrik, though lightly, as it was much warmer in climate down there. It remains ever popular in Lysandus and Gothai to this day.

Execution

Winterball has different tiers for celebration. For those not practiced with skating, the dancing and feasting can simply be done at a candle-lit home. This is how most peasant families celebrate it. As for middle-class or noble folk who can skate, usually they find a partner (often their spouse) to participate in skating across a sheet of ice very closely. The ice sheet is surrounded by candles. After a night of dancing, they come home in the warmth to feast.

Finconauts Christmas Calendar 2015 by Vablo

The Shaman of Winter as depicted in fiction, carrying his crook and riding a moose.

Occasionally, a man riding a caribou or moose will come to pose as "the Shaman of Winter" and bring sweets and/or gifts to families. There are occasions when this is a true Druid participating in the practice, but usually it is an elderly man sanctioned and dressed by the adults of towns to bring joy to their children.
The main point of the festival is to appreciate the dreary winter and find it an exciting time, not a terrifying and dark one. It proceeds to be a popular holiday in Lysandus and the Confederation of Gothai, though neither nation has sanctioned it state-wide. However, the Kingdom of Icen in Gothai makes it a national holiday, going as far as to celebrate it twice a year! From January 15th-18th, and again on December 24th-31st.

Components and tools

Winterball requires a large sheet of ice, like a frozen pond, in order for the skate-dancing to proceed. (Or, a local wizard who can manipulate water often can flood and freeze the center of a town square, as it does in Ebenwald.) For the feast, it is choice to go and hunt a hog or turkey due to size. Holiday drinks, like hot tea and warm milk are common, but nothing beats the egg nog often created for the festival!
As for the "Shaman of Winter", it is common to find an old man or woman and dress them in heavy layers of furs and coats. The moose or caribou is authentic in northern lands, like North Lysandus (Keller), Norden, Icen, and Danen. But in kingdoms like Goth and South Lysandus (Lisanrik) they will take a horse and attach false horns to it.

Participants

Usually, everyone is allowed to participate in the celebrations. In particular, the holiday has become very popular among teenagers who use it for romantic pursuits. Children enjoy it for the presents and sweets, and adults use it for relaxation as they know harsh winter would come. All are welcome!
As for particular people, it is well known that the Ice King/Queen of Icen regularly participates in the festival and have been for centuries. Queen Natalia II of Icen herself often starts the celebrations by a speech in their capitol, Fenebach, and cuts the ribbon to open the first ice rink.

Date

December 24th-31st

Celebrated In

Lysandus and the Confederation of Gothai

Snow Queen by Pierre Droal

It is not uncommon to see Queen Natalia of Icen participate in the Winter Ball herself.