Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice is celebrated every year in City of Wintermuir. As it is celebrated in late December, the festival has assimilated itself with the Christmas festivities and become an inseparable part of Wintermuir's infamous street market held during the four weeks of Advent.  The Yule Market and the solstice celebration attract tourists from all over Great Britain to Wintermuir every year, though very few of the participants know that The Winter Solstice is actually celebrated in the honor of the rules of Winter Court.

History

Winter Solstice has been celebrated in Wintermuir since its founding in the 14th Century, though the original form of the celebration was probably very different from what it is today. The first Winter Solstice celebration was held to honor The Queen of the Loch after she lead the original Wintermuirians away from danger and promised them safety from fire and raiders.

Execution

Nowadays, the Winter Solstice is celebrated as a part of the month long Yule Market season and thus, many associate the festival with Christmas traditions. There are the Christmas lights everywhere, jolly music plays and the smell of delicious food tempts the passerby. And of course mulled wine and gingerbread can be bought from colorful little stalls that have been established on the town square near the harbor.

There are still, however, some traditions that have carried over from when Winter Solstice was celebrated separately from Christmas. On the day of Winter Solstice, the people of Wintermuir exchange small gifts between friends, lovers and family members. In the old days, it was a tradition to give a small eel totem to your loved ones as a good luck charm, but nowadays, other products decorated with eels, like socks, notebooks and even small paper eels, have become quite popular.

The Yule Market is open throughout the day, with treats and funny little market games, and if the weather is cold enough, even an ice skating ring. But the main event starts after the sun has set: the Coronation of the Winter Prince.

A Winter Prince is an individual who is ceremoniously crowned as the husband for the Queen of the Loch. First, they are dressed like a prince from a fairy tale, and then, paraded through the town square in a procession - and finally, the poor soul is cast in the icy cold waters of Loch Easgann - but there is no need to worry, because they are always fished up and nowadays the security measures are very good. After the coronation ceremony, people usually head home or to a restaurant to have a festive dinner with friends and family. (And the poor prince is served some nice, warm mulled wine. Sometimes they have incredible tales to tell from the Queen's Court, but of course, no-one believes them.)

Observance

The Winter Solstice takes place every year, as the name suggest, on the day of the solstice, usually December 21 or 22.

Primary Related Location

City of Wintermuir

Night Market

For those who are a bit more magically inclined, the Night Market is the place to be. It is a hidden market taking place during Winter Solstice, and if you know where to look for it, you can find the most incredible magical items, potions, curses and more!