The Festival of Lights

The Festival of lights is celebrated during the month of Alea to celebrate the end of the summer months and to welcome in the darker nights. It is also a time to praise and give offerings to the goddess, Qimos to thank her for a bountiful harvest and to request a good harvest the following year.

How is it celebrated?

Festivities differ from region to region but they will typically include a light show of some form. This may be fireworks, lighting of candles or oil lamps and even releasing sky lanterns. Lights are used to symbolise the passing of the lighter nights and welcome in the darker nights.
Feasts are also a big part of this festival. It is customary to have a large meal with friends and family. Larger settlements may choose to host feasts in the street where each household brings at least one dish. It is a great time for people to socialise and reunite with loved ones. A lot of places also invite the local homeless to dine with them.
Public dances are also held during this time, normally held at important locations in the settlement from town halls to theatres to dance halls. These are a great place for people to hang out and socialise. Incidentally, this seems in the most part to be a time where many new romantic relationships are formed. It is widely believed that a new romantic partner found at one of these dances will last longer than any other time of year due to Qimos being the goddess of fertility and marriage too, the validity of this theory is currently up for debate.