Iruno Eksanîs

Harvest Feast

Overview

The harvest feast festival, known natively as the "Iruno Eksanîs Mesuri" is a common tradition throughout much of the Niranni continent that was spread during the imperial period. It is natively an Ischurri festival that was adopted from an older Soranni one native to the lake region.

Festival Period

Preparation

The festival begins immediately following the completed harvest, in which people travel home to meet with their families and take count of the guests that will be there. The clan patriarchs then assign people to begin preparation for the feast, which includes: preparation of the food, preparation of lanterns and offerings to spirits, weaving of clothing gifts, hunting of fresh game or fish, creation of toys for the children, et cetera.

Festival

First Day

During the Festival, it begins in the morning where everyone has tea together and gifts are exchanged by everyone. All of the kids are given the toys made for them. Everyone rest throughout the day, playing games such as dice, flying kites, making paper crafts, etc. Once nightfall comes, the villages gather together to dance around a bonfire to celebrate the year's harvest.

Second Day

The following morning, tea is shared again until midday where the feast itself begins. The family makes sure to save some of every dish cooked, which is put out at the bonfire site for the spirits prior to the feast beginning. The whole family eats together and everyone thanks each other for their help with the festival. It is during this time, that those in need gather around the bonfire to pray, and are permitted to eat the offering food after the spirits have been offered it. That night, people dance once more.

Third Day

On the third day, people rest and sleep for much of the day. At the very end, the bonfire is lit once more, with the dancing surrounding it being slow movements by masked individuals.

Legacy

This festival is a time in which people associate with comfort and joy due to the meeting of family, creation of toys for the children, and eating good food.