Ara'Avalia

Ara'Avalia The largest festival of the year in Aurumo, known as the "Week of Lights," and "Celebration of Knowledge over Ignorance." It is marked by a family setting up a Shrine outside their house, with six unlit lanterns to light the streets and shrines for others to see.
During this week libraries and places of knowledge like schools open their halls to the populace to explore and learn, instead of needing approval or a permit. Religious sites become places of lore and history, where the clergy tell stories and share discoveries with people across their local landscape.
The celebration is marked by 6 days of celebration, starting on Saysday and ending on Valsday.

History

The tradition follows the trajectory of Jayshra Maho'Doa's ascension into being a full fledged Champion of the Dusk Mage. Each day corresponds with a major moment in her life that led to her embracing her deity's teachings and leading the Elven Clans of Aurumo.

Execution

The celebration is marked by 6 days of celebration, starting on Saysday and ending on Valsday.
The last day, Valsday, is always Harvestus the 6th, which is Jayshra Maho'Doa's birthday.

Participants

The Avid Disciples of the Dusk Mage organize this celebration within their local communities. It is imperative they take an active role throughout the year so as to better see to the festivities.

Observance

Saysday: (Day of Self) People set up a Shrine outside their houses, with the Dusk Mage at the center, showing trinkets and notes related to their family's accomplishments. Marriages, births, graduations, occupations, and whatnot are all celebrated with a single lit lantern at the front.
Golsday: (Day of Friendship) Neighbors are to go to their friends or family's houses, where they can put an offering or trinket to show their connection to the family. Merchant partners will often leave a small amount of their wares (like brewers will leave a small jar of grains, or smiths with leave a trusted hammer at a friend's Shrine.) It is the duty of one of these friends to light the second lantern.
Lord's Day: (Day of Community) On this day it is expected for someone to find a person in the community in need of services or aid and to dedicate their time. Be it helping fix a house, or offering food, or even volunteering at a hospital or library, people are expected to seek out a way to give back to their community on this day. At dusk the third lantern is lit.
Feast Day: (Day of Knowledge) On this day libraries, academies, museums, and other institutions of knowledge open their doors to the populace for free. Acolytes and Academics are expected to help showcase or guide people through the various wonders of their studies. Often this is when academies will put on presentations, put on plays, and share with the community. This is often the most uproarious day. At dusk the Fourth Lantern is lit.
Arsday: (Day of Family) After all the festivities of the previous days, this day is when the family is expected to spend the most time with one another. Usually restaraunts are closed, and no work is expected to be done. Just family rituals shared by the blood members of a given family. In the older days this was considered the best day to be wed, but this has since fallen out of practice. At dusk, the fifth lantern is lit.
Valsday: (Day of Remembrance) On this day, the communities are to take down their Shrines but keep their lanterns lit. At dusk, the local Acolytes, led by the local Head Priest or Priestess then makes a path across town in the shape of the symbol of the Dusk Mage. As they pass by the houses, singing chants for a glorious new year in reverence to the Dusk Mage, families are to light the last of the six lanterns and take them as they follow the Head Priest(ess) in the march. The Head Priest/Priestess then leads them to the community's most sacred natural preserve (sometimes a bluff overlooking the town, sometimes a river that extends down the sea.) Here they are to send off their lanterns so that they either float down the river or are taken by the sky in a beautiful send off. This is often called The Spirit's Procession.

Primary Related Location

Verous

Related Ethnicities

• Aurumi