High Summer

Ever since the beginning of the world, the sun has been a symbol of life, creativity, and optimism, so what better time than the summer solstice to celebrate? High Summer is one of the four seasonal High Holidays, a tradition that's based in Z'hrat's formerly agrarian society. Like all the other High Holidays, nearly everyone is given that day, and the six days before it, off of work or school.
Of all of the High Holidays, High Summer is the one with the least amount of tradition and structure involved. Many people devote their time off to visiting family, spending time in the parks, or working on whatever creative pursuit that might normally be put on the back burner. Traveling to the seaside or the containment lakes for swimming and cookouts is fairly common.

History

Many of the holidays are associated with the Celebrant of Fortune, the fey goddess of luck, love, and life's milestones. According to tradition and gossip magazines, she spent lots of time associating with the farmers and the Verdant Mother, and grew to appreciate the celestial milestones during the passing of the year. Because of this, yellow, the sun, and bumblebees are symbols commonly used for different occasions. In the early days, High Summer was mostly just a way to get children out of school to help with summer farming, and most of the celebrations would occur after dusk, when it was too dark to work. Ever since the passing of the Treaty, even "essential workers" get some time off to enjoy the weather.
Nowadays, it's been far more commercialized, as travel agencies, along with hobby, outdoors, home decor, and clothing retailers, and novelty stores like the Z'hratian equivalent of Hallmark, have gotten on the bandwagon and started offering discounts on things you might "need" in order to celebrate.

Components and tools

• The holiday is usually symbolized with the colors yellow and blue, the sun, wheat fields, clouds, birds, and bumblebees. Most of these are symbols of the Celebrant or a a fantastical representation of what ancient First District's summer looked like.
• Many Z'hratians flock to hobby supply stores before the holiday to pick up a new project to work on if they don't have one already.
• The foods associated with High Summer are things that are either eaten cold or can be cooked outdoors: grilled stuff, cured meats, fruits and vegetables and bread.

Observance

It corresponds with the summer solstice, just as the other High Holidays also line up with the solstice/equinox. This sandwiches it between Celebrant's Day (May 31) and St. Brimstone's Day (July 21).