Autumn's Farewell
Autumn's Farewell is a vibrant and symbolic festival that bids farewell to the season of harvest and welcomes the approaching times of scarcity. The festivities are centered around a crumbling tower and the surrounding town, as well as the hedge. Dried reeds and grains adorn the village, preparing for the cold winter ahead. The celebration includes music, humble feasting, and drinking, along with ritualistic dances to honor the changing season. The Autumn Court creates a display of lights and masks in the hedge, symbolizing the fear and uncertainty that comes with the season's transition.
Throughout the day, various games and events take place at the court's behest, adding to the sense of warding against the coming darkness. Fireplaces are lit with thick logs that will burn all night and day, serving as a ward against the approaching uncertainty. Families and groups come together, sharing stories of the year and resolving any lingering quarrels. They may write their grievances on papers and burn them in the fires, symbolically dismissing their conflicts and strengthening their bonds as a community.
During the festival, if the Autumn Court is in power, they proudly display their colors of red, orange, yellow, gray, and brown. Tables may feature old tomes and tales written by court members, open for sharing with the community. Others are also welcomed to contribute, fostering a sense of knowledge exchange and camaraderie. The festival's culmination involves a large gathering where stories, music, and knowledge are shared, fostering a sense of unity and understanding among the Freehold residents as they prepare for the approaching winter.
Execution
This festival is the last chance for the revelry of the season of harvest and the fear of the coming times of scarcity. The festivities take place around the crumbling tower and surrounding town, as well as the hedge. There is music, humble feasting, drinking as well as a series of ritualistic dances. The village is decorated in dried reeds and grains preparing for the cold of winter. Along with the careful celebration are games and events that will occur at the behest of the reigning court. In the hedge, the autumn court creates a display of lights covered in masks to pay homage to the fear and uncertainty of the change of the season. As the day progresses, the festivities grow with a feeling of the antics of warding. All fireplaces are lit with a thick log that will burn the whole night and day, warding against the coming of the dark uncertainty of the change. Families and groups will gather together, telling stories of the year and cast away any quarrels that have been left unaddressed. Some will write these onto papers, burning them over the fires, dismissing them and strengthening the bonds of community. The festival's end is marked by a large gathering where they will share stories, music and a subtle comradery from their travels and studies.
Should the Autumn court reign during the farewell to the season, they will fly their colours (Red, orange, yellow, gray, brown), and tables will often feature old tomes and tales written by members of the court that they are willing to share on a variety of topics. Other members of the community are welcomed to contribute, though all tomes are returned to Autumn's library at the end of the festivities.
Participants
Autumn's Farewell is a significant event in the Freehold's calendar, drawing attendees from both within the Freehold and neighboring cities. The festival's inclusive and communal nature encourages widespread participation, making it a joyous occasion for everyone involved.
All members of the Freehold are invited to attend Autumn's Farewell, including Changelings, humans, and other supernatural beings who call the Freehold home. It is a time for the entire community to come together and celebrate the bountiful harvest season, express gratitude for the past year's blessings, and bid farewell to the warm and vibrant days of autumn.
In addition to the residents of the Freehold, many visitors from nearby cities and settlements also make the journey to partake in the festivities. Word of the Freehold's elaborate and enchanting harvest festival has spread far and wide, attracting curious travelers, adventurers, and seekers of magical knowledge.
Observance
The day before the Winter Solstice
Primary Related Location
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