The Final Shine
As the heat of the Swelterfall seasson begins to creep across The Nine Hands, the citizens prepare to say good bye to the full face of the great moon Sarus. As the sun sets on the last night of this full phase, the people gather together and throw a grand party that lasts through the night. When the sun begins to rise there is a silent moment, an errie silence in which the entire realm seems to to take part, as citizens bid goodbye to that full shining face of Sarus.
Sarus is the biggest of the three moons of Elarvis. It also has the longest phases, taking a full year to move through all of them. For over a week Sarus will be in its full phase, marking not only the beginning of a new season but also marks around the halfway point of a full year. Though there are two other moons that orbit Elarvis, it is no seceret that Sarus is the most loved. It is the only moon that stays in perfect time with the rotation of the planet, always having the same phases that fall on the same time every year. It is even used as a calendar by some who prefer to read the stars and sky over written dates. Smaller festitives begin on the first night of Sarus' full phase. Smaller town and villages will hold local feasts that include everyone in that town or village. Big cities will decorate their streets and buildings with the burnt orange color that Sarus boasts, streamers and banners, and many other kinds of decorations to bring people into the celebration mindset.
Sarus is the biggest of the three moons of Elarvis. It also has the longest phases, taking a full year to move through all of them. For over a week Sarus will be in its full phase, marking not only the beginning of a new season but also marks around the halfway point of a full year. Though there are two other moons that orbit Elarvis, it is no seceret that Sarus is the most loved. It is the only moon that stays in perfect time with the rotation of the planet, always having the same phases that fall on the same time every year. It is even used as a calendar by some who prefer to read the stars and sky over written dates. Smaller festitives begin on the first night of Sarus' full phase. Smaller town and villages will hold local feasts that include everyone in that town or village. Big cities will decorate their streets and buildings with the burnt orange color that Sarus boasts, streamers and banners, and many other kinds of decorations to bring people into the celebration mindset.
History
The Final Shine has been known as it's current name for almost three thousand years, however it has always been celebrated in one way or another since the beginning of life within the Cosmic Domain.
Prior to the grand festival that it has grown into over the last few thousand years, it was a much more local and small celebration that was held in various homes and hovels.
As the years went on and more connections were made between the citizens of The Nine Hands, more and more people came together in order to celebrate the sending off of the full face of Sarus.
Execution
From the 9th of Phosensis, there are small feasts and parties throughout the realm. There is no real structure to these festivities, as it is meant for everyone to simply welcome the Swelterfall season as they prepare for the main event on the 17th.
On this last night, after the supper feast, citizens gather in the centers of their towns, villages, cities, and hovels. Though most will attempt to make the trip to their regions captiol: the city Mosstide of the Tide region, Embershade of the Shade, Everreach of the Reach, and the largest - the 'capitol' of the whole realm Cosmicrest of the Rest region.
Large bonfires are lit in these centers, dancers and performers gather to put on a plays that decpit various stories and legends of the Astral Deities. As the night wears on the celebration persists. When the hour comes that the sun starts to rise the High Counselors come together to project their voices throughout the entire realm. They speak to all of its citizens about how the last handful of months brought new growth and life to the realm, and how the coming months will give them their harvest and, with the eventual cold and dark of the Overdark season, their toughest trials.
As the light of the sun Krio begins to stretch across the realm, the High Counselors call for a moment of silence. This silence is meant to respect the light and tides that Sarus brought with it, to give thanks to its presence. It is the final goodbye to Sarus as a whole.
Participants
Being a celebration that revolves around one of the three moons of Elarvis, everyone in the realm takes part in the festitivites. Even those who are not associated with the Astredorne Empire take part in the feasts, dances, and bonfires.
Given the month in which the celebration takes place, the frilled gecko of the Goddess Phoses; of sex and fertility, is heavily depicted throughout the celebrations. Streamers are adorned with drawings of lizards, small fried lizards on sticks is a favorite of the street snacks during the parties, and there are many more carnal parties that take place behind closed doors.
Observance
The 17th of Phosensis, a week or so after the beginning of the Swelterfall season, is when the most grand festitivies take place. It is the final night that Sarus will be in its full phase.
Although the main festival is on the night of the 17th, smaller festivities take place as soon as Sarus comes into its full phase, Phosensis 9th, which also marks the beginning of the Swelterfall season.
Throughout those nine days the festivities ramp up, growing in scale and excitement with every day that passes. Until finally on the 17th, when the most grand of the celebrations happen across the realm, lasting until sunrise on the 18th.
