Festival of Diinöl

Dad says we can't have any crab until the dragon is back. Maybe if we go make enough noise on the beach, she'll get here faster!

— Varrazaxadhayo boy

The Festival of Diinöl is a roughly two week long festival held in Central Thurásin, in honour of the major dragon, the Diinöl Zdächörri. It is held once every decade, to coincide with her surfacing in Lake Strelish.

Execution

Diinöl Zdächörri spends most of her time slumbering beneath the lake, surfacing every ten years. In the week leading up to her arrival, bubbles appear in the center of the lake. When these appear, proceedings begin. Alerts are sounded throughout all the countries by the lakeside, often through the use of church bells and magic light shows.
Once informed, families are expected to begin fasting as soon as feasible. For most, this means beginning the next morning. All the best food in the house will be saved, and the small morning and evening meals will be very basic. To pass the time and keep distracted, children will spend the hungry days doing basic crafts, such as taking long pieces of grass and weaving them into dolls.
This fasting continues until Diinöl Zdächörri rises above the lake. This coincides with a small flood, which all lakeside countries are well prepared for. Once the waters subside, people gather most of their best food, their crafts, and other assorted offerings, and make their way to the shore. Decorated boats will take families out into the lake towards the dragon, and once near all offerings will be ceremonially thrown into the water.
When the boats return to shore, large celebrations commence, with communities breaking their fasts with the remaining portions of the things that they had offered. This will continue for many days, until people get bored, or until Diinöl Zdächörri returns to the bottom of the lake, whichever comes first.

Primary Related Location

Lake Strelish

Related Ethnicities

• Na-ochayo
• Raiser
• Tsädhayo

Offerings

The Diinöl Zdächörri is not particularly picky about food, though she does have a great preference for meat. In the lead up to her arrival, families will save as much meat as they can afford, in order to ensure they can give her the best. Other common foods given to her include baked goods like pies, simpler foods such as sandwiches, and salads.
The reason for offering all these food and goods to her is to keep her happy. The happier Diinöl Zdächörri is, the less likely she is, in the eyes of the people, to wreak vengeance upon the lakeside. Similarly, if she likes your offering, she grants you her blessing, protecting you for the next decade.

Delicious Pie by blogmood__