Notaly

In the Age of the Gods, Nota'ly (spoken and spelled with its old Elven full-stop) served as a day of interplanar merriment and joy. The legends scribe of ancient portals that would rift open where the "veils between worlds" grew thin, and creatures from across the heavens and hells could come and go as they pleased. Can you imagine? Either the gods were incredibly powerful magicians, or the scribes of the time were incredibly imaginative writers.

- Jayen Achra, "Holidays and Festivae in Moonlight"

History

Notaly (pron. noh-tah-lee), or "devil's ball", translated from its ancient Elven roots, is a tradition that stretches back to the Age of the Gods. (Specifically, its common name, 'All Hollow's Eve', is a reference to the old god Vatis Hollowheart, who was said to be fond of the holiday, as it served as a celebration of his people.) In older times, the holiday was a ghoulish holiday for the world's Infernal-blooded, where devilish creatures and their ilk could free themselves from their interplanar prisons and traverse "between the veils" (referencing the magical 'veils' alleged to be disguising our world from other worlds parallel to it), into the world of the mortal coil.
Some legends refer to it as a time of family and reunion, as the thinning of the veils allow access to loved ones that may have departed and give families and old friends a chance to be reunited for one night of merriment and memories.
Today, as the Age of the Gods faded from memory and practice, so too did the stories of interplanar demonfolk who lay in wait for their chance to escape or spectral spirits returning from beyond the grave. However, though the origins are lost to all but the most thorough of loremasters, historians, and theologians, many of the themes and reasons behind the celebration continue to its modern incarnations.

Execution

The first night of Notaly (also commonly known as the 'devil's ball' or 'All Hollow's Eve') is marked by an all-night celebration. Across Tsukiyo, all of the races find their own ways of marking the night, but they share the general themes of merriment, excitement, and good times. Dances and music are commonplace, as are grand feasts (and the opening of liquor collections everywhere). Tsukiyo City's Magician District goes all-out, holding free shows and demonstrations out on the streets for everyone to enjoy; many local vendors take advantage of the crowds, setting up food stands and shop stalls amidst the magical chaos.
The day after (also commonly known as 'Veilna', or 'the day of veils') is meant for families. In metropolitan areas like Tsukiyo City and the Fae Gardens, shops are closed to encourage people to spend time together with loved ones instead of being out shopping. Religious observers will attend a special mass held by their local religious leaders. It isn't unusual for those who bury their dead to visit graves, leaving decorations, food, and bright, colorful flowers. (In the ancient times, it was believed that the bright colors of the flowers and delicious smells of freshly-baked bread would help guide loved ones across the veils.)

Components and tools

Traditionally, those attending a Notaly night celebration do so in costume. What kind of costumes tend to shift with the fashion of the times. Before Vampires were welcome into mixed society, they frequently used the holiday as an excuse to sneak into other races' celebrations, using elaborate costuming and face-paint to hide their Vampiric features. Between the 1600s and 1800s, masquerade balls were the must-have for the financially and politically elite (and still are in old Vampire circles). Lycan festivals favor fierce costumes mimicking monsters, dragons, and other creatures that strike fear into weak hearts. Shadows, more observant of the holiday's spiritual importance, paint their faces with filigree skull designs. Tsukiyo City's magicians will bust out their most extravagant performance wear as they vie for attention among the crowded streets. The younger generation in Tsukiyo City has recently taken to pop cultural costuming, wearing outfits inspired by (or even directly costuming as) characters from their favorite movies and television shows.

Observance

Notaly occurs between the 30th of Exani to the 1st of Urani, between moon-sets. The night of Exani 30 is dedicated to the celebratory parts of the festival: this is where the parades, dances, street fairs, and other fun group activities occur. The day of Urani 1 is more reflective, a day meant to be spent with family, remembering loved ones who are no longer with us and honoring their memories.