The Frostfire Festival

Held in deepest mid-winter, and spanning the changing of one year to the next, the Frostfire Festival is one of the most widely celebrated traditions in Vallanna and beyond.
The festival is a weeklong celebration of family, friends and the power of the community to withstand the worst that nature can throw at them. Food and drink is shared between neighbours, and people come together to enjoy each other's company, exchanging gifts and tokens of affection. Work during the festival is kept at a minimum, so that all may spend time with their loved ones.
As part of the tradition, children must prove their bravery to Grandfather Winter, a spindly figure with a beard of icicles, breath as cold as the north wind, and skin the colour of a frozen pond. The part of Grandfather Winter is often taken on by an elder member of the community, and this 'bravery' can take many forms; from an admission of guilt for a transgression, to a vow to honour one's parents, to a promise to protect a younger sibling. As a reward, the children are given a gift from Grandfather Winter's Chest of Wonders - a bottomless chest filled with countless treasures, with a mind of its own (often simply a chest on wheels with a variety of sugary treats inside).

History

The origins of the festival have been lost to time, but it has existed in one form or another for as long as most histories record. Not traditionally tied to one deity or another, this has helped the festival to include communities of all types, and as such has ensured it's longevity throughout the centuries.

Observance

The Festival takes place over the course of seven days; the fourth of which is the final day of the year.