The Turn of the Equinox or Fleur's Day
"I know something that you don't!" Diana snuck up behind Vittoria at the ribbon stall on the bustling street. The dark-haired girl jumped, placing her hand to her heart. Immediately, she began to swat her best friend with the handful of ribbons she had previously been perusing - much to the stall owner's chagrin.
"What in the nine hells is wrong with you?! My heart nearly leapt out my throat!" She hissed whilst Diana cackled unashamedly. Suppressing a snort, the red-head wiped her teary eyes.
"I wish you could have seen your face, it was brilliant." Diana mimicked the surprised look with exaggeration, but Vittoria only rolled her eyes in response.
"Go soak your head. I'm busy," she turned back to the ribbon stall and attempted to continue matching colors and quell the embarrassed flush in her fair cheeks.
"Right, sure, I'll get right on that..." Diana drawled sarcastically, "I guess you don't want to hear this juicy bit of gossip then...!" She taunted in a sing-song voice, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet with her hands behind her back - the picture of innocence. Vittoria lifted her chin haughtily, pretending she did not hear the other girl over the hubbub of the holiday spring market. The streets churned with patrons searching for the perfect gifts and the most exquisite accessories.
Like a fox in a hen house, Diana grinned from ear to ear. "I may - or may not - have seen a certain Paolo de Fonte at the florist's downtown purchasing a very expensive and colorful bouquet for the celebration tomorrow..."
"You what--?" Vittoria blurted, losing her aloof facade and whirling to look at the other girl.
Diana shrugged unknowingly, "Who knows, maybe it was someone else that looked like Paolo?"
"You cruel girl. Don't play games with me like that! You know how I feel about him..." she trailed off a bit bashfully, looking back down at the ribbons in her hands.
"Vittoria..." Diana sighed, tenderly and reassuringly taking her friend by the hands, "you know 'Signor de Fonte'" - she said his name with mock pompousness - "only has eyes for you. He has courted no other for months!"
"Do you..." the dark-haired maiden lowered her voice, a thought dawning on her as her lips parted and her chest swelled with anticipation. She whispered to her companion, "Do you think he'll propose?" The moment Diana nodded, the two girls squealed in excitement and began to hop up and down, embracing each other and giggling hopelessly.
The elderly stall keeper sighed in exasperation and shook his head and adjusted his spectacles, choosing to serve other customers instead.
● ● ●
The autumnal and vernal equinoxes have always been a cause for celebration in the nation of Florestal. Inherently a decadent people, Florestinians celebrate many holidays throughout the year but few are as looked forward to or prepared for as Fleur's Day. Named after the nation itself, Fleur's Day is a misleading term. The holiday is a series of days and is celebrated twice a year in spring and fall. Commonly, Florestinians celebrate weeks beforehand, but there are three days that officially constitute Fleur's Day and for those few days the nation halts for the festivities. During this time, the people of Florestal either wash away the sorrows of winter or celebrate the harvest as they prepare for the cold months ahead. Feasting, dancing, and all kinds of merrymaking take place in every home and street of Florestal.
The first of Fleur's Day is often for setting up bonfires, cheese and wine tents, ribbon poles, and etcetera. Homes, shop fronts, bridges, street lamps, and more are all decorated with beautiful flowers, colored paper, ribbons, and wreathes. Stalls line the streets as vendors bring out their best wares. Children make flower crowns and men and women prepare their best clothes and courting gifts for the next day. A market in Florestal is never better than during the time of Fleur's Day.
The second day of Fleur's Day, the day of the equinox itself, is specifically for celebrating and gift giving. Small treasures such as jewelry, bouquets, or even a handwritten sonnet are the most common gifts between lovers. Other gifts are exchanged between family members or spouses like sweet treats and small toys to children or a new scarf or hat between husband and wife. During the day, the people of Florestal, drink wine, play games of sport such as swimming or hunting, and court loved ones. In the evening, the bonfires are lit and the people feast and revel. Children are sent to bed early while the adults carouse, taking part in food, drink, and other pleasures. The second day is the most day is the most popular of the year for one to propose to their sweetheart, particularly in the spring.
The third and last day of the holiday is the fading of the equinox and the welcoming of the new season but in reality this day is for sleeping off hangovers and cleaning up the streets from the night before. It is common for the people to leave their decorations up for days after the equinox until the flowers start to wilt and for the peasantry to reuse ribbons and streamers every year. Whether embracing the spring or preparing for winter, Fleur's Day is the most beloved holiday in Florestal.
"What in the nine hells is wrong with you?! My heart nearly leapt out my throat!" She hissed whilst Diana cackled unashamedly. Suppressing a snort, the red-head wiped her teary eyes.
"I wish you could have seen your face, it was brilliant." Diana mimicked the surprised look with exaggeration, but Vittoria only rolled her eyes in response.
"Go soak your head. I'm busy," she turned back to the ribbon stall and attempted to continue matching colors and quell the embarrassed flush in her fair cheeks.
"Right, sure, I'll get right on that..." Diana drawled sarcastically, "I guess you don't want to hear this juicy bit of gossip then...!" She taunted in a sing-song voice, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet with her hands behind her back - the picture of innocence. Vittoria lifted her chin haughtily, pretending she did not hear the other girl over the hubbub of the holiday spring market. The streets churned with patrons searching for the perfect gifts and the most exquisite accessories.
Like a fox in a hen house, Diana grinned from ear to ear. "I may - or may not - have seen a certain Paolo de Fonte at the florist's downtown purchasing a very expensive and colorful bouquet for the celebration tomorrow..."
"You what--?" Vittoria blurted, losing her aloof facade and whirling to look at the other girl.
Diana shrugged unknowingly, "Who knows, maybe it was someone else that looked like Paolo?"
"You cruel girl. Don't play games with me like that! You know how I feel about him..." she trailed off a bit bashfully, looking back down at the ribbons in her hands.
"Vittoria..." Diana sighed, tenderly and reassuringly taking her friend by the hands, "you know 'Signor de Fonte'" - she said his name with mock pompousness - "only has eyes for you. He has courted no other for months!"
"Do you..." the dark-haired maiden lowered her voice, a thought dawning on her as her lips parted and her chest swelled with anticipation. She whispered to her companion, "Do you think he'll propose?" The moment Diana nodded, the two girls squealed in excitement and began to hop up and down, embracing each other and giggling hopelessly.
The elderly stall keeper sighed in exasperation and shook his head and adjusted his spectacles, choosing to serve other customers instead.
● ● ●
The autumnal and vernal equinoxes have always been a cause for celebration in the nation of Florestal. Inherently a decadent people, Florestinians celebrate many holidays throughout the year but few are as looked forward to or prepared for as Fleur's Day. Named after the nation itself, Fleur's Day is a misleading term. The holiday is a series of days and is celebrated twice a year in spring and fall. Commonly, Florestinians celebrate weeks beforehand, but there are three days that officially constitute Fleur's Day and for those few days the nation halts for the festivities. During this time, the people of Florestal either wash away the sorrows of winter or celebrate the harvest as they prepare for the cold months ahead. Feasting, dancing, and all kinds of merrymaking take place in every home and street of Florestal.
The first of Fleur's Day is often for setting up bonfires, cheese and wine tents, ribbon poles, and etcetera. Homes, shop fronts, bridges, street lamps, and more are all decorated with beautiful flowers, colored paper, ribbons, and wreathes. Stalls line the streets as vendors bring out their best wares. Children make flower crowns and men and women prepare their best clothes and courting gifts for the next day. A market in Florestal is never better than during the time of Fleur's Day.
The second day of Fleur's Day, the day of the equinox itself, is specifically for celebrating and gift giving. Small treasures such as jewelry, bouquets, or even a handwritten sonnet are the most common gifts between lovers. Other gifts are exchanged between family members or spouses like sweet treats and small toys to children or a new scarf or hat between husband and wife. During the day, the people of Florestal, drink wine, play games of sport such as swimming or hunting, and court loved ones. In the evening, the bonfires are lit and the people feast and revel. Children are sent to bed early while the adults carouse, taking part in food, drink, and other pleasures. The second day is the most day is the most popular of the year for one to propose to their sweetheart, particularly in the spring.
The third and last day of the holiday is the fading of the equinox and the welcoming of the new season but in reality this day is for sleeping off hangovers and cleaning up the streets from the night before. It is common for the people to leave their decorations up for days after the equinox until the flowers start to wilt and for the peasantry to reuse ribbons and streamers every year. Whether embracing the spring or preparing for winter, Fleur's Day is the most beloved holiday in Florestal.
Participants
All people of Florestal, particularly adults.
Observance
The day before the vernal or autumnal equinox through the day afterwards.
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