Seris Festival of Fire

Fire plays an important role for the Seris, not in vain they consider themselves as the descendants of the goddess of fire, Pyria. And, according to their beliefs, when the first seris, comanded by King Kuchi, arrived to the continent of Karia, after having crossed the Suris Strait, a great dissaster almost made them go back to their ships, but thanks to the goddess they were saved and began to prosper in their new home.

Pyria, the bringer of Fire

A very old legend, that is the origin of the festival itself, tells us that when King Kuchi and the first wave of seris settlers that landed on the continent of Karia, the day was so awful, and rained so much, that they couldn't lit a fire in their camp to warm themselves and to cook food. Kuchi, seeing his people dying of hunger and cold, raised his hands to heaven, asking his divine wife, the goddess Pyria for help. It is said that the goddess descended from the heavens and, by doing so, she made the storm cease. But the tinder for lit the bonfires was dry, so the goddess dried them by emitting heat from her hands that dried the tinder instantly. And not only that, with a wave of her hand and a snap, all the campfires began to burn. It is said that the grateful first Seris offered a banquet in honor of the goddess for her help with the food they had transported on their ships. This is the origin of this festival, a tradition that if the records are true, have been celebrated for at least 2000 years, even centuries before Seria became an unified country!.

The Festival

The ceremony's date is always the last week of the tenth Month, according to the Seris calendar. This is the date when this event is believed to have taken place. It is also when days began to be shorter so fires at home and lamps have to be lit earlier. It is also when the climate around the shores of the Interior sea, although milder than in other areas, gets colder, so a good bonfire is always good to get yourself warm and cozy!. The festival is perfomed identically in any part of the Empire, since the ceremony and its parts and rituals have been codified for centuries. The first part of the festival consists off the procession of the statue of the goddess across the streets of the city or town, this procession usually begans after sunset, and , as the statue of the goddess pass by, people begin to light the oil lamps in their homes, while other family members throw flowers at her, especially poppies, a flower associated with the goddess. After the statue of the goddess returns to its shrine, the people of the town or city comes to the temple to recite some prayers in front of the statue or in front of the holy fire that burns at the entrance of the temple. After they have done this, they use the holy fire to light some incense sticks. When this is done, it is traditional to make a wish to the goddess. People generally ask that they and their loved ones enjoy good health or that prosperity comes to their homes. The last part of the festival has fewer religious connotations, although the echo of the myth is still present. Each neigbourhood does a communal meal around a bonfire (remembering the bonfires of the camp of the first davidovian peoples who set foot on Karia). This meal is prepared the days leading up to the festival and usually consists of bread with raisins and honey and boiled rice with chicken or duck meat and orange juice. Children also have tons of fun during this festival, since puppet theatres are traditional during this festival, as are small wands made by elves called "Piria wands", from whose tips come out sparks (often harmless) with which children light up the streets while they run around playing or with which they create figures in the air.

The ceremony at the Emperor's court

As it has been said, the festival of Fire is celebrated across Seria, and the festival at the capital, Sakouramish, is roughly the same as in any other part of the country, but with one difference, that is, the role of the Emperor and his court. At the palace of the Seris Emperor, before the meal prepared for the occasion, the Emperor, his closest family and his Court go to pray at the temple dedicated to Pyria inside the Imperial Palace.

Seris Emperor by Callyxtus

Here, the Emperor perform some libations in front of the statue of the deity as well as burning incense and wood in the Holy Fire in front of the statue. Here the Emperor recites a secret prayer to the Goddess, transmited from one emperor to another, asking the goddess to bestow her protection upon the entire Seris People, as she has done since the first days of the Seris people on the continent, and to grant prosperity to the realm.

This moment of the Emperor in front of the holy fire has been represented in multiple paintings and coins, and it is one of the most powerful images of imperial propaganda. After this mandatory religious ceremony the banquet begans where the most exquisite dishes are tasted by the Emperor and his court.