by Maro on September 13th, 2014, 5:32 pm
Here's a holiday I would like to see. Any suggestions on improvements that can be made to it are quite welcome, and any corrections that need to be made so that it fits with the lore of Mizahar are, of course, appreciated.
The Arriving Night: The First New Moon of Winter
During the first new moon of Winter, it is rumored that the blue flame atop the Tower of the Dead in Black Rock burns brighter than usual to the souls that are no longer living. This supernatural light seems to call to the spirits of the dead, and without the natural light of the moon, the Watchtower's light is even better appreciated by both the living and the dead. Every year, this occasion marks the arrival of the most new ghosts to Black Rock, giving some credit to the rumors.
That being the case, this holiday is most widely recognized by spiritists, Cicerones, and ghosts, though many others join in as well. The most fervent followers of the holiday spend the day time in silence in preparation for the darkness. Other observers will only whisper for the extent of the day while others do not see the day preceding the Arriving Night to have any significance at all.
As Syna’s work for the day draws to a close, those who are observing the holiday gather at the base of the Tower of the Dead. The holiday is not a celebration. Rather, it is a time of meditation and prayer for the lost souls in the world. Some will write letters with prayers for those souls, some will pray in whispers for them, and others will maintain their silence. Due to the dangerous nature of the Watchtowers, the usual guard of two Omens is increased to two dozen to ensure the safety of all who come to the Tower of the Dead to await the arrival of the spirits.
Throughout the night, a vigil is kept, and there is always at least one person waiting at the base of the Tower to greet any spirit that arrives. Usually though, there are many people and spirits waiting at any given time throughout the night. For the truest observers of the holiday, the vigil is kept by an individual all night long, and sleep is forsaken until the following night. Others will take shifts, and friends and family will ensure that someone in their circle is there to greet any newcomers. Dira herself will come hold the vigil on occasion, and when She does, She is there before any other and stays long after everyone has left.
When souls finally do arrive, they are greeted warmly. Ghosts will often take new ghosts under their wings and teach them the finer aspects of being an incorporeal being while spiritists gift the newcomers with vials of Soulmist. As the first souls begin to arrive, the silence is broken, and the night becomes livelier. The conversations are still usually held in whispers but are excited and friendly. If ever a malevolent spirit comes, it usually leaves of its own accord, realizing that the ghosts, the spiritists, and the Cicerones have little patience for evil, especially on this night of all nights. However, if a soul is heartbroken or scared, the gathering at the Watchtower becomes a beacon of hope, and many find a home and the beginning of their answers on this night.
On the years where the new moon lands on the final night of autumn, the Arriving Night is celebrated then. The red flame seems to burn brighter, and at the changing of the season, it is rumored that there is a flash of purple light that extends around the world, affecting even the great northern auroras, though this lasts for only an instant. When the Arriving Night falls on the turning of the season, there is a much higher immigration of ghosts than on other Arriving Nights.
Here are a few ideas for holidays that I think would also be appropriate to be celebrated in Black Rock:
Kihala Day
As any true worshiper of death knows, death would impossible without first being alive. To this end, a holiday was created to celebrate Kihala and the part she plays in the balance of the cycle of life and death.
The Day of Balance: Each Equinox
Celebrated twice a year on each equinox, this is a holiday to remember the balance of all things. Most use it as another opportunity to celebrate the balance between life and death, but its true purpose is to celebrate the Goddess of the Sun and the God of the Moon on the two times each year where day and night exist in perfect equality. For the entire extent of the day and night, all twenty-four bells, the observers of this holiday remain awake to observe the extent of this balance.
Last edited by
Maro on September 15th, 2014, 2:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
