Legends of Belariath

The Quest of Festivals Common

Solonus - Festivals of Elvium

To the Lord of the Lands here and hereabouts, Sir, in hearing of your illustrious quest to gain knowledge of festivals of various peoples and places I would humbly submit to your clerks and scholars a brief summary of those revered occasions among my own people. I hail from the city of Elvium, and as I have related to some others, I have traveled far in search of new knowledge and to observe other peoples, something of a quest of my own but I digress. I hail from the city of Elvium a city of some 100,000 citizens at the last census, though the numbers of the city are far greater when women, children and slaves are taken into account. The city lays upon the coast of the Assumadian Peninsula, an outcropping to the south of the continent which lays across the ocean of Dyran to the east of the continent upon which Nanthalion itself resides, I should estimate some 3,000 miles laying in between the two. Ours is an ancient city with customs and traditions which have lasted for millennia, some longer than others. But for the sake of brevity as this is not indeed a treatise upon the customs of my people I shall touch upon solely upon six of the most prominent of our festivals.

The first day of the first month, the first month being known to us as Kalendes, is simply known as the Festival of the Dawn. It is a festival which begins as the name might imply with the first dawn. It is customary for people to either seek sleep early the day before or to forgo it for the day until a later time. At the rising of the first dawn, the people gather in the public square to watch the rising sun and the old year dies as the new one is born and as the new year begins it is greeted with song, story and feasting and drinking for the length of the entire day. It is quite a grand spectacle and a time in which those who would seek office for the magistracy of the year rival with each other in providing the most splendid public entertainment’s, be they troops of bards and musicians, circuses or plays as well as contributing to the public feast funded by the government. Other cities have criticized this festival as an ostentatious display of wealth but truly compared to the normal temperance and prudence of our fair city it is nothing more than a small indulgence.

Upon the fourth day of the third month lays the next major festival of our people, the month being known as Aventilian. This festival is known as the Feast of Irianth. Irianth was the first king of the people who later formed the city of Elvium. Though we have since progressed passed such an institution so that the term King remains a term for foreign heads of state and historical texts. However, Irianth remains a revered figure in our history not for his position but for his actions and his impeccable moral standards. He is often referred to as "The Founder" and with such appellations as "The Good" or "The Just". He united a number of villages and towns in the general local of our current city and formed into one city proper and established a council among the leading men from those towns establishing what would become the basis of the nobility. Though indeed the initial 50 families have since subdivided numerous times. But then again that does tend to happen over the course of 50,000 some years I should suppose. However, this festival involves a great number of offering being delivered up unto the Temple of the Ancestors and it is a rather public affair and great crowds gather to watch and the College of Clerics is always out in full form and ceremony. After the incense is burned, the libations poured and the animals sacrificed upon the alter the people move to Square of the Founder and a magnificent feast is provided by the various noble families with proper entertainment’s of course, most often plays and songs heralding the deeds of the city's founder and his companions.

The sixth day of the fourth month, Rendarium, holds the Festival of the Refounding. This day marks the triumph of the Glorious Revolution is dispatching the most foul tyrant Illysander. This day which came some 20,000 years ago marked the institution of our republic and a government for the commonwealth. The unjust and unwarranted taxation’s and the thirst for conquest which possessed Illysander and a truly disagreeable disposition caused many of the noble families to lead an uprising which was strongly supported by the citizens at large. Thus after a few days of struggling in the city streets the nobles and citizens over came the tyrants forces and took the palace by force and promptly executed the king. This lead to the temporary rule of the elected Council for Good Governance who over the course of the next year studied various systems of government before proposing a permanent and very successful solution to the governance of the city and its estates.

The seventh day of seventh month, the month known as Palandian, marks the actual introduction and ratification of the republic by the citizens of Elvium, that being all free men. The proposal for the republic was presented upon this day as the number seven is considered lucky in our culture. Thus it might not be surprising to learn that the proposal began upon the seventh minute of the seventh hour of that seventh day. Upon this day the Council for good government presented the results of their undertaking and consultations and laid it before the people. Who were well pleased. The motion to institute the government was carried by a tremendous majority and what followed was the first election of the Chancellor, the officers, magistrates, and generals. Which was followed by the first meeting of the Senate composed of the heads of the 100 noble families which existed at the time. Though the number now stands at 125 such families with a voice in the senate. This marks a historic occurrence in our society and it has been a day upon which no trade or commerce may take place, all business is closed and people are to enjoy the freedom which is uniquely theirs. Displays of magic mark the skies with splendid lights and a good deal of wine is usual consumed amidst dancing, feasting, speeches and general merry making.

The twelfth day of the eighth month, Dilandoran, holds the festival of the Holy Light within it. This festival celebrates the god of light, life and prosperity Tilum. Upon this day, great candles the size of towers unto themselves are erected in the corner's of the city and one in the city center itself. Within them a good deal of incense is imbedded in the wax. At the dawn of the day they are lit and begin to burn brightly through the whole of the day, casting great illumination even into the night itself. During the day the college of clerics conducts a great public mass and there is a general thanksgiving and giving of offering unto the god and his temples throughout the city in appreciation of the prosperity that the city had enjoyed during the whole of the year. A very solemn occasion marked mostly for its pomp and ceremony more than any revelry.

The seventeenth day of the tenth month, Silanton, holds the Festival of the Divine Triumph. Upon this day the temple doors of the God Mirthdirumus are thrown open and the various artifacts of the conquests of our people are paraded down the primary streets of our people. The bards and players tell the story of past victories and the images of successful military generals and leaders as put on display in the Founder's Square for public viewing beneath their statutes. After the past victories have been celebrated there are grand sacrifices and competitions of archery, wrestling, poetry, staff, blade, eloquence, song and jousting for all the public to behold in honor of Mirthdirumus the Lord of Divine Triumph. We give thanks to the god for our successes in the past and humbly beseech that we should be so fortunate in the future in maintaining our fair city and its territories. Having touched upon some of our customs and celebrations, I hope this brief notation is of some use to you and your archives. From the hand of the humble scholar. - Solonus of Elvium

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