Winter and Summer Solstice Celebrations

Widespread

Throughout Ovenica, the majority of people celebrate the longest and shortest days of the year, with some major exceptions (see the Angels of Iron).

While individual celebrations may vary to some degree, the Summer Solstice is widely celebrated with large parties at the height of the day. Whole towns and communities will gather for feasts and dancing, carnival games and art competitions. There are often tournaments held at these times as well with feats of physical might, acrobatic displays, and all sorts of other competitions. In large enough locations these celebrations can last an entire week leading up to the Summer Solstice, and sometimes for a few days after.

The Winter Solstice is generally celebrated as a much more intimate affair. While some communities do have gatherings, most people keep the celebrations among family, a tradition believed to be a holdover from ancient times when it was thought that the sun may be gone for good, and that the world would be plunged into never ending darkness. Most of course no longer believe this to be the case, as we have several hundred years of historical proof that the sun will always rise in the morning.

Winter Solstice celebrations usually involve bringing a living tree into the house (though most now a days chop it down, it was once thought that a tree would be fully uprooted) and decorating it with silver paper, candles, wooden ornaments and other baubles. During the night while the kids slept, the parents would place gifts beneath the tree, usually wrapped in colourful paper or placed into coloured bags. Then in the morning the gifts are opened by everyone.

The Winter Prince

Some who celebrate the Winter Solstice believe that a fey creature known as the Winter Prince will actually visit every house who celebrates the solstice and deliver gifts for the children. The story goes that his father, (the Winter King) hated mortals and was in a constant battle with the gods to bring everlasting darkness to the world, and each year he nearly manages it but the gods always prevail. The Winter Prince didn't like what his father was doing and, though he couldn't oppose his father directly, decided to bring a little joy into mortals lives to keep their spirits up during this time.

It is customary to leave a mug of spiced honey mead out for the Winter Prince, as well as nuts and cakes as a thank you for his gifts. There are some darker versions of the tale which clarify that the mead and cakes are necessary because there is no such thing as a free gifts from the Fey. Should you not leave the "offering" the Winter Prince may take affront and the stories claim he will do a variety of things from never visiting your house again to kidnapping children.

Most modern scholars believe the Winter Prince to be complete mythology as several wizards have inquired about him but have been unable to find any such being in the Feywild.

The Angels of Iron

In Prathia, and other places where the Angels of Iron hold sway, the Solstice Celebrations are banned. Instead, on the Winter Solstice, a celebration of the Seraphs arrival is celebrated. Despite the many historical records and first hand accounts that detail the exact date of her arrival, the Angels of Iron insist on celebrating the occasion on the Winter Solstice, and much of the same events occur such as decorating a tree and giving gifts.

The Summer Solstice is not celebrated within the Angels of Iron.