Even when Melza or any other location in Aporue is snowed in and in the grip of winter cold and frost, locals still have some holidays for cheer.
Saint Nikenos Day - observed on the 1st of Frosten (our 6th of December).
It commemorates Nikenos of Ryma, Saint Nikenos, the twelfth Prophet of
the Faith of the Maker, known for his legendary generosity and for being
one of the earliest bishops of the early church. Saint Nikenos has
become a symbol of generosity and selflessness towards one's fellow man
and his holiday is well-known for helping establish a tradition of
gift-giving, charity and generosity. In Melza and central Aporue, folk
tradition depicts Saint Nikenos arriving on a sleigh pulled by several
horses, often white or grey (or of any colour). In the countries of
northern Aporue, the sleigh is depicted as pulled by reindeer. (To preempt the potential question: None of the traditions depict the sleigh flying, just so you know.)
The gifts brought by Nikenos "appear" in shoes, boots and other
footwear of children, provided the footwear has been cleaned and put on a
windowsill or under a windowsill. If a child was lazy to clean his or
her shoes, they often end up with a piece of wood in a shoe, interpreted
as part of Nikenos' shepherd's crook. A "don't be naughty, children"
cautionary warning. Many public street plays for children refer to
aspects of Saint Nikenos' life and work. He arrives in a variation on
his bishop's clothes, with shepherd's crook in hand, often wearing a
basket on his back, full of goodies. When wearing the basket as part of
the costume, the portrayer of Nikenos is quite often accompanied by two
more portrayers, female and male, the former playing a young lady and
the latter a beastman. Both of them are based on supposed incarnations
of the Pilgrim met and helped by Nikenos before he was chosen by the
Lord as the twelfth prophet. The beastman is usually portrayed by an
actual beastman - the particular species isn't set, any beastman can
play the role - though sometimes also by human men in a home-made mask
of a beastman (but this is rather rare in comparison).
Holiday of Light - a holiday with an annually varying date,
observed by members of the Irim community in Melza. Though a minor
holiday in the community's faith, it is nevertheless very popular during
the early winter. The holiday commemorates a miraculous event in
earlier Irim history, related to oil lamps intended to light the inside
of the faith's primary temple to the Lord, previously ransacked by
foreign invaders. Despite low amounts of lamp oil in storage, the oil
lamps in the temple continued to burn for many more days than expected.
Hence the light-themed aspects of the holiday.
Pilgrimas - observed on the 20th of Frosten (our 25th of December).
It is said that on Pilgrim's Eve, heaven is closer to earth and the
unknown thirteenth prophet of the Lord, the Pilgrim, walks among mortals
even more than usual. Families near and far meet, share a festive
dinner, carolers young and old take to the streets, going door to door
singing pious carols
and Pilgrimas songs, receiving minor gifts and treats for their effort.
As with Saint Nikenos Day, this is a time of generosity and gift-giving
(though generally of more humble gifts than on Saint Nikenos Day).
Aside from carol singing, Pilgrimas is seen as a time for peace, calm
and serenity. There is also a great emphasis on doing soul-searching
about being charitable to strangers in need of help during the course of
the previous year. Based on the teachings of Aporue's main religious
faith, the Pilgrim can manifest itself as virtually any individual
(non-maliciously behaving, meek individual in need), and it is therefore
important to be emphathetic throughout the entire year, with Pilgrimas
seen as the culmination of the entire effort. In Aporue, the
colloquialism "treat a stranger badly on Pilgrimas" has a negative,
almost mocking connotation, and referring to a person in such a manner
indicates that they are uncaring towards others.
Monthless Day - the first day of the year is also the only day of
the entire year that is not counted as an official part of any month.
Far from being a day of loud merriment, Monthless Day is expected to be a
quiet and contemplative day, meant to start off the new year on a calm
note.
Charity Snowball Fight Day - a relatively new Melzan tradition,
this charity event takes place annually on the 4th of Snowen, the month
after Frosten and the Monthless Day. A snowball fight is held within The
City or in its immediate vicinity, between various people willing to
volunteer, from a large number of various social classes. Those
partaking in the event are divided into several teams, and each team has
its sponsors from the ranks of the The City's economic guilds, banks,
enterpreneurs and companies. The higher a team scores in a snowball
fight, the more money is collected for and donated to various charities
in The City, who then donate the money to various social institutions.
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Here you can read a tale set in Melza during the winter holiday season, especially around Saint Nikenos Day.
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