Luminar
 Festivities during Luminar, which started with the lighting of the Great Fire, which is the symbolic end of the Lumina's Vigil. | |
| Holiday Name | Luminar |
|---|---|
| Observed by | Shireroth, Benacian Union, Cedrist communities across Micras, communities in Çakaristan, International Mandate |
| Significance | Last day of Lumina's Vigil |
| Date | 25 December |
| Frequency | Annual |
Luminar is one of the most significant and widely celebrated holidays in the Shirerithian calendar. Observed on the 5th day of the Viviantiana month (25 December), it is a celebration of both divine and imperial origin. Rooted in ancient Cedrist mythology, Luminar marks the victory of Lumina, the goddess of light, over the encroaching shadows of Balgurd in the earliest of Time. Later, it also became associated with the legendary deeds of Kaiser Raynor the First, who is said to have established the Imperial Republic of Shireroth and ascended the Golden Mango Throne on this very day. This dual significance, mythological and 'historical', makes Luminar an important day of festivities.
The holiday is preceded by a period of reflection and vigilance known as Lumina's Vigil, a 14-day period of preparation where devotees honor Lumina's journey through the Abyss. As the Vigil ends, Luminar begins with great celebration, featuring feasts, processions, and the lighting of lanterns and bonfires. The period overlapses partly with with Lichmastide and Lichmas (22 December), which is both celebrated in the Mondosphere and several Shirerithian communities.
Mythological Origins
At the heart of Luminar is the myth of Lumina's Descent into Balgurd. According to Cedrist belief, the Sun's flame was stolen by a monstrous Dæmon known as Vraxxal, protégé of the Arch-Dæmon and Chthonic Goddess Mur, a primordial entity of darkness that dwelled in the depths of Balgurd since the beginning of Time (and according Sakat even longer before). With the world plunged into shadow, crops failed, animals perished, and the people of Benacia despaired.
In response, Lumina, goddess of light and illumination, took up her spear, Aurion, and descended into Balgurd. She was not alone in her journey, as she was guided by Mors, the god of death, who ensured she would not be lost in the void. Along her path, she was aided by Agni, god of Fire, which was necessary to navigate Balgurd. He kept the lantarns burning in the ever increasing darkness. the fires he lit went out several times, but nine times Agni lit Lumina's path. Each of the flames, each a different color, symbolized important Cedrist values: each representing a virtue necessary to navigate Balgurd: courage, patience, cleverness, endurance, wisdom, mercy, faith, vigilance, and love.
Her confrontation with Vraxxal was fierce, and though she succeeded in piercing its heart, she did so at great cost. Part of her own divine essence was consumed by Balgurd, but in return, she recovered the Sun's flame. She carried it back to the mortal realm, where it ignited the sky, restoring warmth and light. However, the essence she lost remained in Balgurd, creating the stars, which were eventually sent into the night sky by Mur as offering of atonement, and which now serve as reminders of Lumina's courage and sacrifice.
This act of triumph and partial loss serves as the spiritual heart of Luminar. It is a celebration of light's inevitable return but also an acknowledgment that light and shadow must coexist.
Imperial Legend: The Founding of the Golden Mango Throne
"As Lumina lit the heavens, so too did Raynor light the world of men." – Traditional Shirerithian Proverb
A depiction of Kaiser Raynor I in his old age. Some academicians claim that this mosaic inspired the looks of Micrasanta.
The mythological themes of Lumina's journey were later intertwined with the legacy of Kaiser Raynor the First, the legendary founder of the Imperial Republic of Shireroth. Tradition holds that on the 5th day of Viviantiana, Raynor declared the establishment of the Empire and claimed the Golden Mango Throne. Much like Lumina's journey, Raynor's rise was seen as an act of order imposed upon chaos, as he united the warring tribes and cast out the "shadow of lawlessness" that had gripped Benacia.
This symbolic alignment between Lumina and Raynor transformed Luminar into a dual celebration. On one hand, it is a spiritual festival honoring the divine struggle against darkness. On the other, it is a political commemoration of the birth of the Golden Mango Throne. The lanterns and bonfires that were once lit to honor Lumina's sparks are now also seen as emblems of Raynor's "light of civilization" spreading across the continent, and later the return of civilisation after the collapse of Apollonian civilisations during the 15th century.
Lumina's Vigil
- The period leading to Luminar is called Lumina's Vigil. Read more.
Rituals and Celebrations of Luminar
On Losday the 5th of Viviantiana (the 25th December), the Vigil ends, and Luminar begins in earnest. The tone shifts from somber reflection to joyous celebration. The rituals of Luminar are both religious and civic in nature, blending elements of Lumina's myth with the imperial legacy of Raynor's reign.
- The Lighting of the Great Fire: At the heart of every town, village, and city, a Great Fire is ignited at midnight on Luminar's Eve (the night of the 4th of Viviantiana). This fire symbolizes the rekindled Sun and the triumph of light over darkness. It is often accompanied by chanting and invocations to Lumina, Mors, Agni, the Nine Celestial Virtues and Kaiser Raynor I.
- Processions and Parades: Children, dressed as the Nine Celestial Creatures, lead processions carrying lanterns through the streets. The processions end at the central square, where they add their "light" to the Great Fire.
- Raynor's Address: In some regions, there is a ceremonial re-enactment of Kaiser Raynor's first proclamation. Local officials or community leaders play the role of Raynor, symbolically "founding" the empire anew. In larger cities, proclamations from the modern Kaiser(ess) are often read aloud.
- Feasting and Gifting: Food and drink, particularly Solara Bread (a bright yellow bread shaped like the Sun), are shared among family and friends. Gifts are exchanged, with a focus on practical, useful items that reflect the virtues of Lumina's journey.
- Songs of Balgurd: Chants and songs recount the journey of Lumina and the deeds of Kaiser Raynor. Some of these songs are deeply solemn, while others are celebratory and triumphant.
- Burning of Shadows: In some regions, people craft small effigies or "shadow dolls" that represent fears, anxieties, or regrets from the past year. These effigies are thrown into the Great Fire as a symbolic gesture of casting away personal shadows.
Songs
