Lumina's Vigil

Lumina's Vigil

Lumina's Vigil is a period of festivities in which Cedrists celebrate the journey of Lumina into Balgurd.
Holiday Name	Luminar
Observed by	Shireroth, Benacian Union, Cedrist communities across Micras, communities in Çakaristan, International Mandate
Significance	Symbolises the journey Lumina, Mors and Agni travelled to get the Sun back from the Dæmon Vraxxal.
Date	12 - 25 December
Frequency	Annual

In Cedrism, the two weeks - starting in the month H'graasreign - leading up to Luminar are known as Lumina's Vigil, a period of quiet reflection, symbolic shadow-walking, and spiritual preparation. Each night, families gather to light a single lantern or candle, representing Lumina's spear, Aurion, as she walked through Balgurd. It is a time of stillness and meditation, focusing on the Nine Virtues that Lumina embodied on her journey.

Key activities

Key activities during Lumina's Vigil include:

• Lighting of Daily Lanterns: Each evening, a new lantern is lit, with one flame reserved for each of the Nine Virtues. In some traditions, the lantern's color corresponds to a specific virtue (e.g.: blue for wisdom, red for courage, green for vigilance).
• Offerings of Light: Devotees may offer small candles or "sparks" at altars dedicated to Lumina. These offerings symbolize the "sparks" she left behind in Balgurd, which eventually became the stars.
• Personal Reflection and Fasting: Many Shirerithians fast from luxury foods or avoid certain indulgences, believing that the absence of comfort mimics Lumina's difficult journey. On the evening before Luminar, the fasting ends.

A Day-by-Day Chronicle

The Vigil of Lumina is a sacred 14-day period commemorating the divine journey of Lumina to recover the stolen Sun from the depths of Balgurd. This holy season is marked by reverence, reflection, and the celebration of her triumph on the 10th day, which also marks the beginning of the Shirerithian New Year and the first day of the month of Viviantiana. Each day of the Vigil carries its own unique meaning, symbolizing the stages of Lumina’s descent, struggle, and ultimate return to the Mortal Realm.

Day 1: The Theft of the Sun

On the first day, darkness fell upon the world. The Dæmon Vraxxal, a twisted being of shadow and hunger, crept from the depths of Balgurd and stole the Sun from the heavens. Without the Sun’s warmth, the world plunged into cold twilight. Crops withered, animals grew silent, and mortals gazed skyward in terror. The disappearance of the Sun marked the beginning of the Vigil, and it is said that on this day, even the gods themselves felt the weight of despair.

Day 2: The Call to Arms

On the second day, Lumina’s fury ignited. From her divine perch, she gazed upon the withering world below and heard the cries of mortals. Her heart burned with righteous anger. She took up her sacred spear, Aurion, the Spear of Dawn of which a piece was used to create the mortal Sword of Light, and declared that she would descend into the depths of Balgurd to reclaim the Sun. The heavens rumbled with the sound of her resolve. This day is marked by the lighting of ceremonial fires in mortal homes, symbolizing the first spark of hope.

Day 3: The Meeting with Agni

On the third day, Lumina entered the shadows of Balgurd. The realm was a twisted expanse of endless dark, filled with unseen terrors and echoing whispers. There, she met Agni, the God of Fire, who strode through the blackness with a torch in hand. Seeing her resolve, Agni offered his light to guide her path. With his flames illuminating the way, she pressed forward. Mortals mark this day by lighting lanterns or candles to represent Agni’s guiding flame.

Day 4: The Revelation of Mors

On the fourth day, Lumina’s path led her to the boundary of the Flow of Shadows, Nivrelis, a vast, still river within Balgurd’s depths. There she encountered Mors, the God of Death, watching the still waters with his hollow gaze. He revealed that it was Vraxxal who had stolen the Sun and carried it deep into Balgurd’s heart. He also warned her of the cost such a journey would demand. Lumina acknowledged the danger but remained undeterred. This day represents knowledge, clarity, and the acceptance of fate’s weight.

Day 5: Descent into Darkness

On the fifth day, Lumina’s journey grew treacherous. She left the light of Agni behind and waded into the deepest shadows of Balgurd’s abyss. The air grew thick, and the whispers of the Dæmons grew louder. Her strength was tested as unseen horrors clawed at her resolve, but she pressed forward, her grip firm on Aurion. This day is remembered as the Trial of Shadows, where mortals reflect on their own inner fears.

Day 6: The Harrowing Labyrinth

The sixth day saw Lumina trapped within the Labyrinth of Loki, an ever-shifting maze conjured by the will of Balgurd and the Bringer of Chaos and Mischief itself. Each turn of the path altered reality, and each choice felt heavier than the last. It is said she spent an eternity within this maze, but her divine wisdom guided her through. On this day, mortals partake in mind-challenging puzzles and riddles to honor her triumph over confusion and doubt.

Day 7: The Assault of the Dæmons

On the seventh day, Lumina faced a host of Balgurd’s denizens. Foul Dæmons, drawn by the light of Aurion and Agni's fire, swarmed her from all sides. Her battle with them is said to have echoed across all realms, and the clash of her spear against their claws was heard as distant thunder. Her courage never faltered. This day symbolizes fortitude in the face of overwhelming odds, and it is often marked with feats of strength and endurance.

Day 8: The Last Veil

The eighth day saw Lumina reach the final barrier, a shroud of primordial darkness known as the Veil of Night Unending. Here, her divine light was dimmed, and doubt pressed upon her heart. For a moment, she questioned her purpose, even though she was a goddess and not a mere mortal. But in the stillness, she heard the distant cries of the mortal world and the screams of souls wandering Balgurd's depths. She steeled herself and thrust Aurion into the Veil, parting it with sheer willpower. This day represents the triumph of faith over despair.

Day 9: The Chamber of Vraxxal

On the ninth day, Lumina entered the Chamber of Vraxxal, a cavernous hall lit only by the glow of the stolen Sun. The Dæmon lay coiled around it, his eyes filled with malice. Their gazes met, and the battle was inevitable. Mortals mark this day with quiet reflection, as it represents the calm before great trials. This day also coincides with the Day of Dead, in which mortals reflect on their lost ones and venerate Mors.

Day 10: The Battle of the Sun

The tenth day is the most sacred of the Vigil. It is the day of confrontation. Lumina and Vraxxal clashed in a battle of divine will against unholy wrath. The struggle shook the foundations of Balgurd, annoying even Mur, the Chthonic Goddess and Arch-Dæmon. At last, with a cry of fury, Lumina drove Aurion into Vraxxal’s heart. But Balgurd’s curse claimed part of her essence in return. Weakened but victorious, she reclaimed the Sun. This day marks the Shirerithian New Year, for it is the moment when light was restored to the world.

Day 11: The Burden of Flame

On the eleventh day, Lumina bore the Sun upon her back. Every step back through Balgurd grew heavier as the darkness pressed against her. Her strength was fading, her divine essence spent. But she pressed on, her duty greater than her pain. This day symbolizes perseverance, and many observe it by performing acts of self-discipline and endurance.

Day 12: The Path of Return

On the twelfth day, Agni and Mors returned to guide Lumina’s way. The path back to the Mortal Realm had changed, as Balgurd’s nature is ever-shifting. But with Mors’ wisdom and Agni’s fire, they charted a course together. Mortals honor this day with acts of guidance and mentorship.

Day 13: The Final Ascent

On the thirteenth day, Lumina’s strength began to fail. The essence she had lost to Balgurd left her weakened. The gods watched in silence, unable to intervene. But as she reached the edge of Balgurd’s bounds, she made one final, unyielding push and cast the Sun into the heavens ahead of her. This day represents final sacrifice, where one gives all for the sake of others. It's no coincidence that later, her son, Malarbor, will go around stealing Micrasanta's sleigh and randomly blows up bad (and good) children during this day.

Day 14: The Return of Light

On the fourteenth day, Lumina rose from Balgurd and returned to the Mortal Realm. Her body bore the marks of her ordeal, but her face was radiant. The Sun, newly restored, ascended into the sky, flooding the world with warmth and light. Her lost essence became the stars, scattered across the night as reminders of her sacrifice. This final day is one of celebration, feasting, and joy. It marks the return of life, light, and hope to the world.

Calendar

• Every year a Vigil calendar (alike the Advent calendar of the Christians who live on the planet called Earth, which the Jing once partly colonised through Sweden) is made. You can find the 2024 version here.