Longdark (Winter Solstice)
Julda 23
Twilight begins just a few short hours after lunch. The waning moon is on a long, slow trip across the evening sky. Northern winds blow down with the bitter chill of winter; on them ride the smells and sounds of the finest meals, the strongest booze, and the warmest company that will be compiled in one place all year long. It is the night of the winter solstice, the longest dark of the year. For the next seven nights, celebrations will run rampant until the sun rises again. Let the party begin.
Twilight begins just a few short hours after lunch. The waning moon is on a long, slow trip across the evening sky. Northern winds blow down with the bitter chill of winter; on them ride the smells and sounds of the finest meals, the strongest booze, and the warmest company that will be compiled in one place all year long. It is the night of the winter solstice, the longest dark of the year. For the next seven nights, celebrations will run rampant until the sun rises again. Let the party begin.
History
Longdark celebrations, like most solar/lunar associated holidays, began with ancient farmers in the first villages as a way to defy the gloom and depression brought by the year's longest night. While the fine details differ, the general expressions and celebrations of Longdark are celebrated by virtually all people in settlements throughout Yvard.
Execution
While many great feasts are thrown for the holidays of Yvard, this week-long celebration is the pinnacle of it all. The greatest qualities and quantities of food and drink are reserved for the Longdark week, putting nearly all other holiday feasts to shame. Expensive spices are stored all year long in preparation and brewers of all sorts make special concoctions in massive batches that will never see the new year. Longdark Night, the winter solstice, is the champion of all holiday feasts. These jubilations last through the first night of the new year, ending at first light on Snow-Moon 2.
Components and tools
Copious quantities of food
Legendary legions of booze barrels
Gifts for loved ones
Items by which to swear oaths (varied depending on local culture)
Dedicated stores of firewood
Religious icons and offerings appropriate to locally observed gods or entities
Most places have other traditional items for games, contests, or decoration. Describing them all is far too much to compile in one place given the global scale of Longdark's observance.
Legendary legions of booze barrels
Gifts for loved ones
Items by which to swear oaths (varied depending on local culture)
Dedicated stores of firewood
Religious icons and offerings appropriate to locally observed gods or entities
Most places have other traditional items for games, contests, or decoration. Describing them all is far too much to compile in one place given the global scale of Longdark's observance.
Participants
Virtually everyone participates in the celebrations. The only key role to be had is that of feast host, which sees preparations begin months in advance.
Entire breweries are devoted to creating drink exclusively for Longdark week, and they operate year-round to meet the demand.
Entire breweries are devoted to creating drink exclusively for Longdark week, and they operate year-round to meet the demand.
Observance
At the feasts, entire communities gather and share news and tales of the last year. On Longdark Night, many celebrations hold an exchange of socially-acceptable boasts followed by public oath swearing. Oaths sworn on the solstice night are among the most sacred to the people of Yvard; a person who breaks this sworn word can expect to be the victim of serious social backlash and/or blatant crime. In some places, failing or breaking a Longdark oath can be punished with death; few communities ever enforce such policy even if it is allowed by tradition or law.
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