Meta: Holidayfic for trope bingo
Apr. 28th, 2014 03:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meridian_roseTitle: Winter Solstice
Fandom: Original work (Kat)
Word Count: 509
Prompt: For the![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
trope_bingo prompt '"holidayfic'"and the origfic_bingo prompt "party/festival"
Summary: Meta on a holiday festival celebrated in one of my original fic worlds
This meta looks at a holidayfic in essay form, outlining the customs around a festival that takes place in one of my original fic worlds, that of Gloriana "Kat" Katerina, the High Queen.
In Kat's world, the Winter Solstice is a two day celebration held at the shortest day of the year. The shortest day itself is a time of preparation and cleansing – baking and decorating and mopping floors for the feast the next day. Some people take ritual baths and wear new clothes.
As the sun sets, many people light a fire or candle. This can be on an individual level, or as part of a ceremony at a temple, or in a town square. At the citadel, a large fire is made outside the palace and people gather together. They sing songs and drink mulled wine. Many bring pieces of paper with their thanks for the blessings of the year, and their wishes for the future. These papers are thrown into the fire.
Those who are spiritual or religious, will likely pray, with both thoughts of the past year and thoughts of the future on their minds. Generally, people eat a warm meal with their loved ones, be that family and/or friends. Some keep vigil all night, and some people, lay or clergy alike are in charge of keeping a ritual fire burning. Others retreat beneath their blankets, anxious for the dawn.
The next morning the sun has returned with the promise of a new year. Spring will come once more, even if snow is still upon the ground at this moment and winter is not yet over. Devotees of the Lady often light a candle at sunrise. In some areas, people take a brand from the temple or the square's bonfire to light their own hearth fires with, believing it will bring blessings and prosperity to their home during the cold weeks to come.
At some point during the day a feast takes place, gifts are exchanged, and merry making is encouraged. Although the celebration officially ends at dusk, many continue the festivities into the next day and beyond.
During the novel Kat is on the Grand Tour and the winter solstice takes place when she is visiting the kingdom of Helwendr. A southerly kingdom, it suffers less from the cold than the Citadel. The feast laid on for the royal guests is a splendid one. Kat receives a warm red cloak from the king as a gift.
Real world comparisons
Almost everywhere there's winter, there's a religious or secular celebration of the turning point, the beginning of the return of the light, and Kat's world is no different.
Much of Kat's society, certainly her home, the Citadel, has strongly Celtic associations. In truth the lighting of fires from the main bonfire is something more associated in Celtic societies with the fire festival of Beltaine (May Day) but I mixed in some Yule Log association here, and there's no reason that this "lighting your hearth from a sacred source" can't happen multiple years in each year.
Fandom: Original work (Kat)
Word Count: 509
Prompt: For the
trope_bingo prompt '"holidayfic'"and the origfic_bingo prompt "party/festival"Summary: Meta on a holiday festival celebrated in one of my original fic worlds
This meta looks at a holidayfic in essay form, outlining the customs around a festival that takes place in one of my original fic worlds, that of Gloriana "Kat" Katerina, the High Queen.
In Kat's world, the Winter Solstice is a two day celebration held at the shortest day of the year. The shortest day itself is a time of preparation and cleansing – baking and decorating and mopping floors for the feast the next day. Some people take ritual baths and wear new clothes.
As the sun sets, many people light a fire or candle. This can be on an individual level, or as part of a ceremony at a temple, or in a town square. At the citadel, a large fire is made outside the palace and people gather together. They sing songs and drink mulled wine. Many bring pieces of paper with their thanks for the blessings of the year, and their wishes for the future. These papers are thrown into the fire.
Those who are spiritual or religious, will likely pray, with both thoughts of the past year and thoughts of the future on their minds. Generally, people eat a warm meal with their loved ones, be that family and/or friends. Some keep vigil all night, and some people, lay or clergy alike are in charge of keeping a ritual fire burning. Others retreat beneath their blankets, anxious for the dawn.
The next morning the sun has returned with the promise of a new year. Spring will come once more, even if snow is still upon the ground at this moment and winter is not yet over. Devotees of the Lady often light a candle at sunrise. In some areas, people take a brand from the temple or the square's bonfire to light their own hearth fires with, believing it will bring blessings and prosperity to their home during the cold weeks to come.
At some point during the day a feast takes place, gifts are exchanged, and merry making is encouraged. Although the celebration officially ends at dusk, many continue the festivities into the next day and beyond.
During the novel Kat is on the Grand Tour and the winter solstice takes place when she is visiting the kingdom of Helwendr. A southerly kingdom, it suffers less from the cold than the Citadel. The feast laid on for the royal guests is a splendid one. Kat receives a warm red cloak from the king as a gift.
Real world comparisons
Almost everywhere there's winter, there's a religious or secular celebration of the turning point, the beginning of the return of the light, and Kat's world is no different.
Much of Kat's society, certainly her home, the Citadel, has strongly Celtic associations. In truth the lighting of fires from the main bonfire is something more associated in Celtic societies with the fire festival of Beltaine (May Day) but I mixed in some Yule Log association here, and there's no reason that this "lighting your hearth from a sacred source" can't happen multiple years in each year.
