The Harvestwind Festival
While a bountiful harvest is a vital aspect of life throughout the world, few places have attached such significance to it as the lands of western Myrell and southeastern Ulfgard have. This appreciation for a successful harvest, as well as the desire to protect it from the meddlings of the Fae of the neighbouring Elderwood, would give rise to the traditions that would collectively become known as the Harvestwind Festival. Since it's founding, this celebration has grown from its origins among the smaller remote farming communities into one of the most widely recognised autumnal celebrations of Imera, second only to Veilfall Eve.
History
The Harvestwind Festival originally began as a collection of small folk traditions meant to beseach the Elari tied to nature for aid in providing a bountiful harvest, as well as to keep any mischievious Fae that might attempt to steal or damage the harvest at bay. While the exact timeline is unclear, these once separate traditions would eventually coalesce into the grand celebration known today.
Execution
Much of the evening before the Harvestwind Festival is dedicated to setting up and maintaining various warding implements in the gardens and harvesting fields of the community to ward off any Fae that might attempt to disrupt the harvest (including holy symbols, scarecrows/Gnome Sculptures, and protective herbs around the perimeter), as well as praying to the Creator and the nature-aligned Elari (particularly Virae and Yrea) for a bountiful harvest. The next day, the festivities commence in full, beginning with prayers of thanks followed by the harvesting of the crops. Much of the day is dedicated to feasting (with food often being made from some of the harvest), music, and dancing, with celebrations often lasting into the night in some places. It's also during this time that couples would attempt to court one another, following the folk belief that doing so during a bountiful harvest would bring them luck.
Components and tools
Common implements and components tied to the festival include foodstuffs, materials for crafting warding charms, and instruments.
Participants
The events of the festival are overseen by the town/village elder, and all members of the community participate in the festivities.
Observance
The Harvestwind Festival is observed around early to mid Harvests Wind, on the day of the autumnal equinox.
Related Ethnicities
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