Midwinter Festival

The Midwinter Festival is one of the largest and most enthusiastically celebrated traditions in Blazeology. It is deeply connected to both the gods of Salamandrake and Njolfrost, and is one of the Three Winter Festivals which honor the former and show humanity's defiance to the latter. The Midwinter Festival is greatly celebrated largely due to falling upon the winter solstice, the date which is exactly halfway through winter, and therefore assumed to be the height of Njolfrost's powers. This date is also the time when the borderes between the mortal plane and the other planes of existence are strongest (such as the Shadow Dimension) so there is a very real threat of invasion either on this date or in the days following, and holding a festival which showcases the might of Blazeologists serves a very real purpose.

Due to the weakness between the mortal plane's border with others on this date, the Midwinter Festival is also the center of a strong magical tradition, with powerful wards and other spells often being laid during or shortly before the festival begins. Therefore, the Festival is also very important to mages, who hope to unleash powerful spells with an ease that will not appear again until the summer solstice. It's traditional for mages who use their power to cast such a spell to spend the excess, such that there is, in service to the public- charms and magical healing peak on this day (compared to the summer solstice, when life is less harsh, demand is higher). The midwinter festival is also known for its intense revelry, with dances galore. It's a time when the best remaining food is eaten or sold, bringing a bit of cheer to what is otherwise a tough time of year for many- though less so in the south, where snow is much rarer.

The Midwinter Festival is also known for its great bonfires, often in the center of a village, though in larger towns and cities there may be multiple smaller bonfires. These bonfires are at the heart of the festivities, for they represent the actual defiance of Njolfrost. They are also a great symbol of hope in general, staving off seasonal depression, and keeping the poor warm for just another day- which can be critical in some communities. The Midwinter Festival is also the last Blazeological celebration until the Festival of Lanterns at the end of winter, since none of the Blazeological deities besides Njolfrost are associated with the winter.