The Night of the Burning Moon

The Day of Silence
From dawn until dusk, people remain cool in cistern chambers, beneath adobe vaults, or observing quiet meditation. Markets close in the light of the sun. No tools will strike metal. It is believed that loud noise during the sun's zenith invites bad luck or flame spirits into your home.

Lighting of the Sandbeacons
As the sun goes down, children and elders gather to light sandbeacons—bowls of salt and oils that burn low with colored fire. These are placed atop dunes, rooftops, and towers, creating a shimmering ring of lights across settlements. Parties are held until the last flame runs out of fuel and goes out.

The Midnight Banquet
Held in open-air courtyards under canopies of woven spider-silk, a long table is filled with cool plates. Date wine, fig-stuffed flatbreads, fire-roasted cactus, goat cheese, chilled melon, and pickled roots are served with gusto...It's a rare chance to feast without heat. Musical instruments...usually silent during the day...are played softly, with much emphasis placed on wind and string instruments that mimic the whispering dunes.

The Dance of the Mirages
Dancers, dressed in light-reflecting silks, perform in shifting geometric formations by firelight, acrobatically impersonating heat haze, shimmering oases, and the infamous Serpents of the Dunes. Some wear mirrored masks, which are believed to fool evil spirits who wander solstice nights, looking for new vessels to inhabit.

The Water Riddle Game
In this desert culture, water is sacred, and Midsummer includes a traditional riddle game involving sealed flasks that are passed hand to hand, each of which contains a symbolic offering, such as a droplet of dew, a crushed flower petal, or a splash of perfume. The winner earns the honor of pouring the final flask into a shared Moon Basin, earning the title of Raincaller for the coming season.