Voice; Fiddlesticks 24, early-ish morning. (slightly backdated)

[mtsilver_conquor]

Colour me curious, but what are winter festivals or holidays like on your world? Back home, today would be Shiwasu 10, or Tōji -longest night and the start of winter. It's also my birthday, but that's not the important thing; it's not a big number anyway. I don't know what Alola does for Tōji, so I'll tell you what my hometown did.

[The longer she talks, the more homesick she sounds. It likely doesn't help that today's her birthday, but well. Small detail's Eva's willing to overlook.] Masara had the rural traditions of feasting, food making, drinking, games dancing, battles. You know, the normal for a coastal town.

No snowball fights though; we'd have to go to the mountains for that and we never went in the lead up to Tōji because that was bad luck. But, we did have something better: Fire jumping under the stars to bring good luck. You'd start at dusk with it low, little more than a small coal pit so even kids could jump it with supervision, and work up to a boosted jump over a half-drum of flames, though they'd only let the adults do that one.

The day I turned twenty I did so many times mum had to drag me away from it by the ear, but - worth it. So worth it...

[She trails off before ending the transmission.]

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[marriedanidiot]

Ah, well... I suppose there are a few variants, depending on where you are, but in Tirion we adopted something the Returned brought with them from Middle-earth.

In Quenya, we call it the Merendë Andohrívëo - the Feast of Winter's Gate. Like you, we celebrate it on the longest night, to remember that although the rising sun brought us hope and joy, yet still darkness has it's place and proper sphere. The Returned though, they celebrate it slightly differently.

[ She pauses and then sings, low and sweet ]

Utúlië i lómë ar orutúrie’n aurë,

mal er sillúmen.

Tule’n aurë ar auta i lómë,

er entuluvas, ve aurë tuluva.

Á tulë Aurë ar á orturë Lómë.

Á lavë Cala orturë Mornië.

Á lavë Estel orturë ilya

The night has come and has conquered the day, but only for this hour. The day comes and the night passes, yet it will return again, as will the day. Come Day and conquer the Night. Let Light conquer Darkness. Let Hope conquer all.

They saw the fruits of all their hard won victories torn down and trampled in the blood and mire, and yet, day did come again, and they remember that, and so to do we in Tirion, now, in honor of those of our kin who have not yet come Home.



((ooc: song and translation taken from Fiondil's fanfic Elf Interrupted))

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[mtsilver_conquor]

[There's a nod and a thoughtful hum as she listens to the song, smiling in the end.] It's a good song. A nice one that seems like it should be sung when it's midnight and the stars are out. And, if one's really lucky, the night'll be a Twin Moon and it seems almost magical.

[achickenformylove]

In my world, we have the New Year's Festival. The preparations and traditions span for several weeks. We spend the proceeding days cleaning and shopping as most businesses are closed for their own festivals.

Publicly, there be various performers out, paid either by gifts or by the local family of wealth. These dragon and lion dances are performed frighten off evil spirits and bring good luck for the coming year. Fireworks are lit on the first day of the festival also to drive off evil spirits.

Privately, it is a time with family, visiting friends, and bringing gifts.

[mtsilver_conquor]

[She'll come back to everything else in a bit, mostly because -]

Dragons? Your world has dragons? What are they like?

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[aluciner]

.... We celebrate the Holy days in winter. [Yes. He did mean to say it like that.] Feast of Saint Nicholas, Immaculate Conception, Feast of Saint Lucy, Nollaig, Feast of Saint Stephan, Solemnity of Mary, and Feast of the Epiphany.

[Amazing how you can say so many words and explain literally nothing at all.]

They're not literal feasts. Mostly you just eat a good meal and celebrate having your family.

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[mtsilver_conquor]

[Cue a slightly befuddled tone at all the holidays in winter.]

That's a lot of Holy days for winter. [Eva, you can't talk. Your faith has at least twenty holidays between spring and summer.] Is it all just one faith? Or do various religions come together and make it a big thing to celebrate over winter?

[laurefindil]

Happy Birthday.

In Imladris, we celebrated the Feast of Winter's Gate as Nerdanel said, though when we still had elflings among us, there would be skating on the frozen waterfalls, games of all kinds, and much laughter and fun, during the day. Throughout the long night there would be much song and feasting.

As the Third Age waned, the foods were always old favorites, and no one would leave the Hall of Fire until dawn finally came.

[mtsilver_conquor]

Thank you.

That sounds like it'd fun, honestly, though I can't say I'd be sure about the frozen waterfalls. Not without checking they didn't hold hidden dangers.

[Like lurking pokemon.]

What songs did you share?

[blue_ice]

...fire jumping? Seriously?

If you light a fire in the greenhouse I will chase you down with a bucket.

But to answer, the most important holiday in the winter is the turn of a new year. The more religious visit the temple, we spend time with family, and give children coins for luck.

And I'm not big on birthday gifts, but I can do your share of the chores. Or watch a wayward Pokémon.

[mtsilver_conquor]

If I was going to light a fire anywhere, it'd be the garden. But, yeah, really. I started when I was four, though I'd lots of practice with unlit pits before that. Even then, I only got to jump once. Once you reach six though, you're allowed to jump as many times as you want, though.

[Sorry, chatterbox mode: Engaged.] Though, New Years in winter is kinda strange, don't you think? It's not a time when much grows... For us, New Year is a jun -ten days- before Shunbun, the Equaling of Day and Night in Spring, and it's a time we drive out the old year with the clanging of old fishing rods and nets, and usher in the new with visits to loved ones' gravesites to ask for blessings and to leave the first catch there as offerings. Well, in Masara that is. I don't recall getting money for luck, but I think that happens in Yamabuki and central Kantō more than the Tokiwa region...

I think the Clans do it, too; Satoru always had money to spend at the markets and he'd make it known.

[Wait- Ahh...]
Ahahaha. Thank you, but you really don't have to get me anything.

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[theturksway]

What makes you think it's winter time here? No real indication of that on this damn train when it's in the middle of nowhere. Not to mention we could probably go to an ice world and it'd be like winter but the next time hit another beach planet and suddenly it's summertime all over again.

[He's kind of making fun of her assessment because he's a jerk but also curious for her answer. What did she do, count the days from when she arrived and assumed that time back home was getting close to winter there? It was no where near winter time back home when he got here!]

[rookiemistakes]

Reno, it’s her birthday. Take it down a notch, yeah?

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[mtsilver_conquor]

[She snorts at the iceworld comment. Been there, prepped for it and then got called to see the conductor.]

Timewise on the train, you're right, but it's likely closer to spring than it is winter and I've kept a calendar. Plus, we've had two seasonal festivals already, and I wouldn't be shocked if we get one for spring at some point.

It's winter back home though.

[knifewithnoname]

We do be celebrating longest knight where I do be coming from too. [She smiled and then looks confused.]

How do you be knowing it would be being today? Do the months be being called like this in your world?

[A moment later she blinks.] Oh and be having a good birthday.

[mtsilver_conquor]

No, but I started a calendar soon after I arrived. I can show you if you like?

[There's a blink, then a sheepish smile.] ...Thanks.

[wisdominshadows]

Among the Hylians, Midwinter marks the Feast of Nayru, the Goddess of Wisdom. But tradition, she is associate with water and ice, and by some, time... so the turn of the year has become her season of celebration.

[mtsilver_conquor]

I'd say those are strange things to attribute to the Goddess of Wisdom, but I'd be a hypocrite; my own faith has associations that likely wouldn't make much sense to outsiders.

What kind of celebrations do you have during the Feast?

[sell_tickets]

"It is your birthday?" [Someone is a bit grumpy he didn't know sooner.] "Okay then, for your birthday, since I couldn't get you a proper gift, meet me in the games car in one hour. I will not only tell you all about Winsol, but I will also play chess with a promise to do my best not to scream or get angry."

[mtsilver_conquor]

[Sorry, she really doesn't think it's that big of a deal. It's not one of the Big Numbers.]

Thanks, but you really don't have to have a gift for me. It's not that big of a deal anyway.

Winsol? Is that a holiday or festival in your world?

[death_from_above]

"Happy birthday! We should celebrate with fish!"

[mtsilver_conquor]

Thanks, though why fish?

[goingthroughaphase]

Happy birthday!

There are a few different winter holidays celebrated back home. The one my family and I celebrate is Hanukkah, a religious festival that lasts for eight days. Each night, we light a candle on a special candle-holder called a menorah. We also say prayers, play some games, and eat fried foods.

/sorry for the slow

[mtsilver_conquor]

Thanks.

That's a long time for a festival. Does it have to do with the candles?

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[sos_pilot]

Off the top of my head, Christmas is one of the biggest winter holidays around! We put up a tree, hang up decorations, exchange presents, try to capture Santa Claus...

/sorry for the slow

[mtsilver_conquor]

Christmas?

[She cocks her head in confusion.]

Who's Santa Claus? Is she related to Christmas?

[tinkerheart]

I don't remember much about holidays so Nerdanel's account is probably the best one you get from our side.

[Unless Curufin has something to add. That, and what he said is not entirely truthful either. He remembers them perfectly; holidays as well as anything else. But there's not much to tell as those were occasions when he could not ignore that other part of his family any longer.]

I had, however, this [He lifts up into view a shimmering chain with a small leaf attached to the end of it. The leaf is carved out of some dark, polished wood and encrusted with veins of crystal.] sitting on my desk for some time. I knew, there was a reason for it.

[Yes, that is a gift. It was just waiting for an occassion to present itself. It just did.]

/sorry for the slow

[mtsilver_conquor]

[And anything else she was going to say - including protests that he really didn't need to give her a gift- die when she sees the necklace, eyes widening and mouth dropping open.]

F-for me?

[She points to her face.]