An Najaf/Winter Festival 2023-02-05

People are gathering at the monument in the center of the region. Three carts are already present, when a fourth arrives. All four quarters of the land are now assembled: cordial greetings are exchanged and then people fall silent as the cart gets closer to the other three.

Earl Wilbrand sits solemnly atop a brown steed. He wears a white shirt with a red boar on his chest. Underneath he has green trousers and red shoes. These are his dynastic colors. But his cape is in the colors of An Najaf: blue with a purple monkey embroidered on it. Since it is cold, he also wears a purple head.

Next to him is his sister Hildwina. She sits atop a white mare and is dressed in a blue gown with purple flowers embroidered on it. She wears a fur cloak of precious Fontan seals over it. Due to the freezing wind, she has pulled her hood over her head.

When the fourth cart is aligned to the other three, Wilbrand sounds a horn an the group starts moving towards the coast, while chattering erupts again.

After two hours they arrive and Wilbrand steps atop a wine barrel. “People of An Najaf! Today we uphold a sacred tradition as has been done since time immemorial. Let us preserve this precious tradition of our forebearers and this tradition will preserve us.

Winter is upon us and yet we have come here together to share our food. What foolishness is this? We have had plenty all year long and now the earth no longer gives us her bounty, we give away what we have. Would it not be wiser to have this feast when winter is over – when we can give away what we no longer need?

Let me answer this question and show you the wisdom of the ancients. The bread we share today will not outlast the feast – tomorrow nothing will be left of these precious gifts. Therefore, your bread is not the greatest gift today. Nay, the bread merely symbolizes your willingness to provide for your brethren now the earth has ceased to. It is a holy promise, an oath, to your fellow men that you will not leave them hungry.

So, by the authority granted to me by the Patriarch, I hereby officially declare this festival open! Fire Handler, you may light the Praise Fire!” While the fire handlers light the fire, the carts are trading their goods amongst each other:

• Wiesbread from the west, of which the dough has been mixed with nib sugar and cinnamon.
• Doesire pie from the north, consisting of a hot water crust with a cream filling and a topping of crumbled butter mixed with sugar.
• Almond sticks from the Amedes estate in the east, consisting of a puffed pastry filled with an almond paste.
• Anis cakes from the Armstrong estate in the south, which is a cake made from rye, flavored with anis.

Once the carts have exchanged their items, the people follow them back to their estates, where the food will be distributed among the locals and the rest of the festival will take place.