Astrum/Festivals and Holidays

Astrum as a realm is dedicated to the promotion and spread of Sanguis Astroism. For this reason many of the holidays and festivals celebrated in Astrum revolve around the worship of the Blood Stars, and the signs and portents derived from them. Many local holidays exist, as well as realm-wide festivals. These holidays and festivals are listed here.

Holidays

Astrum Luminaria

This holiday is celebrated in Libidizedd every year on May 2nd. It commemorates the conquering of Libidizedd by the seven noble pioneers from Morek, and the official founding of Astrum. As with most of the holidays of Sanguis Astroism, it is observed after sunset when the Blood Stars make their appearance. Celebrants commonly light and display red candles in their windows. The cliff-top Royal Palace of Astrum in Libidizedd is lit with hundreds of candles. It makes for an amazing site, which can be seen from all over the city.

Fasting of Austere

The Fasting is not really a holiday so much as an observance. It is also not so much to be celebrated as it is to be endured. The Fasting of Austere is observed on those nights when Austere is bright and Superior, with both Auspicious and Maddening dark. On these nights the faithful of Sanguis Astroism will forgo the partaking of any food or drink other than water, from sunset to sunrise. The Fasting is intended to remove worldly distractions from the faithful and provide a time to reflect on the bounties provided by the Blood Stars. The faithful will often journey to the local Temple of Sanguis Astroism to spend portions of the night in prayer in the Tower of Austere. As is to be expected, the Fasting of Austere is not the most popular of observances of Sanguis Astroism, and participation is usually limited to the most devout of followers.

Festivals

Festival of Auspicious Ascending

This festival is celebrated by all nobles and commoners on the entire island of Libidizedd. It is declared each year on June 9th. The festival starts officially at sunset of that day, and lasts until the next sunset.

The Festival of Auspicious Ascending commemorates the day that Astrum gained dominion over the entire isle of Libidizedd and achieved self-sufficiency. The following announcement was sent by Duke Brance Indirik to announce the inaugural celebration of the Festival:

Roleplay from Brance Indirik Message sent to All Nobles of Astrum Nobles of Astrum! Tonight at sunset the nobility of Astrum shall gather in the temple of Sanguis Astroism and watch the Blood Stars rise through the crystal panes in the ceiling of the central hall. The paths of the Stars shall reveal a sight of great import: Auspicious shall be bright and Superior in the center, Maddening will cast it's own bright light, and Austere will have turned it's face, allowing Auspicious and Maddening full reign. This, my friends, is a powerful combination. Today I have declared a festival to be held in the city of Libidizedd. The Festival of Auspicious Ascending shall commemorate the transformation of Astrum from a fledgling realm clinging to existence by it's fingernails, to a fully-formed realm, secure in it's possessions, and capable of feeding and defending itself. Each year from this point forward, on the anniversary of this very day, the Duke of Libidizedd shall commemorate the event by holding a Festival of Auspicious Ascending, and we shall remember our beginnings. Brance Indirik (Duke of Libidizedd)

One of the curiosities of the Festival of Auspicious Ascending is that Auspicious may not be dominant, or even bright, during the festival. The reasoning of this is that although the constellation of the Blood Stars may be predicted by one of sufficient knowledge, it is not based on annular rhythms. Any year in which the constellations of the Blood Stars matches that of the first Festival, the festival will be especially grand and lavish.

This illustration depicts the configuration of the Blood Stars during the announcement of the first Festival of Auspicious Ascending.

Here is an account of the first Festival of Auspicious Ascending.