Winter Solstice Festival

The Winter Solstice is a traditional festival in Elbaf.

Overview
According to the beliefs of Elbaf, every year, a Winter Solstice Festival is held to celebrate "the death and rebirth of the sun". It is said that afterwards, the sun's warmth will return to end the winter season.

Before the festival, it is custom to fast for twelve days. However, before fasting, the citizens eat semla for nutrition during that time. It is believed that the more one has trouble with the fasting, the more he or she will appreciate the return of the sun.

Known Participants

 * Elbaf's Giants
 * Jarl
 * Jorl
 * Oimo
 * Kashi
 * Gerth
 * Hajrudin
 * Raideen
 * Stansen
 * Sheep's House residents
 * Carmel
 * Charlotte Linlin

History
Sixty-three to sixty-two years ago, Charlotte Linlin learned about this tradition from her friend Gerth during her stay on Elbaf. Linlin was excited for the traditional semla the giants had before the fast, to the point of eating more than anyone and nearly deprived everybody else of it.

Linlin had experienced difficulties during the first half of the fasting, but on the seventh day, Linlin started one of her rampages on Elbaf and demanded semla. Gerth called Mother Carmel to the scene. However, by the time Carmel arrived to the village, Linlin had already destroyed most of it, leaving several adult giants lying on the ground. Jorl confronted Linlin, calling her an "evil spirit" unworthy to pay thanks to the sun and ignored Carmel's plea for forgiveness as he swung his sword towards Linlin. The rampaging Linlin then fatally injured Jorl before the giants calmed her by giving her semla. Jorl died from his injuries and this incident was what earned Linlin the hatred of the giants.

Trivia

 * The festival is for a phenomenon called "the Winter solstice" which is the name given for the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest night of the year.
 * The fasting might be a reference to Lent, with the feast before the fasting resembling Carnival.
 * Semla was also traditionally eaten on Shrove Tuesday, the last day of eating before Lent.

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Festival du Solstice d'Hiver