Post by wordy on May 30, 2011 18:33:56 GMT 10
Holidays in Emelan
by Elsceetaria and LadyArianne
Tamora Pierce only introduces readers to two holidays in Emelan. These are the Summer and Winter solstices known as Midsummer and Longnight. These holidays are both very different, but they have similar themes to them. In this article, Midsummer and Longnight are analyzed separately then brought together in conclusion.
Midsummer
Midsummer or the Summer Solstice is the first holiday encountered as readers of the very first of the Emelan books, Sandry’s Book or The Magic in the Weaving know. The solstice is a major holiday to individuals at the Winding Circle Temple, and although nothing is said for certain it is likely that the holiday is celebrated to much the same degree at other Living Circle Temples as well as in some form in private homes and businesses throughout Summersea and Emelan.
“Winding Circle kept the Midsummer holiday in style with a feast, music and dancing, and rituals. One and all thanked the sun for its gifts on the longest day of the year, and prayed for a good harvest,” This quote describes the basic outline of the major temple wide celebrations. Obviously, this kind of a celebration requires quite a bit of prep work, and everyone is required to pitch in to help. In the temple, all the floors are scrubbed and bonfires are laid at the gates. Furthermore, cooking for the feast including meats and cakes began days before the holiday and spread beyond the main temple kitchen. Since students had the day off from studies and work, the entire community therefore could partake of the celebrations together knowing that they had contributed to the festivities regardless of status within the temple.
It is likely that the citizens of outside of the temple celebrated in a similar if smaller way. Families probably worked together to create small gatherings either within their homes or within their neighborhoods where they could worship just as those at the temple did. The bonfires and meals people held were likely smaller, but they could still hold the same intent. The people of Emelan would gather to have fun and celebrate that the sun had given them food and to pray that it would yet again.
It is actually interesting that the main religious statement of Midsummer is to thank the sun, because in the Emelan universe no specific God or Godess is named to represent the sun and what it stands for. It is possible that there is a deity for the sun who remains unnamed to readers, or it is possible that people are worshiping to the deities who represent what the sun means in physical terms. Given the nature of the Living Circle religion it is likely the second one, since it seems unlikely that there would be a specific holiday for a specific God, when everyone seems to have accepted their own set of Gods and Goddesses to worship. Based on the idea that people are worshipping their own set of deities at Midsummer likely candidates include Mila of the Grain (harvest), Green Man(growth), and Tuhengri Stormlord(weather). These, however, are mainly Earth and Air Gods, so it is likely that those worshipping especially dedicates in the Fire and Water temples are worshipping to their own Gods in their own way.
Longnight
Longnight, or the winter solstice occurs on the night of the 21st day and morning of the 22nd day of Hearth Moon. It is the longest night of the year, hence the name, and is when those of the Living Circle religion pray for the return of longer days and of the sun.
“It was the hammer of winter, the night when all fires were doused and everyone prayed for the sun to rise.” This quote describes how those at the temple, and I would presume due to it’s close proximity; Summersea as well, would pray for the return of longer days when the sun would return allowing for farmers to once more grow crops meaning that the traditional meager amount of food, that is typical in winter would soon be over, allowing them to live more comfortably and with less hardships.
Unlike Midsummer, it is not as much celebrated but more revered, and thought of as the changing of the tide, the start of a new chapter in their lives, the moving from the darkest time of the year and from the hardships back into the light and warmth of spring. There is not much told about this holiday in the books, apart that it is Rosethorn’s birthday.
By praying for the return of the sun and the lessening of winter, it is most probable that the inhabitants are praying to Mila of the Grain for the upcoming spring and summer, hoping for a good harvest that would last them through another winter, and to the Green Man, who is the God of Vigorous growth once more hoping for a good and prosperous spring and also to Tuhengri Stormlord, the God of Weather hoping for warmer and more pleasant weather that would both make living easier and also make the crops grow and also to Shurri Firesword in order to defend their crops and families from the hardships of winter. It would seem that the major religious meaning of the Longnight holiday is the bringing about of spring and good harvests for the next year and the next winter.
Conclusions
Midsummer and Longnight are very different holidays. Midsummer as a holiday is a large celebration that has a party feel with the religion being secondary. In contrast, Longnight is primarily religious with some level of celebration occurring. Both holidays seem to focus on the sun and harvest to some degree. Therefore, it is likely Mila of the Grain and Tuhengri Stormlord play a role in the festivities of both holidays. There are other deities who may play a role in one holiday or another, but much of this must be speculation based on what is known of the Living Circle religion and the land of Emelan.