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[astralera]

Hello,

There are those of you likely familiar with Christmas, or the Winter Solstice, or any myriad of other winter festivals that bring warmth to the coldest time of year. The land from whence I hail and call home has what is known as the Starlight Celebration, and it is a celebration of the kindness and generosity that can be found even in the darkest of times. There are many seasonal celebrations throughout Eorzea, but this is the one I hold most dear to my heart, and so I would share with you its history.

°˖✧ The Starlight ☆ Celebration ✧˖°

The origins of the Starlight Celebration can be traced back several generations ago to Coerthas, near the beginning of the Dragonsong War. A series of battles between the Knights of Ishgard and the Dravanian Horde left thousands homeless and forced many Ishgardian children — now orphans — to endure the cold, bitter winds.

But each night a handful of Ishgardian knights would search out these children and offer them warmth and shelter in their barracks. This was forbidden by the knight's charter, however these knights did not care — many of them had been orphans themselves, and did what they could to help regardless of rules. They hid the children under the scarlet jackets of their uniforms and continued to do this each night for several months until there was a ceasefire.

The incident was soon forgotten by most, but those orphans the knights had helped did not forget. Once they were grown they sought to pay tribute to their rescuers, dressing themselves in scarlet uniforms and giving out gifts to the realm's children in the hopes of passing along the kindness they themselves had received as children.

While Ishgard is closely associated with the goddess Halone the Fury, somehow, over time the snowy-bearded captain of those kindhearted knights came to be associated with Nymeia the Spinner instead.

In more recent generations the old captain became known as the 'Saint of Nymeia', with children believing that this figure — immortal and unseen — delivers their wishes for presents to Nymeia Herself after they place said wishes in an envelope beneath a properly decorated pine or fir tree. His 'knights' became the 'Saint's Little Helpers' and are the ones tasked with bringing comfort and joy to children the realm over.

The folk legend of the Saint has been strengthened over the years by people swearing they have been visited by the man in the flesh, and given not just a gift but also succor in their hours of direst need as children.

The modern day Starlight Celebration is primarily handled by the Adventurer's Guild, with assistance from various other organizations and donations from anonymous philanthropists. Willing adventurer's play the role of the Saint's Little Helpers and each year take up whatever task is assigned to them. Ideally this is to deliver gifts to the children, though occasionally there are odder requests.

May you all be blessed this eve not by saint or deity, but by the kindness in your hearts and the love of those you hold dear.

Please keep warm,

Era.



((ooc: for the like two characters age ~10-12 and under, feel free to have had a handmade Chocobo plush about 10" tall dropped off to them via festive Carbuncle. I am a dumb and forgot, unlike Era who would absolutely never let a young kiddo go without a Starlight gift. :U))

Comments

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[thekingsshield]

What a great story! It sounds like a Santa Claus in another world!

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[astralera]

Yes, there are quite a few similarities between the Saint of Nymeia and the Santa Claus of Christmas. The red jacket trimmed with white fur, and the Santa Claus hat are near identical to what is commonly said to be worn by the Saint.

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[thekingsshield]

I should tell him about it the next time I see him, I bet he'll get a real hoot out of it!

[astralera]

I imagine it would be nice to know that there are others who have brought similar joy to children and adult alike, across so many generations.

[thekingsshield]

I just have to remember to tell him. And if you see your saint, you better tell them too! Why, there might be so many Santas and Saints out there, one for almost every world!

[astralera]

The Saint of Nymeia is long since dead. It is the legacy of him and his soldiers that lives on to this day. That people continue the tradition of sharing such kindness with strangers on these coldest of eves is something miraculous.

[thekingsshield]

Then in that way, he's still alive, ain't he? He's living on in their hearts!

[astralera]

Perhaps, in some ways. Though I think it a disservice to think only of the captain that became the face of Starlight, and not also of his soldiers that first disobeyed. A captain is nothing without his soldiers.

Luckily the Saint's Helpers are just as important in the minds of children as the Saint himself.

[thekingsshield]

Well of course! You can't have Santa Claus without all his helpers! The missus, the elves, and the reindeer!

misplaced this notif, sorry!

[astralera]

Reindeer?

no worries

[thekingsshield]

Of course! His magic flying reindeer that help his sleigh go all around the worlds!

Re: no worries

[astralera]

The worlds, plural? That is impressive.

[thekingsshield]

Of course! There's almost nothing Santa Claus can't do!

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[pinkmin]

[chocobo choCOBO CHOCOBO. Whomst. You can bet its gonna find a home tucked in with some pillows.]

Thank you for sharing that story.

I hope you stay warm as well.

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[astralera]

And my thanks to you for reading it.

I've good company to help keep any chill at bay.