Euduyu

Under Construction

Don't mind the blatant work in progress as I rewrite and organize this article

Euduyu is celebrated all throughout the Mörvundh Empire, from its capital on the banks of the [RIVER] to the furthest and newest outposts. It is a day of feasting, of love for each other, of receiving the blessings of the Emperor, and of fun competitions and good theatre.

The earliest records of the celebration are from more than 400 years ago, which makes it likely that the festival was established not long after Mörvundh established its imperial rule and broke from the tradition of kingdoms. Whether the festival has always taken place during spring/autumn at the height of the trade season is unclear. Whatever shape it had in the past, nowadays Euduyu is not only eagerly celebrated amongst the inhabitants of the Empire but is also popular amongst the many merchants who are spending the trade season. Some even ensure to pass through just during the two days of Euduyu to enjoy the festivities.

Blessings of the Emperor

One of the main events of Euduyu is the ceremony where the Emperor comes out to personally bestow blessings upon all inhabitants of the Mörvundh Empire.

Today we celebrate ourselves! We celebrate these wonderful people, our ancient culture, our shared hope for peace and prosperity and we celebrate the love the Emperor bestows on us!

A great procession is held through the streets of Sangzur, the capital city, to the Doenbru pavilion where the central ceremony is held. Even though this act of the Emperor is said to convey the blessings to all, those who are present there are believed to receive these blessings strongest. In other regions, from the large cities like Parvur to small villages in the outer realms, an official steps into the position of proxy. They hold their own ceremony and so pass on the Emperor's blessings to the local people, which is thought to work better than relying on nebulous promises of a ceremony being held far away.

Activities

What is popular certainly differs from region to region, but these staples can be found in pretty much any Euduyu celebration.

Market fairs

Sharing and celebrating the craftsmanship of what has been made is always a central element of Euduyu. The work of one's hands is thought to bring people together, even in individual projects. Therefore there are both market stands and showcase booths and many places will host competitions for anything from vegetables to inventions to art.

It is also considered an excellent moment to unveil any official or communal artworks that have been completed recently.

Food stands

Euduyu is a time to celebrate the wealth and plenty that the Empire provides and what better way than with food that the government has paid for? The Ministry of Cultural Affairs arranges for both some basic raw foodstuffs and pays local businesses to set up food stands and provide all and sundry with meals and snacks. Many of them grumble slightly about the low pay and say they could make more money if they were just allowed to set up shop on their own, but there's no denying that it helps build a good reputation.

Theatre shows

* Important values of Mörvundh that might play a role in celebrations:

* (Consider patriotism rather than nationalism, maybe they want to celebrate the political liberty, safety and wealth of the empire more than cultural superiority/unity) * Craftsmanship * The age of the empire (it's old!) * The unity between the different peoples (mostly focused on the Dreslyn cultures/ethnicities and the other main folk that I still need to make up) * Grace/beauty in the works of our hands

* Many area's, especially the ones more in the outer regions also have local religious rites during this festival. This is not exactly encouraged, but it is also not discouraged; it is treated more as a sort of "see how many different folk our empire encompasses and together we are all One People"

* Theatre shows that are not ham-fisted patriotism message deliveries but do carry the themes of the important values of the Mörvundh.

* Collectively building the safety of an empire (safe from externals) * Great works of beauty and craftsmanship that were not possible alone, often set in ancient times and aided by the old fae descended folk * Heroes can be either local or Dreslyn, the popular scripts are often adapted to what is popular in the area; fae folk might be replaced by local gods although narratives of "actually your local gods were fae descendants!" might appear in the months following * Romeo/Juliet romances are also popular

Related Organizations

• Mörvundh Empire

Related Ethnicities

• Fae Descendents of Mörvundh
• Mörvundh Dreslyn
• Naelasaf

Organisation

Like most festivals, Euduyu is largely organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. Contrary to what might be expected, special attention is given to the outer realms and the smaller villages as the heartlands and large cities pretty much know what to do and often have their own enthusiastic local organisers.

They also issue many invitations to merchants and diplomats, entreating them to come and witness the festivities and sometimes organising them into groups where they have opportunities to mingle and make business deals.

The Ties That Bind

In regions that have been part of the Morvundh Empire for a long time and especially those that were part of the original kingdoms, great pride is taken in how old these traditions are.

This doesn't exclude newcomers in the slightest, who are greatly welcomed since expansion helps keep the Empire healthy, but there is definitely a sense in that heartlands that they are the source of the original safety and wealth that the Empire brings.