Olorna

A religious holiday celebrated by Exans, falling on the winter solstice. Because exans associate darkness with safety and The Creator, the longest night of the year is seen as a time to be celebrated, when all exans can feel closest to the deity that gave them their home.

Exans who celebrate Olorna will send their thanks to the Creator and pray for another year of prosperity. Traditionally, these prayers are expressed by writing them on a card and burning them in a small fire, but the younger generations will just send their wishes verbally or mentally.

Many families will prepare feasts in the Creator's name, and larger cities may hold entire festivals. Exans are encouraged to put out as many lights as possible and rely on their natural night vision to get around, save for the fire used to burn prayer cards. Most communities will also construct a shrine with a large bowl made of bone, at which exans will pluck off and deposit one of their own feathers before the night is over, returning a bit of life to the Creator as thanks.