From Auberdine Community Wiki
The Lunar Festival is a time of celebration. The people of Azeroth celebrate their triumph of many thousands of years ago, when an alliance of good races (the night elves, tauren, furbolgs, and earthen) defeated a terrible evil called the Burning Legion. It is also a time of remembrance for the valor and wisdom of that ancient age.
Today, the Lunar Festival is held by the druids of Nighthaven. Both the Horde and Alliance are welcome to celebrate and shoot fireworks — a symbol of Elune's power. Ancient heroes of the past also appear throughout the land, offering gifts to those who find and honor them.
It is a time of happiness, fortune and celebration, but it has a deeper motive as well.
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Auberdine's Lunar Celebrations
Overview
The people of Auberdine celebrate Lunar Festival like any other average town.
Whereas the village puts a little more effort into various contests, especially diving and racing to Onu's grove and back, to a all-rounder, it barely excels to be worth a mention.
Beginning Ceremony
Auberdine begins the festival one week after it has officially been declared by Moonglade.
The ceremony starting the event is lead by a local druid, preferably one of the highest rank. He is usually accompanied by a Priestess of Elune. The druid should start by rallying up the townsfolk, announcing the intent and reminding all why is the Lunar Festival held (lore). Afterwards, he should toss an Elder's Moonstone (pictured right) into the center of the moonwell. Following the emergance of the elder's moonbeam, prayer can be chanted. The villagers should then proceed in decorating the village with festive firecrackers and lamps.
Festive Activities
- Diving: A few moonstones are sunk under the main pier. Challengers dive after them without any equipment, elixirs or other aid. There are about ten moonstones total. The one to find the most wins. The prize is a minor feast for the contestant's family, including festival moonshine.
- Races: Challengers are to run from the town hall to the Grove of the Ancients. Any way is allowed. The first one back wins. There are many categories - druids, hunters, commonfolk to name a few. The winners each recieve a moonstone complete with a blessing from their respective Elder at midnight. The last race of all is a free-for-all competition, with reward being only reputation.
- Storytelling: Kaldorei of all ages gather round the most venerated members of the community. What follows are many stories from their lives, but not only. Half of the night is filled with legends and anecdotes. Rarely, an Elder herself might show up, sharing her wisdom and lifetales. In such event, everyone present will remain utmost silent, showing respect to the deceased spirit.
- Divination: The Lunar Festival is a time where many can seek the advice of their ancestors and various elders of the world. The benign spirits naturally manifest themselves a week before the festival ends, usually at midnight. However, their essence is closer to the mortal realm for the entire duration, and such priestesses may serve as a medium for communication with the elders if the case is urgent. It's not known there to be any restrictions as to what rank must the priestess be, bar apprentice.
Ending Ceremony
Auberdine celebrates the end of the Lunar Festival at the same time as it is declared by Moonglade.
The head druid, this time accompanied by the local priestess, both rally the townsfolk, declaring the festival nearing it's end. Together, they place the moonstones under the three arches on the moonwell. Afterwards, they both start singing prayers in honour of the ancients. After two verses, the whole town joins in mutual chanting. Often, a large amount of spirits manifest, bowing silently in gratitude and disappearing into the moon's light. When the final prayer is over, the populace dismantles all festival decorations and returns to the usual, everyday life.
Trivia
- The Lunar Festival, unlike other fesitivies, is a very pleasant time for the village. Auberdine becomes a paradox - amongst the gloomy nature of Darkshore shines the town, bursting with life.
- All prayers, chants and songs are very melodic and active, with multiple hand gestures and communal movement.
- There are almost always smiles on the villagers' faces. Children are brime of anticipation. Even the outsiders are met with more warmth than usual.
- Auberdine kaldorei do not treat the Elders as something overly sacred. They are respect as deceased spirits that made their way to the mortal world for this time, yet are treated almost like a venerated member of the still-living community. This is especially seen durning the storytelling nights near the end of the festival. For a type of ghost, the Elders are welcomed enthusiastically.
- Elder Starweave is the most frequently seen elder, manifesting herself near the tree at the southern border of Auberdine.
- The Elders manifesting themselves in Auberdine are those that died in the area in the past. No other elder can appear without aid of a mortal spiritual medium.
- In rare cases, even outsiders might ask a priestess for communication with their ancestor.