Like with all things, there is a balance. The longest day must also be met with the longest night; LuaXou. Also known as the Endless Night. Falling within the same month each year, a shaman will pinpoint the auspicious time with the use of star reading and paying head to the stretching hours of Luna’s glow. Like with SolXou the event is a large festival celebrating Luna in her very nature and the glory of the Moon worshipers. As the sun sets, preparations are made, and the festival comes to life.
Bon fires dot around entire stretches of territory; a special wood known as shirsam is burned as it creates a ghostly white flame. This is also one of the few days where war games may take place. Only the Patriarch may be challenged to the fight for position and only when not taking part in Lua’Ishkahan. Bodypaint, tattooing, and scarification rituals are also performed throughout the night.
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The focus of this festival is Luna, the Soul Keeper. Her calm, cool light shining across the souls of Zykla ancestors since beginning-less nights. In the days prior to LuaXou, many in the village go about crafting veils. Often made from white material or pale shades of blue in preparation for the Lua’Ishkahan (Dance of Veils or Luna’s Veiled Dance). The largest bonfire is set in the middle of a territory and nine dancers are chosen to begin a dance that will continue well into the evening.
Each Zykla’s face is hidden behind a veil once they enter the rotation and can only be unveiled once they have exited the circle. This dance is to continue the entire night without stop and is never to drop below nine dancers. As one Zykla gets tired, another will step into her place to continue until the first rays of sunlight touch the territory. This dance is typically done by female Zykla as a representation of Mother Moon but it is not entirely unheard of for a male to take part in this portion of the celebrations.
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