Hearthrunean New Years Day

Hearthrunean New Years Day, while in many ways similar to that of New Years Day in what it celebrates, has celebrations and traditions that largely remain unique to Hearthrunean culture itself. Hearthrunean New Years Day, also sometimes called the Candlelight Festival, occurs annually on 1 Wintertide and is widely celebrated across Hearthrune.

Celebrations and Customs
Celebrations usually start around the evening; usually around 6 to 10 PM. During this period, celebrators will exchange small gifts and eat food, usually outdoors. After 10 PM, celebrators will usually light candles or other light sources and festivities will continue.

Around 11 PM, celebrators will congregate by going to the outer boundaries of their city or town and form what could be called a very large circle; some will hold hands; others will congregate near the center of their city or town and others will move to areas of high elevation, e.g. the top of a building. Celebrators will participate in storytelling and the exchange of jokes and wishes of success and prosperity in the next year until shortly before midnight, when the majority of light sources; candles, lanterns and lamps, streetlights, etc. are extinguished or turned off.

At midnight, celebrators will begin a period of singing; most will sing or hum, others will play instruments. Due to the large amount of people usually participating and the inherent chaotic and disorganized nature of the tradition, the singing usually fails to actually resemble the intended song. This tradition, which is usually called the Convergence, is seen as very culturally important and draws its roots from Hearthrunean paganism; the transition period between the previous year and the new year is described as a period in which ones soul is most connected to the world.

Despite the fact that the singing which occurs on Hearthrunean New Years Day usually fails to resemble its intended song, the singing has been described as "very powerful" and "divine".