Chapter 22: The Summer Solstice Festival
Day after day, harvested Wheat was transported from various regions, bringing bustle to Northernford, the Domain Capital. One such day, Mother made a declaration at the breakfast table. “We are going to hold the Summer Solstice Festival lavishly this year!”
“Haha, you sound really enthusiastic.”
“Ufufu, last year’s poor harvest meant we couldn’t hold a lively Festival.” As Winter Wheat is sometimes harvested in June in this region, the Summer Solstice Festival, which thanks the sun, also serves as the Harvest Festival.
Because of the poor harvest last year, there was no festive mood, and the Summer Solstice Festival was held quietly. The Summer Solstice Festival is a celebration of the harvest, but if it can be held lavishly, it seems to hold various other meanings.
I once asked Smith, the Steward, about the Summer Solstice Festival, and he told me, “If the Summer Solstice Festival is held grandly, people gather from all regions, making it an opportunity to find a partner.” Certainly, in this world, people don’t usually leave their own Towns or villages. It makes sense that a Festival where people gather from various places also becomes an opportunity for young men and women to meet.
When Father proclaimed that the Summer Solstice Festival would be held lavishly this year, the Town of Northernford erupted with excitement. When I went out, the only topic was the Festival. “Alright! We’re having a lively Summer Solstice Festival this year!”
“I want to eat lots of delicious Food.”
“I have to find a good person this year.” Everyone seemed to have their own hopes for the Festival, but the joy was mutual.
In the main square at the center of the Town, carpenters began building Stalls circling the perimeter, and preparations for the Festival moved forward. Hearing that the Summer Solstice Festival would be held grandly, also serving as the Harvest Festival, people gathered from neighboring Towns and villages. All the Inns in Northernford looked set to be fully booked.
Finally, the day of the Summer Solstice Festival arrived. The cobbled main square in the center of the Town of Northernford was packed with gathered people, overflowing with excitement.
In the middle of the main square stood a Stone Statue of the Mother Goddess of the Earth. In this country, the Goddess of Creation is also worshipped as the Deity of the Earth’s Bounty. Come to think of it, I haven’t heard the Goddess‘s words since I was reincarnated, but I do go to the Church occasionally to offer a prayer of thanks.
During the Summer Solstice Festival, it is customary for the Fairchild family to line up in front of the Goddess Statue. Theo was among them. Theo was reluctant, saying, “I am not a member of the family,” but Mother insisted, saying, “Theo is just like family.”
Mother was dressed in ceremonial clothes, different from her usual attire. It was a flowing outfit made of layered white cloth, and she wore a Flower Crown on her head. It vaguely resembled the attire I had seen from the Greek era in my previous life. Mother slowly walked toward the Goddess Statue. The Sisters of the Church, also clad in white clothing, followed behind Mother.
In Mother‘s hands were the ears of Wheat that had just been harvested this year. Offering the harvest to the Goddess is the role of the Margrave‘s wife of each generation. It’s safe to say that the main figure of the Summer Solstice Festival is the Margrave‘s wife.
Mother, who is always smiling, had a serious expression only at this moment. She looked like a completely different person from the usual bright and cheerful Mother. She wore her long, silver hair unbound today, which she usually tied up. Just then, the wind blew, and her beautiful silver hair fluttered and spread out softly.
“Lady Mary, how wonderful!”
“She is beautiful as always!” Cries of admiration arose from the domain residents.
Holding the Wheat ears aloft in both hands, Mother stepped forward to the altar in front of the Goddess Statue. The Sisters, and we who were waiting behind them, all knelt on one knee. “Mother Goddess, by your grace, we have obtained a rich harvest from the earth. We thank you for the bounty of the sun and the earth that sustains our lives. We humbly offer these ears of Wheat harvested this year.”
Mother offered the Wheat ears to the Goddess Statue. Just then, a single ray of sunshine broke through the clouds. Bathed in the sunlight, Mother looked even more beautiful, almost divine.
The domain residents gathered in the square also closed their eyes all at once and offered prayers. After a while, when everyone looked up, Father declared: “Now, let the Festival begin!”
“Ooh!” The domain residents responded with a great cheer. Mother also returned to her usual mischievous smile.
As if they had been waiting, music rang out simultaneously throughout the Town. The melodies of Flutes and Lutes began to play, accompanied by the pounding of Drums. In various places across the Town, people began to dance to the music.
At the Stalls lined up around the main square, vendors were shouting loudly to draw in customers. Were those two talking awkwardly in front of a Stall just meeting now? Everyone was smiling beautifully. Festivals are wonderful.
