The Feast of St. Amos

Does everyone have their coats?   Elijah, don't argue with me on this, I don't care if you can create your own heat source, you're going to get cold and complain all afternoon. You're going to be helping your father hand out drinks. Odette, do you think you can help hand out presents?   The Cathedral puts a lot of work into the feast of St. Amos. We wouldn't want to let the monks down, would we?

— ~Katrina Goodvich

  The Feast of St. Amos is a feast turned secular holiday, at least in Mira. Held in memorial of St. Amos, the patron saint of charity and children, the Feast day celebrates the nature of Charity, especially in the cold winter months. While observation varies throughout the kingdom and their neighbors to the north, in Poartlind the Cathedral of St. Bartholomew holds a grand festival in the plaza.  

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The Saint of Charity

St. Amos was a third century bishop, who lived in a small coastal town overseeing the coastline churches. Known best for his Charity, St. Amos would often help the parishoners of his parishes in secret, supporting them without leaving his flock feeling patronized. He was also known for performing several miracles, including ressurecting several children who had been killed by a butcher, chopped to pieces, and left in a pickling barrel.   There are also rumors in historical circles that he punched a heretic at the council of Nacoena, but sadly there is not enough historical basis to confirm or deny this fact.   St. Amos passed peacfully in 372, leaving behind a legacy of charity and love. He was cannonized over two hundred years later, as the Patron Saint of Charity and Children. In honor of his feast day, it became custom to leave a small coin on the windowsill of a member of the community in need.  

The Feast Day

  Over time, the Feast day evolved. When it became impactical to leave a coin on the windowsill, either out of modesty or opportunistic sinners, patrons of the Church resorted to more subtle means of charity. Boots that had been left on the front stoop to avoid bringing snow inside soon found themselves full of coins. The same happened to socks left out to dry. In order to distract the town and allow gift givers to move about in secret, St. Bartholomew's Cathedral began to hold a Feast Day mass and dinner, with all invited. Even those who were not active in the Creationist faith usually attended for the promise of free dinner.   Over the years, the Mass and Dinner expanded to become a small festival for the town. The day activities expanded to include games for the children, music, and ice skating when the weather permitted. As the sun set parishoners would file into the cathedral for mass, the monks would set about (along with several volunteers) setting up the plaza for the feast. Once Mass had ended, the church doors would burst open and the community would descend.   After dinner, St. Amos himself would appear, leading a donkey laden with gifts. A parade would be held in the streets around the cathedral, during which St. Amos would stop at several homes and leave gifts for the families within. (Volunteers would dart about the dark side streets, leaving gifts of charities for those who did not want to be part of the spectacle.) At the end the childen would gather around St. Amos, and be given a small gift of their own to take home, usually a small toy or some sweets.  

Observation in other regions

  While Mira is the birthplace of the faith and therefore where its influence is strongest, the observation of the Feast day of St. Amos is present in other Kingdoms.  

Kingdom of Dalreme

The Kingdom of Dalreme, Mira's sister kingdom, is likely the place withere the Feast of St. Amos is most frevently observed aside from Mira itself. Its festivities are similar to Mira, although the inclusion of the 'Winter dance' is something unique to the kingdom, allowing young couples to court and everyone expend a little extra energy. As Dalreme is a northern kingdom that is often heavily draped in snow when the feast of St. Amos approaches, the Feast and many activities are held in the Community Hall of the Church, or simply whatever largest building is available.  

Shimshar

Shimshar, to Mira's south, is not as ardent a Creationist state as Mira is. This being said, there are still several Creationist communities that observe the feast of St. Amos. While the festivities aren't as extravagant, children are encouraged to leave their shoes out on the porch for St. Amos to leave a gift in as they attend mass. A Feast is also held, though Shimshar's warmer climes mean that the feast can easily be held out of doors.  

The Lunis Archiapelago

Of the known kingdoms, The Arichapelago has the least claim to a Creationist heritage. Here only the shoes are left out, and most churches do not hold a feast day mass for the Saint. It becomes more of an excuse to get together and drink and eat (rather voraciously) than a genuine celebration of the act of charity.  

Cailar

Cailar, which for a long time was the largest global power in the Mortal Lands, had a wide variety of methods in which to observe the feast of St. Amos. While the Capital and its matching Cathedral had the Mass, Feast, and Festival, many of the smaller churches in the region had their own festivals. However, the growing secular aspect of the country meant that the true intention of the Feast day, which was to spread charity to those in need, was often lost. A visitor from Mira was confused when, despite the holy intentions of the mass and the grand feast after, many of the poor and homeless were chased away from the tables.  

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  Some have said, late at night when the festivities have died down, the garlands wrapped up and tucked away, and the children tucked into their beds, that a ringing of sleigh bells can be heard as a man walks through the streets leading a donkey. No one has ever seen his face, but gifts that no member of the parish created or put together are left at the homes of those most in need, with only a sprig of evergreen and a slice of orange speared on it as a marker of its deliverer.