THE NIGHT OF THE FIRE

From the beginning of time, there was a tradition on the first full moon in December to gather around a great fire, burning offerings and to sing and dance together in honor of Miriana the princess of winter and night.

The people then hoped to be spared, because the winters could  be terrible in their country. There was the freezing cold and the storms, the short days and the long nights in which Miriana roamed the country and destroyed all life that she encountered.

So the legend says and so every year they lighted the fire and gathered, sang the old chants together and gave their gifts to the flames. It has been like this for ages.

But that year there was a fatal disease that quickly spread across the country. Entire villages were wiped out. The wise men said that every touch of another person can transmit the disease and so fear spread. People no longer met, rarely talked to one another, and often they had even fear of being infected by looking into a neighbor's eyes.

And when winter approached and it was time to prepare the night of the fire, the people stayed at home. The fear of the plague was greater than the worry of angering Miriana.

And so it came as it had to come. Miriana with her wolves found the way to there village.

The ice storm destroyed almost all houses, many people froze to death that night others died of hunger and cold in the following days. But those who survived helped each other. Together they managed to turn the ruins into habitable houses again.

The winter was very hard and not everyone made it, but in spring the community and solidarity was stronger than ever before. The plague was still claiming victims, but people had learned to be careful but never to give up the community again.

Next winter and all that followed, there was the night of the fire again and everyone came, the old, the young and also the children.

To this day, Miriana has never found her way back to the village.

This is the story why we celebrate the night of fire every year on the first full moon of December.

378 words

Inspiration: Life