Osyth does not celebrate Thanksgiving, but a similar holiday falls about this time of year — like most Osyth holidays, its date varies depending on the movements of the elementals. Kindling is celebrated after the winter elementals roar into town on a North wind, snatching hats and umbrellas, tossing garbage cans and tree branches from hand to hand.
But Kindling is not a celebration to welcome these rowdy spirits. At Kindling-tide, Osythites celebrate the ley-line and ask its protection through the long winter to come. They light fires on the line and burn tributes. Any Osythite born can tell of some childhood treasure given up in a fit of piety and then sorely regretted — for tribute balls are made beforehand, wrapped in layer upon layer of colored paper and metallic thread, and sit in the living room long enough for enthusiasm to grow cold. Many a child has secretly reclaimed a tribute from one of the balls, but found later that there was no-place to play with it undiscovered and, more than likely, buried it on the very ley-line they begrudged it to.
Other parts of the ritual are less stressful. The Fruited Bough hangs over the mantel for a few weeks or a month before the celebration, decorated a bit a day with tokens of gratitude. After tribute burning, the bonfire is lively with jokes and fireworks. The most exciting moment, though, is when some nimble relative ignites the fruited bough at the bonfire and rushes it blazing back into the house, carrying warmth from the ley-line to specially prepared candles and homefire. Then come feasting and drinking, games and songs; and always, as each guest arrives or departs, the Kindling blessing:
“Light against night, heat against cold, be with this house and all in it!”
Happy Kindling to all of you, and may your homes be warm in all ways, all winter.
