Day of Ashes

On the first day of the year, everyone, even the elderly, infants, and visiting outsiders, gather at the nearest temple of Solariel to their home. The priest, after performing a short ceremony and rites, channels the will of Solariel to pick an individual from the crowd. This person, deemed a protector for the coming year by Solariel, is brought to the center of the temple, which is commonly a raised platform, stripped almost or completely nude, and covered in a special blend of ashes made from the leaves of a sun uté tree. The chosen person is paraded around town, often with others chosen, as most settlements have more than one temple. The other residents silently line the streets of the city holding small dishes of gold paint. As the chosen pass, the citizens reach out to smear a streak of paint on their body. The chosen are seen as spiritual protectors in the coming year, and are often sought for advice. The Hallume believe this practice brings spiritual protection.