Sommarenslutt

A festival found in the region where Losiento comes from.

It signals the end of summer time, when Baldur's power is at his strongest, and when his power begins to wane and give way to the colder months when he rests from his work. The festival was meant to beseech his protection from the dark during those harsh months, by celebrating his greatness and bolstering his spirit with drinking and merrymaking. This not only uplifts the god's spirit and strength for the next year, but also the spirits and morale of the people in this region when winter eventually sets in within the next few months.

The festival lasts 7 days, each day with a different closing event. After a few words from either a village head or a member of the Church of Baldur, the celebrations come to a close.
 * First night is a feast.
 * Second night is a dance.
 * Third night is a contest of strength. This one results in the crowning of the 'Sommarenslutt King' who will be Baldur's representative for the rest of the festival.
 * Fourth night is a concert.
 * Fifth night is a contest of beauty. This results in the crowning on the 'Sommarenslutt Maiden', usually a young maiden the age of 16 or even younger.
 * Sixth night is the releasing of floating lanterns, a symbolic ritual to spread the light of Baldur into the sky, hoping for more light in the sky if they 'helped' their god.
 * The final night is when the Sommarenslutt Maiden makes a prayer that everyone follows in that would bring the festival to a close. To which the Sommarenslutt King, representing Baldur, would announce that the next year would be full of light and life, a blessing upon their crops for the future of the community. Part of this was a kiss onto the Sommarenslutt Maiden's cheek or head, depending.

The houses and monuments are decorated with sunflowers to represent the light of the sun touching everywhere, blessing everything. One of the reasons why the festival is held at the end of summer is that the sunflowers, prized by the locals in this region as being lucky and blessed by Baldur, reach their peak growth by this time, standing almost as tall as wheat.