LUMINALIA
Luminalia is a holiday celebrated by both Banu and Humans annually on 22 December. It originated as the irregularly-held Banu festival tsikti efanga (Glow Festival), marked by the lighting of ceremonial lamps that stay lit until their fuel is consumed (about 34,000 beats / 2 Standard Earth Days). While the lamps are burning, all Banu, no matter where they are, are considered one Souli. They invite friends, business associates, and passing strangers into their Soulis and give their guests a gift. In Banu culture, this is so that they will always have something that they could sell. All attendees are expected to provide food, drinks, and/or party favors in return, and if they can't, the host will often have those items available for purchase.
Humans in the Davien system began to participate in the festival with Banu shortly after the Banu-Human Interstellar Peace and Trade Accord in SEY 2438. Today, Banu and Humans commemorate Luminalia with gift-exchanges, present hunts, glowing lights, food and drink, limited-time discounts, decorations in green and red, and gatherings of family, friends, business associates, and acquaintances.
HISTORY
Although its origins are unknown due to the Banu practice of not keeping historical records, tsikti efanga has existed at least as long as the Banu Protectorate has had contact with other civilizations. In MXY III.367 (SEY 1927), a group of Xi'an diplomats participated in a planet-wide celebration of the festival on Trise I. Initially there solely to observe Banu culture, they were surprised to see Banu suddenly hang colorful lanterns, fill them with oil, and light them.
When asked what was happening, the Banu explained that it was time for tsikti efanga, and invited the diplomats to join in the festivities. At first they declined, but ultimately relented after repeated requests. They were then laden with gifts in exchange for samples of Xi'an cuisine, which was met with great enthusiasm from the gastronomically-curious Banu. Additionally, the diplomats witnessed multiple members of two fiercely competitive religious Soulis cheerfully exchange presents with one another. They found this especially intriguing. One diplomat wrote in his report to the Emperor, "A curiously convivial spirit has arisen where there was once inter-House rivalry. Gifts pass freely from hand to hand, evidently without malice, even between sworn enemies."
Another historically significant tsikti efanga was held in SEY 2441, when the members of a ship repair Souli that had been doing business on Cestulus (Davien II) in the United Nations of Earth (UNE) lit their ceremonial lamps and invited Humans to come and celebrate with them. In contrast to the cautious Xi'an diplomats, Humans did not need to be asked twice.
For as long as the lanterns burned, Humans were given gifts if they contributed food, drinks, or other items to the celebration. If guests didn't have any items to provide, nearby merchants from other Soulis conveniently had some for sale at a holiday discount. As more and more Humans joined throughout the night, the party eventually grew large enough that it attracted the attention of a local news crew. The resulting story of this raucous celebration involving Humans and their then-new interstellar neighbors became one of the year's most played clips.
By the time the next tsikti efanga occurred in December 2445, Banu presence on Davien had increased enough that artisans and small business owners located near Soulis noticed a significant boost in sales when festivities began. This success was enough to convince them to organize a night market event centered around the festival the following year. Although this did not coincide with an actual tsikti efanga, enough Humans and Banu participated in the market that Davien merchants were satisfied with their profits and began to hold "Banu holiday events" every December. Soulis soon began to light their lamps at the same time as these events to attract business of their own, and Humans started throwing private gatherings as an excuse to get together with family and friends. By the dawn of the 26th century, a Human-Banu hybrid version of the tsikti efanga, dubbed "Luminalia" by the press, had become an annual tradition on Davien.
As Luminalia increased in popularity, it spread to neighboring systems with less Banu influence and further changed from its original form. Major Human-owned corporations started to mass-market special oil lamps and items for hosts to gift their guests, and for guests to bring their hosts, lessening the importance of food to the holiday. Other Human merchants modified the traditional gift sharing by hiding empty gift-wrapped packages that could be returned unopened in exchange for a surprise like a few credits or a small toy. The increased foot traffic into their stores increased holiday sales and became a tradition in its own right. A popular ad campaign featuring a Banu excited to host a celebration with their Human friends used the colors green and red to represent Luminalia, indelibly associating them with the holiday in the public consciousness. By the mid-26th century, Luminalia celebrations had become so prevalent throughout the United Empire of Earth (UEE) that it was officially added to the Human calendar in SEY 2557.