Svyturys Carnival

The Svyturys Carnival is a week-long carnival held in the Liotainian city of Svyturys. It begins on the third Monday of April, and ends on the following Sunday.
=== History ===
The carnival started in Svyturys during its time as a Firoccan Treaty Port, when locals began to imitate similar celebrations from mainland Firocco. After control returned to Liotain in 1707, the carnival continued, slowly growing in scope and gaining its own unique traditions.
=== Costumes ===
Carnival-goers are strongly encouraged to wear costumes, which can either be home-made or purchased (usually for outrageous sums).
Participants wear painted wooden or ceramic masks and ornate, and often outrageous, clothing.
=== Main Events ===
* The Archangel's Arrival: the carnival opens in the afternoon with a masked acrobat, dressed as an archangel, "flying" above the crowd in the central square.
* Blue Maiden's Coronation: twelve local girls compete for the coveted crown of "the Blue Maiden" on the second day of the carnival.
* Parades: each morning of the carnival opens with a parade starting in the "Little Firocco" quarter, and ending in the Central Square.
* Street Operetta: a unique musical genre features the actor-singers moving about freely through the crowd, performing short half-hour operas where spectators interact with the live performance.
* Feast and Ball: a feast and masquerade ball is held in the Svyturys Guild Hall on the Friday evening of the Carnival. There are limitations on the number of people allowed into the Guild Hall.
* Ringing the Thunder Bell: the massive "Thunder Bell" installed in the tower of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Svyturys rings three times a year: twice for religious holidays and once to signal the end of the Carnival. As the largest bell in Liotain, and one of the ten largest in the world, the ringing of the "Thunder Bell" provides a resounding final end to the celebrations.
==== Miscellaneous Entertainments ====
* Street Musicians: street musicians (licensed by the city) perform from morning until evening. Vanollars and other stringed instruments, as well as hangs, are most common.
* Fire-jugglers
* Street sellers
==== Characters ====
A number of people have unique costumes and wander around the carnival each day. By tradition, these characters are accompanied by an assistant with a pennant (showing they are an official part of the carnival).
* The Phantom
* Queen of Bells
* The Blue Maiden
* The Centurion
* Brother John
* The Juggler
* The Knight
=== Tourism ===
The Carnival is Liotain's largest single tourism event, often drawing up to a hundred thousand people.
=== Upcoming Carnivals ===
* 1908: April 20-26
* 1909: April 19-25
* 1910: April 18-24
* 1911: April 17-23
* 1912: April 15-21
* 1913: April 21-27
* 1914: April 20-26
Category:Liotainian Culture
Category:Liotain