soutulmas

Soutulmas is a term used in fictional contexts to denote a winter festival celebrated by communities in imagined worlds, particularly in speculative fiction, fantasy literature, and role-playing games. The festival typically marks the end of the harvest season and the darkest days of winter, emphasizing communal gathering, mutual aid, and cultural transmission.

Etymology varies by author; soutulmas is a constructed word whose roots are given different meanings across works. Some settings present it as derived from an ancient tongue in-universe, others describe it as a modern loanword.

Core practices often include a shared feast, lighting rituals (candles or bonfires), storytelling, singing, and the giving and receiving of handmade gifts. Decorative motifs may feature sun or star symbols, evergreen foliage, and lanterns to symbolize warmth and light returning.

Role in narrative: soutulmas provides a framework for community rituals, memory, and moral themes such as generosity, solidarity, and resilience against the cold. In some stories, the festival also serves as a plot device for reunions, oath-taking, or rites of passage.

See also: Solstice festivals, Yule, Saturnalia, fictional holidays.