terminieade

Terminieade is a fictional cultural festival described in speculative fiction and world-building materials. In the Terminia canon, it is an annual event that brings communities together to acknowledge endings and to prepare for new beginnings, with emphasis on storytelling, craft, and collective memory.

In-world origins trace Terminieade to a guild of storytellers known as the Endwrights, who allegedly proclaimed a day for closing chapters and sharing lessons learned. Over time, the observance broadened to include markets, performances, and memory-keeping practices that accompany rural and urban communities alike. The festival is typically held in late autumn, aligning with seasonal transitions.

During the festival, open-air markets showcase crafts and salvaged objects, while storytelling circles, plays, and poetry readings address endings—be they personal, social, or ecological. Lanterns, light installations, and processions illuminate streets after dusk. Communities often publish a shared “ending log” that records completed projects and commitments for the future.

The term Terminieade appears to be a constructed name blending Latin terminus (end) with the suffix -ade, a pattern seen in other Terminian festival names. It is widely used within the fictional setting and has no real-world cognates outside the canon.

In the Terminian universe, Terminieade serves as a thematic focal point for reflection on change, closure, and renewal. It is used by authors and game creators as a narrative device to explore resilience and community ties. Outside the canon, the term is occasionally referenced in fan wikis as a fictional concept.