zmklý

Zmklý is a fictional term introduced in a world-building project to describe a ceremonial lantern central to winter rites in the imagined region of Valenmark. The word is used to denote both the object and the ritual surrounding it.

A zmklý is a portable lantern carried by a designated guardian during the longest night. It functions as a symbol of light returning after darkness and guides a public procession through villages and markets. The ritual often culminates in a communal fire or shared illumination.

Traditionally, zmklý lanterns are constructed from ash wood frames, glass panes, and a metal rim. They are typically enamelled in white or icy blue and house a single candle or oil lamp. Some variants use multiple compartments to hold different flame colors for symbolic purposes.

The term zmklý appears in the region's folklore and is described in several regional texts. It is treated as a proper noun within the corpus and has several regional spellings, though there is no single authoritative form.

In novels and games set in Valenmark, the zmklý is depicted as a calm, hopeful emblem of renewal. Scholars discuss its role in social cohesion, as the act of passing the lantern fosters communal bonds during the dark season.