Excerpt from Ending the Endless, by Head Scholar Dayton of the Fallen Star Pavilion

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The Festival of the Hero is held during Spring's Blessings to celebrate the day of the Sun's creation. Cities, towns, and villages alike observe the Festival, and it can be considered one of the few cultural traditions that unify all people below the Heavens. Interestingly, while the Festival celebrates the Companions' journey it was the Red Emperor himself who suggested a name change to Festival of the Hero.

While the Empire of the Sun and the Free Cities celebrate with slight differences, a few unifying themes echo throughout:

A great bonfire, to be kept alive for three days and three nights.

The Companions fought with the demons for an undetermined but lengthy amount of time to secure access to the Stairs, and so the Festival honors their heroic stand with a bonfire. A prominent tale featuring the Battle for the Stairs tells of the Hero's torch and how it burned bright for the entire duration of that lengthy battle, acting as the beacon of light for them to rally around during the Endless Night.

A ceasing of enmities; all grudges are to be suspended during the Festival.

The Festival celebrates the triumph of humans over demons, and this could only have been achieved because the Companions put aside their own differences to stay together. There are many stories about the disagreements between members of the group, but they always trusted each other with their lives. The Festival asks that all participants be willing to sit down and talk to even their worst enemy during this time.

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A demonstration of martial prowess between combatants.

The Festival asks for willing individuals to demonstrate their battle prowess and prove that humans are still ready to fight the ancient enemy if the Seal should ever come undone. Each City has their own preferred manner of fulfilling this particular ritual, but Sanctuary's Festival is noteworthy for utilizing the Great Sage's Mirror. The artifact summons the memory of a past warrior the Mirror judges best for the challenger to fight. For this reason alone, many warriors travel to ZhiXia City to participate in Sanctuary's Festival.

The traits celebrated also differ between the various peoples.

* The Northern Tribes celebrate the Companions' relentless strength, for without it they could not have hoped to succeed.

* The Formosan Islands celebrate the Companions' will for change, the catalyst of their successful journey.

* The Oasians celebrate the Companions' persistent resolve, for without it they would have despaired at failure.

* The Mursashu celebrate the Companions' unbroken unity, remembering that the group amplifies individual strengths.

* The Empire of the Sun celebrates the Companion's friendship without prejudice, for they accepted each other despite their differences.