Hengiksi

Hengiksi (Short for Hengiksi Hamizl - The monster was slain) is a holiday celebrated in many parts of Southeastern Hapšâw. It takes place in late April, although the exact date varies from village to village. The event is traditionally believed to take place on the anniversary of the death of a horrible monster which was destroying crops and eating the residents of the area.

Celebration

The holiday is split into two parts, each part being one day long. During the first day a group of men wearing a large costume of the beast, will walk up to the town's homes and demand food and alcohol, and will not leave until they are provided, sometimes the "monster" will also pretend to attack a child, or extinguish the fireplace. It then travels to another home and repeats the process.

The next day the children of the town (6-10 years old) are woken up by a man who pleads for their help in defeating the beast. The children, armed with wooden swords and axes, then follow the man to the towns square, where the men stand, in costume. The children then watch as their "leader" tries to fight the "monster" alone, but is defeated. He then calls to them and tells them to attack the monster all at once. Together the children defeat the monster, which falls to the side and dies. The children are then congratulated by the town's leader, who tells them to go rest at their homes, and declares that the beast's flesh will be used for a feast in honor of the heroes. The feast is held in the evening, and consists of multiple courses (typically a broth and two or more meats) made out of "the beast's meat (usually substituted with pork, but occasionally with deer meat.). It takes place in the town square, lit with torches and a large campfire in the middle.

Origins

The tradition is believed to have started around 60 TT. The event that the holiday is based on is said to have taken place in 68 TT, and the monster that the residents of the town were fighting is usually believed to be either a large boar or a particularly fat buck. It is unknown in which town the tradition started.