[kayn]

kayn 914815
maru name: orion

legend has it, on the coldest night of the year, one star will glow brighter than the rest. little marus wish on this star, the “winter star”, and ask for their most desired gift.

some say a mysterious marumi named orion is behind the winter star phenomena. the benevolent spirit is said to only awaken during winter, and wishing on their star gives them strength.

orion started the winter star tradition because of how happy it made little marus. it brings them great joy to see marus who wished on the star as children spread the tradition down generations once they grow up.

[elf_of_the_hollow]

elf_of_the_hollow / 352032
phi

every year on the winter solstice, phi dutifully stays awake the entire day. it is not merely tradition; it is part of a ritual, the import of which phi is absolutely certain. she spends the entire time in a trance, meditating on the coming year. she believes that doing so will allow her to foretell the events of the future before they come to pass. she is certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that she has this ability.

truth be told, in reality her ritual's necessity is.. dubious, at best; her predictions about the same. no one else is quite as convinced that she's not just guessing. her predictions do have a higher-than-average level of accuracy, however... who knows, perhaps she's right! maybe there is some mysterious force working through her, allowing her a glimpse into the future for a brief moment.

or perhaps she's just sleep deprived.

[Baobabel]

Username: Baobabel // 39277
Marumi name: Glimpse
Tradition:
Glimpse was known for roving. All of the world they had traveled and observed. For a rare few of their most favorite places and people they would return once a year. One of these groups also loved the traveler and truly looked forward to hosting them every year. Glimpse had had their eye on the community and visited for years and in turn had unintentionally created a tradition with them. Glimpse would arrive right as the sun begin to set on the longest night of the year. Their soft glow easing people into the night, growing stronger as the night grew darker. From sundown to sunup, this maru would stay and light the night as long as stories were told. They could be in song, poem, plays, monologies, sign, whatever the individual or group chose. Glimpse loved to hear all the variety of stories, and the community loved to share. Everyone brought food and blankets and friendship. All types of stories were told; fresh and old, meaningless and full of lesson, true or fantasy, humorous, tragic, scary, light-hearted. It was a time for the community to come together. They'd mourn the sad events, celebrate the joyous, relive the impressive. Now it's the community's most treasured event. All started by the interest of a traveler who stayed long enough to light the darkest night.

[quiche cat!]

username: quiche cat!
name of marumi: celcius
story:

celcius has the perfect winter tradition. every time the world gets colder and the days grow shorter, she knows it’s time for her favorite activity of the year!

the freezing temperatures always bring out the brightest stars. and although she stays away from the most popular constellations, she goes for the most twinkling, sparkling balls of light that she can find, and she snatches them up.

for the rest of the winter, celcius labors over the star, breaking it up and buffing it and doing whatever she can to keep the brightness intact while she works. and then, finally, as the snows start to thaw and the days grow brighter and longer once again, she’s finished.

to add to her collection, every year she creates a stunning piece of jewelry from a star of her choosing. this year, it was a pair of dangling earrings that she adorns quite often. who knows what she might make next year?

[arctuurus]

user: arctuurus + 428287
marumi name: sunday



sunday the goldsmith

sunday's favorite winter tradition is to craft new, beautiful artifacts and ornaments to give to loved ones throughout the christmas season. he calls down a few stars from the night sky and uses their blazing heat to melt and fuse different types of metal together - gold, silver, bronze - and even adds in sparkling crystals of varying colors and sizes when he's feeling extra daring. he'll also use the warmth of some especially bright stars to heat up a sharp, cylindrical tool that he drags along the metal to engrave it with intricate designs.
though he works with countless different precious metals, his talents (and favor) lie with gold smithing. there's just something about the smoothness of it that he loves, and there are so many options when it comes to gold. yellow gold, rose gold, white gold...
that's it! this year, he'll forge a white gold vase. perhaps with a lovely circular sapphire set in the center, and some swirling patterns etched along the curves of the metal pot. oooh, and maybe some blue blown glass flowers to set inside? though he doesn't have as much experience with glass, he's sure the stars will supply more than enough heat to accommodate his new ventures.
so many ideas and so little time! he'd better get started right away. off to the shop he goes~

[Kitsune.]

✯ user;; Kitsune. + 577255
✯ marumi name;; North

divider ✯
twinkle stars ✯

XXX✯ North had always known she was a star-crafter- and that she was one of the worst. It wasn't that she technically couldn't craft a star, as many of the older crafters repeated to her in pitying voices. No, it was that she wasn't putting the 'right passion' behind it... or something like that. The tiny, flickering stars North made with hasty paws and uneven strokes of the brush or rushed punches of the needly never seemed to last more than a moment or two. Like fireflies at dawn, the little flecks of gold in the rolling night sky would inevitably wink out soon after North sent them adrift. Why? she always asked herself. Why don't they stay afloat? No matter how bright I make them, they fade away too soon... As a young Marumi, North was troubled by her inadequacy. No matter how many times the older crafters reassured her that she would learn in time, she felt the pressure of being the newest and youngest star-crafter weighing heavily on her.
✯ One day, North found herself discontentedly gazing through the cosmic waves down into the mortal realm. Suddenly, from below she saw light... no, many lights! All twinkling to life, strung across dens, wound around towering green trees, across hearths roaring with warmth... it was as if her star-wrapped home had sunk into the realm below! North stole a glance around to see if any Maru crafter was looking her away and, when the coast was clear, she dove down into the world below. The sensation of sinking through the dark night sky was both exhilarating and terrifying- the older Marus never spoke about the mortal world around her, nor the process of passing from one world to another. How could they have kept this secret for so long?! Look how beautiful the city is, full of lights and Marus of all shapes and colors! And look-
✯ The feeling of cold, hard ground beneath her paws startled North out of her thoughts. Was this... snow? She had never felt it before, only batted at the flakes that passed by their sky-bound home. It took an awkward moment for her to adjust to walking on solid ground, but soon North was plodding along towards the town, where she ducked behind trees to watch the Marus gathered in the center square. She watched as a white, long-furred Marumi approached another, a package in their paws. They told their companion a story from early that year, of this Maru travelling far from the town to gift the speaker their favorite fresh berries, and how much the gesture had meant to them. The speaker, in turn, produced a gift of their own and told their own heart-felt story. Seeing the couple tear up and embrace as they opened their gifts struck North. This went on around the circle for a while longer, with North watching with rapt attention. A soft voice jolted her from her trance; "Have you gotten a gift yet, dearie? Oh, you look frozen- come closer now, towards the fire." A kind-looking Maru ushered her towards the circle as North protested; "N-no, I-I'm not from here... I don't know anyone... and I didn't even bring a gift!" The other Maru scoffed. "Oh, the holidays aren't about giving gifts! The gifts are kind gestures, but this time of year is for remembering and appreciating the folks around us, and all the wonderful feelings they bring into our lives!" North, too stunned to speak, accepted the long scarf they wrapped around her shoulders and warm, sweat drink they placed in her paws. "Just because we don't know you doesn't mean we don't appreciate you, either, little one. Why don't you tell us where you're from?" Tentatively, North replied, "U-um, from a town far away from this one... a town full of artists, crafters." This seemed to please the Marumis of the town. "We, too, are crafters! Sewing, knitting, crochet, woodwork, baking, painting, everything!" Another, older Maru chimed in, "Many of us picked up the arts for those around us- to make gifts made with love, and our own two paws of course." He chuckled, and many of the others joined him. "I got a great tale for ya of when I baked my first pie for my mother, if ya care to lend an ear?" The older Maru continued. North eagerly agreed. The rest of the night was filled with stories of gratitude and appreciation, of love and companionship. As the stars twinkled in the night sky above, North found herself drifting off, swathed in warmth...
✯ I know what I will make with my stars! The thought jolted North awake from where she lay curled up in the cosmos. I'm back home? I don't remember travelling back... no matter, I have to draw the townsfolk and their bonfire! North began working feverishly on her constellation- weaving star after star together in ways she had never thought possible. With each glittering point of light she set afloat in the night, she could hear the voice of one of the Marumi townsfolk recounting a story of gratitude from the year passed. The constellation spooled out from her paws as she wove together thread after thread, memory after memory. It was only after she had finished the enormous star story that she realized all of the older star-crafters were watching her with pride and a hint of amusement in their eyes. "Why are you all watching me? I promise I didn't meant to stay so long in the mortal realm, I just- I didn't want to go." She stuttered. "Oh, North." The elder star-crafter's voice was rich and sonorous. "We aren't mad at you- far from it. We all are glad you finally took the leap and found your passion. Because of this, you were able to make your first constellation that will hang in the sky for many years to come." And it did- long enough for the townsfolk below to see themselves one winter night reflected up int he sky.
✯ Since that day, North has made it a tradition to visit the mortal Marumi in the world below the sky and listen to their stories of love, gratitude, and appreciation. She then takes the one that touched her the most and spends the next year drawing the tale in the stars.

[persimmon]

user + ID: persimmon + 394121
marumi name: Polaris
prompt:
Polaris has been traveling the world as a dancer and choreographer. From their roots starting in ballet, they have composed and participated in many elegant displays of dance for well-known singers/artists. Thus, he has come to know many famous marumis and become a star in his own right. However, his roots come from a small town, and his interest in dance first began when his family saw a local display of the Nutcracker. Mesmerized by the twirls and liveliness of the dancers, that is when this marumi first strived to become a dancer and bring joy to others through their performances. However, traveling to choreograph and perform for others has made him weary and lose some of his original passion for dance.

When he returned home to the small town for the holidays, Polaris was shocked and saddened to learn that the village no longer hosts the same dance performances that would bring him so much joy around Christmas time. With Christmas time soon approaching, Polaris therefore strove to create his own dance to represent the joy of Winter and Christmas. Incorporating many twirls and leaps with a lot of emotion, he symbolized the hope and wonder of the holidays through his dance. Then, under the night stars, they set up fanciful lights to accentuate his performance and bring a reminder to the Christmas Spirit.

When he first performed his dance, Polaris was pleased to see many maruminis. Through the faces of the little kids, he could sense the joy that he first felt when watching the performance that inspired him to be a dancer. Polaris was even more proud when the maruminis even came up to them after and asked how to dance like them. From this, Polaris found many maruminis to take under his wing and teach dance for the next year's holiday season. So, each year at Christmas time, Polaris now performs and teaches new choreographies that symbolize the joy and wonder of Christmas time. With this, Polaris had restored the joy of dance and Christmas that was once lost in his small town.

[rabbit...]

rabbit... 45716

It does not matter if no one believes in her, dismisses her as a spectacle. Thalia's weary paws would like to rest in one place after her long travels. She used to approach people, but now it is much deserved that people should approach her. Thalia's tent unfurls, a blanket of night sky and the precipice rises just as high. The exterior is resplendent in white and gold, while the interior is furnished with low tables and lush, silken pillows.

Thalia welcomes all who deigns to sit inside during the long winters' nights. The villager's children are filled with curiosity and are often the most brave when they wander into the tent. They make themselves home quickly as Thalia serves them warm gingerbread and cocoa with pillowed clouds. The adults eventually trickle in and they gladly accept mugs as well after a long day of work.

The lanterns lit by starlight shroud everything in a dreamy hue. The night is long but Thalia's fortunes can go on for longer. Interested patrons sit at her table and hold out an offering with a question.

How tall will I grow? asked one child who offered a sheath of reeds. Thalia summons the stars and they danced around the child.

Light overtakes her eyes as she intones, you will grow three times as tall as the reeds you have offered to me. And so it shall be. Her fortune is for the marumi who wished for knowledge, everyone else in the tent is only privy to the sound of jingling bells.

The processions continue. Her dancing stars take the shape of particular events if the offering and question are deemed to have strong emotions behind it. They twirl and dip in beautiful waltzes around the tent throughout the night. Thalia only rests when the sun rises. She revels in the fortunes until the new year chimes in, left to be a normal shopkeeper until the next long winter.

[Sliced]

name: Sliced

Maru:Luna

as this time of the year comes around Luna enjoys the winter festivities that happens to occur everyone seams to celebrate this time of the year quite differently and since Luna has taken the time to investigate each and every single one she has decided to create her own traditions ! during this time she has decided to get into glass melting shifting and shaping unique shapes into glass creating what seams to be glass ornaments that she places items inside of like coloured sand or coloured feathers or lights it is then she takes these ornaments and starts hanging them neatly between the trees as the sunlight hits them beautiful colours are displayed almost like a night rainbow upon the snow creating pretty twinkling lights almost like stars at the daytime she then starts to build a comfy cozy little nest to sit upon while enjoying the falling snow that twinkles and falls to the ground catching the light from the ornaments after a nice long day enjoying the veiw she retreves the ornaments to wrap up into neat little leafs or paper to gift to other creatures around her who also might have enjoyed the festivities that she had made.

[phione.]

Closed for judging <3