Golden Wheat Moon marks the beginning of the wheat harvest. The weather continues to be pleasantly warm.
The Hareva Festival | 15th #
The Hareva Festival celebrates a young Rafa who cured a King and saved the Avodai of Hareva long ago. The story is told as so:
A long time ago in the Kingdom of Hareva, which is no longer, the Avodai once lived in the capital city where they flourished and built a grand House of Prayer. The Society of Rafa served as key healers and advisors to generations of Kings. When King Fatyan came to power, he took on a man named Muzna as an Advisor. Muzna was jealous of the influence of the Rafa and success of Hareva’s Avodai. He whispered in the king’s ear that the Avodai’s power came from consorting with dark spirits. He convinced the King to banish them to the outskirts of his Kingdom where there was only desert.
Exiled in the sand with only what they could carry on their backs they traveled for a moon without any food or water. There was much hunger and death. The Light carried their cries to a nation of nomadic Fire Spirits . Fire Spirits judged them and found them worthy and showed them where to find water, food, and shelter despite not needing such things themselves. The Avodai built their own small town in an oasis where they traded and studied with the Fire Spirits.
One day King Fatyan fell ill. None of his remaining healers could help him. He sent out a call far and wide and still known could help. Finally, out of desperation he sent a messenger to the exiled Rafas. Muzna protested saying that the only way the Hareva Avodai could have survived the desert is to make a deal with an evil demon. He made the King promise that any Avodai who failed to heal him must be put to death.
Despite the Rafa oath to care for all who need healing, there was much debate among the Order of Rafa if they should heed the call given the risk. A young Rafa, just out of training, Alona bet Indit v’ Levi volunteered to go to the King. The Rosh Rafa protested as Alona was young and inexperienced, but she went anyway. King Fatyan warned her that if she failed, she would be put to death. She countered that she’d accept this fate, but if she cured the King, then Muzna must face the judgment of the Fire Spirits and the Avodai would be allowed to live anywhere within Hareva.
She used all her knowledge and ingenuity and did in fact heal the king. The King showered her in gold and treasures and made Rafa Alona his Head Healer. King Fatyan ordered Muzna to be judged by the Fire Spirits. Rafa Alona accompanied him. As the Fire Spirits were about to burn him for his crimes, Rafa Alona cried out in mercy and instead Muzna was banished to the desert where he lived the rest of his days.
Modern retelling of Rafa Alona story
During the Hareva Festival, Avodai eat yellow and orange foods to remind them of the gifts of the Fire Spirits. They make apricot stuffed rolls shaped like flames, fresh squeezed lemonade, and peach gazpacho. They eat dates as a reminder of the oasis. The townspeople dress up as Rafa Alona, Fire Spirits, and evil Muzna. There is always a comedic play depicting the story.