Stellafane
From Cths
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Stellafane can be considered the Cybertronian equivalent to Christmas. Cold weather, a soft, white substance falling from the sky, gift-giving... why, it's got all the makings of a real family holiday!
Contents |
History
Very much like All Sparks Eve, the tradition of this holiday has roots deep in the shadowy, uncertain past of Cybertron's native population. Much speculation and study has gone into trying to find out the whys and wherefores of Stellafane and its place in Cybertronian history. Some believe that it has roots in pagan tradition, though others are convinced that its beginnings were far less benign and religiously motivated.
It is certain that in the not-so-distant past, toy guns and weapons of various kinds were common gifts to children and had been for some time. (This practice died out with the commercialization of the holiday, of course, and now all sorts of gifts are acceptable.) It has also been a widely accepted theory that the mech from which Stello Benefictus is based off of was in fact a real individual at one point. Though what his role was and how he became Father Stellafane and the messenger of good faith, hope, and compassion, are unknown. It is also unknown how this figure came to appear in popular culture as someone who comes into homes through a certain kind of intra-dimentional gate (the exact nature of which is described below) to deliver presents at night.
Another common occurrence during this time of the Stellar Cycle is the phenomenon of a snow-like substance falling from the sky. This is due to Cybertron, as a planet, passing through the edges of a small nebula outside of the solar system. The cloud is comprised of ice particles and whitish dust which are gently pulled by the gravity of the planet to its surface, often resulting in what appears to be snowfall, ice storms, and white, lumpy landscapes. In addition to this, natural ice forms on Cybertron due to its farther proximity to the sun around which it orbits.
Though, like All Sparks eve, many traditional practices surrounding the holiday have been forgotten in the modern age, this is one of the few glimpses historians have into Cybertron's mysterious past.
Traditions
Stellafane Gate
The Stellafane Gate is a decorative structure placed somewhere in the home. It's usually decorated with lights and various other Stellafane paraphernalia, can be different sizes, shapes, colors, etc. This is usually the object around which presents are placed on the night of Stellafane Eve.
Stello Benefictus
Also known as Benefictus, Ben, Old Ben, Father Stellafane, among others, he is a supposed saint-like figure that goes around at night, delivering goodies to various cybertronian homes on the night of Stellafane Eve.
Gift-Giving
In the tradition of Old Ben, leaving gifts and goodies around the base of the gate as a sign of his coming in the night is commonplace of every bot that celebrates Stellafane. Many parental units cultivate a belief of Ben in their offspring from a very early age, and this belief often lasts for a good portion of their childhood.
