Prompt: Invent a new holiday and describe its traditions.

Response: # Starfall Festival
*Celebrated on the first new moon of autumn*

## Origin
The Starfall Festival celebrates the moment when daylight and darkness balance perfectly, honoring both the harvest completed and the quiet introspection of the coming season. It began as a way to acknowledge that endings can be beautiful and necessary.

## Core Traditions

**The Lantern Release**: At sunset, families write down something they want to let go of from the past year on biodegradable paper, then attach it to small floating lanterns. As darkness falls, communities gather at lakes, rivers, or open fields to release them together, creating a sky full of gentle lights drifting away.

**Midnight Memory Feast**: Households prepare meals using only ingredients grown or made within 50 miles of their home. The catch? It must be eaten entirely in darkness or by candlelight, encouraging people to savor flavors and focus on conversation without visual distractions.

**The Gratitude Exchange**: Instead of giving gifts, people exchange handwritten letters describing how the recipient has positively impacted their life. These letters are sealed and not opened until the following year's festival.

**Dawn Planting**: The morning after, communities plant trees, bulbs, or seeds together—creating something that will grow and flourish long after the celebration ends.

The holiday emphasizes reflection, community connection, and the beauty of transitions rather than consumption or spectacle.