This event is inspired by the Kushiel series of books, written by Jacquelyn Carey. These stories tell of intrigue, heroism, and romance in a fictionalized Europe. Of principal interest in the books is the cultured and fragile nation of Terre d'Ange, where the nobility is descended from angels come to earth and the state religion centers on the precept "Love as thou wilt". In Terre d'Ange, the Winter Solstice is observed with a fabulous and decadent masquerade hosted by the houses of the Court of Night-Blooming Flowers, a guild of courtesans, entertainers, healers, and mystics, and attended by the high nobility and the most celebrated artists of the realm. At this party, the most exclusive and decadent of the festival year, the seasonal change is celebrated with opulent costumery, rich food and drink, and, at midnight, the dance of the Sun Prince with the Winter Queen, in which the Winter Queen is freed from her frozen and barren state to become Spring.
Gaia Community's Longest Night Ball is organized on this theme for a number of reasons. As a theologically pagan organization, the celebration of the Solstice and transformation of Winter into Spring called out to us. As a Welcoming Congregation within the Unitarian Universalist Association, we were attracted to the precept "Love as Thou Wilt". Like the people of Terre d'Ange, our community is committed to the idea that love in all its forms is valuable and blessed, no matter the sex and gender distribution of the people involved.
In the stories, costuming for an event like this would require weeks of preparation, a costume idea sure to be cleverer than anyone else's, and perhaps some friendly but fierce competition for the services of the best tailors and the purchase of the richest fabrics. While we don't expect our guests to go to quite those lengths, we do encourage dressing to impress. Formal or semi-formal attire with the addition of a mask or face paint would certainly be appropriate, as would historical or fantasy costuming, ritual attire, or whatever makes you feel most fabulous. No one will be turned away for lack of appropriate costuming, but we do ask an additional $5 at the door from those who prefer to come in casual or street clothes.
This year's event takes on the outlook of the books' Eglantine House, whose members are artists, performers, poets, singers, and craftsmen of great skill. This House expresses itself with the motto "To Create is To Live", and our event will attempt to embody that ideal. For your musical entertainment, we will feature a live band this year, Kansas City's 7 Mysteries. The event will also include strolling performers, and a chance for our guests to show off their artistic genius with a costume contest, and collaborative visual and performance art projects scattered throughout the venue.