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“We wore sheer white tunics of gossamer to mimic the effect of snow drifting in the wind, with dagged sleeves beaded in glass that hung down like icicles when we raised our trays in offering. Simple white dominos edged in silver, suitable for children, masked our faces, and we wore only a touch of carmine on the lips for colour. An apprentice ribbonnaire bound our hair, and did a very fine job, too, plaiting our locks with white ribbons to evoke a tumbling fall of snow.” ~ Kushiel’s Dart, Jacqueline Carey

The Longest Night Midwinter Masque is an evening of mystery and frivolity. Your House theme or individual costume can be as complex as those of Cereus House on Phédre’s first Masque and as simple as a doublet and breeches.  The beauty of a masquerade is that you may be whoever you wish.

As you create your ensemble, please keep these guiding principles in mind:

• Costumes and masks are required for the Masque. Imaginative costumes are highly recommended.
  • Costumes are not mandatory for the Private Reception with Jacqueline Carey and Brunch on Night’s Doorstep.
• Consider Jacqueline Carey’s expansive Kushiel and Naamah trilogies, historical lore, and medieval/fantasy France for inspiration!
• Although the Masque is a private event in an exclusive ballroom, the venue itself is a public space.
• Only prop weapons will be allowed into the event and are subject to inspection at any time by event staff or Hyatt Regency personnel.

Have questions about your costume?  Email info@thelongestnightmasque.com so we can address your query.

House Cereus looks forward to your gorgeous creation!

From the Dowayne, Aliksandria nό Cereus:

The motto “All Loveliness Fades” speaks to me. Cereus is a desert night blooming flower. All the cereus in the world bloom in the same night, once a year in mid to late May. They bloom after dusk and wilt before dawn. And that is so sadly beautiful to me.

I think that the fleeting nature of things makes them special. Our lives mean something because they are finite. When you know something won’t last forever, then you appreciate it more. You take it in, try to memorize the colors, smells, and sounds of the moment.

Everything ends, so revel in the majesty of it before it does.

 

From the Second, Petrea nό Cereus:

In Kushiel’s Dart, Cereus House is where Phédre’s story begins.  We are told that: “Of the Thirteen Houses, Night-Blooming Cereus is and has always been First.”

Jacqueline Carey’s description of the Dowayne of Cereus House in Kushiel’s Dart speaks to my heart. “In the general course of things, when beauty passes, the flower bows its head upon the stem and fails. Sometimes, though, when the petals droop, a framework of tempered steel is revealed within. Such a one was Miriam Bouscevre, the Dowayne of Cereus House.”

We see the theme of fragility leading to strength throughout Phédre’s travels.  Whenever Phédre seems at her weakest, when she is most vulnerable, when she seems about to fail – or even die – when her petals are about to droop and fall, her tempered steel framework reveals itself.

When we are at our weakest and most vulnerable, when we feel as though we are about to fail, when we have been traversing our own personal Skaldic winter, or been locked in our own hellish La Dolorosa, we find our mettle.  It is our time of frailty which reveals the tempered steel framework of Miriam Bouscevre, Dowayne of Cereus House.

ALL GA TOKENS PURCHASED BEFORE JUNE 12, 2018 WILL BE ENTERED INTO A DRAWING FOR A FREE COPY OF JACQUELINE CAREY’S NEW BOOK STARLESS! ENTER TODAY!

January 5th – 6th, 2019 ~ 7 p.m. – 1 a.m. 

Hyatt Regency Fairfax, Commonwealth Ballroom

The Longest Night Midwinter Masque is a masquerade ball inspired by a winter solstice holiday tradition in Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel’s Legacy trilogies. We are opening up the event to new vendors this year and hope you can join us.

The ambiance of the event is fantasy/Renaissance France. If your wares include masks, hats, jewelry, trinkets, fairy hair, face/body painting, period costuming, books, and kink-friendly merchandise, apply to be a vendor at the Third Annual Longest Night Midwinter Masque!

Kindly review the Vendor Application Form. It must be filled out, signed and submitted with your payment to be considered for this event. Both credit card and check payments are accepted. To submit credit card payment, please use our secure store portal on the website. Application deadline is November 30th, 2018.

If your application is accepted:

• Your website and wares will be promoted on The Longest Night Midwinter Masque website through April 1st, 2019.
• You will be provided a table in the Commonwealth Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Fairfax that will act as your booth.
• You will be provided the same amenities as the General Admission token, which include food, cash bar, and entertainment.
• Submitting an application and payment does not guarantee acceptance as a vendor. We will get back to you as soon as possible, but in some popular categories we may need to weigh several applications before selecting a vendor.
• If you have any questions, please contact the Vendor Coordinator at 410-271-4310 or vendors@thelongestnightmasque.com.

Join us for a weekend of merrymaking January 4^th – 6^th, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency Fairfax for the Third Annual Longest Night Midwinter Masque and related festivities. Jacqueline Carey, New York Times bestselling author of the Kushiel’s Legacy Trilogies, and inspiration for our event, is returning as our esteemed Guest of Honor! You won’t want to miss a moment of fun.

ALL GA TOKENS PURCHASED BEFORE JUNE 12th, 2018 WILL BE ENTERED INTO A DRAWING FOR A FREE COPY OF JACQUELINE CAREY’S NEW BOOK STARLESS! ENTER TODAY!

Spread the word! And, most importantly, love as thou wilt.

The City of Elua is already abuzz and the winter solstice is still eight months away.  This year’s Longest Night Midwinter Masque is rumored to be the most opulent House Cereus has ever hosted.  Already the ateliers are overbooked with orders and adepts on Mont Nuit speak in whispers between assignations of the coming celebration.

What makes this year’s Masque so much more marvelous than any before it?  Why, because you are invited…

Please join us for a weekend of merrymaking January 4^th – 6^th, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency Fairfax for the Third Annual Longest Night Midwinter Masque and related festivities. Jacqueline Carey, New York Times bestselling author of the Kushiel’s Legacy Trilogies, and inspiration for our event, is returning as our esteemed Guest of Honor! You won’t want to miss a moment of fun.

Visit the event website at: https://thelongestnightmasque.com

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MidwinterMasque

Follow us on Twitter: @MidwinterMasque

Spread the word!

 

And, most importantly, love as thou wilt,

Rachel Zuckerman

Second of Cereus House

Longest Night Midwinter Masque Coordinator

rachel@thelongestnightmasque.com