ZUTARA WEEK 2023: Day 2: SOLSTICE
When the Light Returns
DISCLAIMER: Avatar: The Last Airbender belongs to Bryke but Zutara Week belongs to all Zutarians.
NOTE:
A very intriguing prompt and one that I had to do a bit of research on, so hopefully I did it some justice. It feels like there could be more to this meeting of two different cultures but there is no time or space to explore all that now.
Enjoy and let me know what you think. Thank you!
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Katara never would have dreamed that she would one day become familiar with the intricacies of firebenders' sacred rituals. When she was growing up, learning about the culture of the Fire Nation had not exactly been a welcome pastime. She had had only negative associations with that country and its people, so, like many of her tribespeople, she had not developed any appreciation for their way of life.
But going on a life-changing journey with the Avatar tended to broaden one's horizons. Despite everything, she had grown interested in Fire Nation customs when the group had to live in disguise in the Fire Nation. And then, when a certain firebender joined their little family, she could satisfy her curiosity about his culture.
Zuko was always generous with his time with everyone, as they all soon learned. But he was especially eager to help Katara get the answers to her questions. At first the others chalked it up to him having worked hardest to earn her forgiveness and acceptance, but they soon realized it was something else. Of course, they came to the right conclusion way earlier than the two people actually involved.
One particular set of rituals that fascinated Katara endlessly was an ancient firebender's dance that was performed both during the summer and winter solstice. It had fairly complicated choreography but it seemed to come easily to Zuko. Katara had never thought that he would be into any kind of performing art but she could not tease him about the solstice dance, even though it was as artistic as anything performed in the theater. Not only did Zuko perform the ritual with more than his usual seriousness, but there was also something undeniably sacred about it.
"It was my uncle who taught me this dance," he explained to Katara, "And I have to admit, at first I didn't really appreciate it. It isn't something traditional that is taught to all firebenders at school. But he was insistent that this was a way to honor our ancestors, so I learned it anyway."
"How long did it take you to perfect it?" Katara asked.
"I wouldn't say I've perfected it," Zuko admitted, "But I do now feel more connected with the spirits and more in tune with my element when I do the dance. First, because the summer solstice is the longest day of the year and so I feel the power of the sun the most. And then, with the winter solstice, we emerge from the longest night of the year, a period of unusual darkness, and we welcome the return of the light, of the source of our power."
"There's something similar that was taught to me in the North Pole," Katara said, "To celebrate a full moon and us being at the height of our powers. But it's not nearly as elaborate as your solstice dance."
Zuko had taught the same ritual to Aang, as a fellow firebender, and the Avatar had easily mastered the motions. They later learned, during their visit to the Sun Warriors, that this dance had been part of firebender culture for thousands of years. And it was the Sun Warriors who had taught it to Iroh in the first place.
In the years that followed, Katara tried to make sure she would be able to witness Zuko perform the dances, whether during the summer or winter solstice. Preferably both. She had decided to make it her own tradition, and she somehow felt more connected to Zuko in the moments as she watched him in awe, moving gracefully and skillfully, channeling his energy to pay his respects to the spirits and to his ancestors.
Katara had never really given any meaning to the longest day and longest night of the year. But now, a moment she looked forward to was the dawn that broke after a seemingly interminable night. And not because of the changing season. It was the indescribable joy she felt when she was with Zuko, something it had taken a long time for her to understand.
What she always held in her heart was the hope that filled the face of someone who had become dearer to her than anyone, as he happily welcomed the return of the light.