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Xanthmas

Photo from Brenda Riddle

Every year on the 1st of Tesseminas, the quadrangle in Alexandria, where the last of Xanth's shrines still stands defiant, disappears inside an elaborate structure made of ice which that defies both the laws of gravity and the summer climate. This structure is well-known across the realm as Xanth's Grotto, and its appearance marks the first day of a month-long event that draws villagers from near and far.

No one knows exactly how the event originated or what it's for. Some say Xanth was so enamoured of the white Christmasses on Earth that she created the grotto one day on a whim — and liked the result so much that it became a tradition. Others claim it's not Xanth at all but merely a ploy by the Alexandrian Council to draw in tourists.

Whatever the reasons, or the culprits behind it, the grotto is considered a Wonder of the World. Erected overnight — and some say even in the blink of an eye — it is a colossal maze made entirely of ice. It surrounds the base of the twenty-foot statue and even reaches Her hips in some places but, perhaps more wondrous than anything else, its structure changes from year to year so that no two mazes are exactly alike.

Despite the many differences that appear every year, two things remain the same: Always, at the heart of the maze, is an ice throne overshadowed by a magnificent green spruce, in turn laden with glittering baubles and tinsel, which is surrounded by mountains of prettily wrapped presents. Some visitors swear they can see themselves mirrored in the baubles, and that their whole lives — every choice, good and bad, they have ever made — play out before their eyes.

Yet Xanth Herself, to whom the ice throne is assumed to belong, has never been seen within the walls of the grotto.

What's more, the ice maze is always guarded. Defying the laws of nature, these guards are living and moving (if not breathing) snowmen of all sizes, garbed in winter clothing and entirely enthusiastic about their duty. They seem to take great delight in pelting passers-by and would-be visitors with snowballs, making entry hazardous yet fun for all.

For some, visiting Xanth's Grotto is like a pilgrimage and they're happy simply to pay their respects. However, according to the quaint signs driven into the snow and ice outside, the main purpose is the presents.