It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The season when we gather with our loved ones, huddle by the fire, and barricade ourselves against vengeful ancient Egyptian gods. Here’s what you need to know to make it through the Demon Days, the last five days of the year.
Ancient History
Despite what the name suggests, the creation of the Demon Days actually had nothing to do with the underworld. Geb and Nut, (god and goddess of the earth and sky, respectively) kept having kids, and Ra, the sun god, wanted to put an end to that. He forbade Nut from giving birth “any day of the year.” Acting on Nut’s behalf, Thoth, the god of wisdom, played a game of chance with the moon god Khonsu and won so much moonlight that he was able to create five extra days. Now you know who to thank for that week of winter vacation.
Sometimes you need a portal to return a sweater ASAP.
Divine Birthdays
Wasting no time, Nut gave birth to five more adorable little god babies in the first year of the Demon Days: Osiris, Horus, Set, Isis, and Nephthys. Each of them is incredibly powerful, famous, and just a tad morally ambiguous. And all would be equally furious if you tried to throw them a joint birthday party. Respect their individuality!
Holiday Traffic
One of the biggest challenges the magicians of Egypt have to deal with during the Demon Days is the temporary inability to create portals. Sure, there are magical work-arounds, but it must be pretty inconvenient to have your primary mode of travel crippled right in the middle of the holiday season. Sometimes you need a portal to return a sweater ASAP.
Bad Luck for the Rest of Us
Usually, the Demon Days come and go with little trouble, but it’s hard to forget that one year when a certain someone accidentally released Set and his siblings from their imprisonment. Thankfully, Carter, Sadie, and Zia were able to prevent their foes’ apocalyptic revenge, as described in The Red Pyramid. Let this serve as a reminder to be patient with your family during the holidays, no matter how annoying they get. Because you never know when you might need their help in preventing the end of the world.
Especially if you’re the one who mistakenly sets the chaos loose.