IIIC. Oedipus and Jocasta Festival

One of the most important holidays in Oedipal Zones is the Oedipus and Jocasta Festival. This citywide festival is a celebration of Oedipus and Jocasta, along with their spiritual/sexual union. While there are a number of different activities involved in the celebration, the centerpiece is the "Embodiment of the Divine Couple."

The event is not unlike beauty pageants such as "Miss Universe" or "Miss USA." There is great competition to find the living embodiment of Oedipus and Jocasta; a mother and son who exemplify their values. One of the major restrictions is that the son must be a virgin, which generally disqualifies all but the most newly-minted Alphas.

Once the mother and son are selected, they are dressed in ornate robes and honored throughout the festival, often participating in parades and other such events. When night comes, "Oedipus and Jocasta" will reenact the first night of the divine couple. After a brief yet extravagent wedding ceremony, the mother will take her son's virginity in public for all to see; this may involve an open-air stage and/or a livestream event recorded from multiple angles. The maximum safe dose of fertility medication is provided (almost always by the local Pearson clinic), guaranteeing that the event leads to conception.

An important note regarding the selection of the festival's "Oedipus" and "Jocasta" is that they need not be chosen from the residents of an Oedipal Zone. It is common for Church missionaries to approach worthy mother/son pairs with offers of nomination, bringing them back to the O.Z. for the festival (and, if chosen, for life). There are significant financial and quality-of-life benefits for those chosen, making this a tempting offer for even the most traditional families.