Difference between revisions of "Greyhawk Calendar"
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Revision as of 09:15, 5 December 2007
An overview of the Greyhawk Calendar, including festival weeks and holidays. This write-up is based on information from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia as well as the Player's Guide to Greyhawk.
The Common Year
The Common Year is the most widespread system of reckoning in the in the Flanaess.
The year consists of 364 days, split into twelve months of twenty-eight days each, and four seven-day festivals, each placed at three month intervals. Different cultures have their own names for the months and festivals. The "Common" month names are the ones typically used today in the central Flanaess and Obsidian Bay.
The months and festivals are based on the cycles of Oerth's moons, Luna and Celene. Luna has a twenty-eight day cycle, while Celene's cycle is ninety-one days. Celene is full at the midpoint of each festival, while Luna is full at various times throughout the year. Notably, both moons are full on Richfest 3-5.
| Month | Common | Elven | Nomads | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Needfest | ||||
| 1 | Fireseek | Diamondice | Tiger | Winter |
| 2 | Readying | Yellowillow | Bear | Spring |
| 3 | Coldeven | Snowflowers | Lion | Spring |
| Growfest | ||||
| 4 | Planting | Blossoms | Frog | Low Summer |
| 5 | Flocktime | Violets | Turtle | Low Summer |
| 6 | Wealsun | Berrytime | Fox | Low Summer |
| Richfest (Midsummer) | ||||
| 7 | Reaping | Goldfields | Snake | High Summer |
| 8 | Goodmonth | Sunflowers | Boar | High Summer |
| 9 | Harvester | Fruitfall | Squirrel | High Summer |
| Brewfest | ||||
| 10 | Patchwall | Brightleaf | Hare | Autumn |
| 11 | Ready'reat | Tinklingice | Hawk | Autumn |
| 12 | Sunsebb | Lacysnows | Wolf | Winter |
Days of the Week
The days are reckoned in weeks of seven days each. The days of the month are: Starday, Sunday, Moonday, Godsday, Waterday, Earthday, and Freeday. Godsday is commonly associated with worship, and Freeday with rest. The remaining days are considered "work days."
An interesting feature of the Greyhawk calendar is that the days of the week always occur on the same day every year, a result of the year having a number of days divisible by seven.
The first of the month is always a Starday, and the rest follow as shown below:
- Starday is always on the 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd of the month.
- Sunday is always on the 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd of the month.
- Moonday is always on the 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th of the month.
- Godsday is always on the 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th of the month.
- Waterday is always on the 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th of the month.
- Earthday is always on the 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th of the month.
- Freeday is always on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th of the month.
Holidays
Needfest
A seven-day festival week that is the real world equivelent of Christmas and New Year's rolled into one. Needfest 1 represents the beginning of the new calendar year.
As in the real world, this time of year is celebrated through feasting, drinking, candle (and more magical) lightings, gift giving and (among the more pious religions, charity. Many government activities happen during this time; in Obsidian Bay, this is when the new Councilmen and Councilwomen are sworn into office.
Feast of Fools
In the Free City of Greyhawk, Needfest 7 is known as the Feast of Fools. This tradition is not practiced in Obsidian Bay.
Gottenmarkt
Gottenmarkt ("Market of the Gods" in Old Oeridian") is held during Needfest in Obsidian Bay. It is an upscale market, frequented by nobles, high-class merchants and adventurers, for divine items. Many of these items are magical in nature. It is held on the campus of the Guild of Wizardry.
Midwinter Night
The evening of Needfest Godsday (Needfest 4) is also known as Midwinter Night, and is holy to druids and nature sects.
Great Moon's Glory
On Readying 11th, the larger moon Luna is full but the smaller moon Celene is new. This night is called the Great Moon's Glory, and is regarded as holy by the Church of Celestian. It is also holly to Atroa (lesser Oeridan goddess, queen of spring) and Telchur (Oeridan god of the north and winter), as well as druid and Old Lore and Old Faith sects.
Growfest
A seven-day festival week that is represented by start-of-growing season celebrations and ceremonies. Most people continue to work through this week, but it is noted for its heightened sense of good cheer.
St. Cuthbert's Day
The Growfest 4 is St. Cuthbert's Day, the largest annual festival for the religion; it is a major holiday in Obsidian Bay.
Waffenmarkt
Waffenmarkt (the "Weapon Market" in Old Oeridian) is held during Growfest in Obsidian Bay. It is a specialized, upscale market for weapons, armor, and other martial-type adventuring items, many of which are magical in nature. It is held on the campus of the Guild of Wizardry.
Richfest
This week is slow, easy celebration of summer. It is rarely taken as a formal holiday in the northern latitudes, but most in Obsidian Bay use it as an excuse to take it easy during what is usually the worst of the sub-tropical heat.
Midsummer Day
Also known as the Holy Day of Pelor, Midsummer Day is held on Richfest 4. It is the holiest day for followers of Pelor, god of the Sun and Light.
Ringmarkt
Ringmarkt (the "Ring Market" in Old Oeridian) is held during Richfest in Obsidian Bay. It features expensive and often magical magical rings, pendants, brooches, and amulets. It is held on the campus of the Guild of Wizardry.
Dark Night
Both moons are new on the night of Goodmonth 11th (always on a Godsday). The day is known by various names, Dark Night, Black Night or Star Night, and is a holy day of Celestian, god of the stars as well as druids. In some areas of the Flanaess, including Obsidian Bay, it is marked by great bonfires lit to keep the darkness at bay.
Brewfest
The fall harvest festival is usually Obsidian Bay's greatest, seeing week-long contests between rival brewers, drinking halls, eating halls and taverns. The first and last days of the week are public holidays in Greyhawk and Obsidan Bay, and no one is compelled to work on those days.
Festival of Liberation
Sicne 588 CY, residents have marked the first day of Brewfest with the Festival of Liberation, a great party celebrating the freeing of the city from the Scarlet Brotherhood and the demonic scourge of the Bloodlord.
Brauenmarkt
Brauenmarkt (the "Brewing Market" in Old Oeridian) is held each Brewfest in Obsidian Bay. It features potions, elixirs and myriad alchemical items. As with the other magical festivals, this event caters to the upper class of Obsidan Bay. It is held on the campus of the Guild of Wizardry.
