Time, seasons, and holidays

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BRCS:Chapter four/Gods and religion » Time, seasons, and holidays

See Also: BRCS Chapter four: Time, seasons, and holidays - This page is a rewrite of the section in the [[BRCS]]

Time is measured differently depending on where in Cerilia one happens to be. The Brecht measure time by tide and moon, while the Khinasi track the passage of days, months and years by the position of the sun. The Vos generally don't care about the days or months - they measure time by the naming of the years, with the first snowfall after a brief summer beginning a new year.

One of the lasting legacies of the Anuirean Empire is the standardization that it brought to the realms in its far-reaching domain. Although most regions of Cerilia still maintain a local calendar, scholars consider the Anuirean calendar to be the standard for marking the passage of time. Anuireans base their calendar on the orbit of the moon and the movement of the constellation of Haelyn, the protector. The Anuirean Book of Days defines twelve months to a year, four weeks to a month, and eight days to a week. A year has 388 days. The four annual days not part of any month have become times to celebrate and reflect. These days fall upon the vernal equinox (The Day of Rebirth), the Summer solstice (The Night of Fire, when a show of falling stars results from the annual passage through a meteor belt), the autumnal equinox (The Veneration of the Sleeping), and the winter solstice (The Eve of the Dead).

See Also: Cerilian calendars

[hide][top]The crown of glory

The noble warrior god Haelyn is the protector and brother to Roele, the founder of the Anuirean Empire. Naturally, the astronomers based in the City of Anuire in those long-ago days chose the constellation of Haelyn to help them measure time. This constellation, six stars high, looks like a warrior en garde and is fully visible from southern Anuire at the summer solstice. With each passing month after this solstice, one star slips below the southern horizon. When the last star -- Haelyn's head, or the Crown of Glory -- falls beneath the horizon, the Eve of the Dead has come. Haelyn's constellation hides only for the single night of the winter solstice, but it's a night of frantic prayer, for many fear that influence of the Shadow World grows strongest when Haelyn's constellation does not watch over his people. Of course, Anuireans living farther north must endure even more time away from Haelyn's gaze (and longer nights). As protection from the Shadow World, people in the north also venerate other deities, particularly Erik patron of the Rjurik and Ruornil, ancient foe of the evils of the Shadow World.

[hide][top]Months

The 12 months of the Anuirean calendar begin with the Day of Rebirth, the vernal equinox. The month Sarimiere is the first of the new year, followed by Talienir, then Roelir. After Haelyn's Festival, the month of Haelynir begins. Anarire and Deismir (named after the battle of Deismaar, final battle of the Shadow war, also known as the Gods War) follow in succession, with the Veneration of the Sleeping next. Erntenir, the month of harvest leads to Sehnir, then Emmanir, just before the Eve of the Dead. Then comes the coldest month, Keltier which flows into Faniele, then Pasiphel, and again to the Day of Rebirth.

[hide][top]Days

Anuireans devote six days of the week's eight days to work, giving over the remainder to rest and leisure. Poorer Anuireans can rarely afford such luxury and work seven days although the clergy generally demand that all master give at least one days rest to all men so that they may tend to the condition of their soul.

The days, from works beginning to rest?s end, are: Firlen, Relen, Dielen, Varilen, Branlen, Barlen, Mierlen, and Taelen (called Thelen in the south west of Anuire). Taelen is called God?s day by many and is the traditional day for church services and important weddings and announcements.

[hide][top]Tabular layout of the months and seasons

Month/Annual day	Season	Notes
The Day of Rebirth	Vernal Equinox	New Years Day, Sacred to Cuiraecen and Sera.
Sarimiere	Winter/ Spring	First month of new year, traditional period to start new ventures and renew old friendships
Talienir	Spring
Roelir	Spring	The Great Bay clears of ice by Roelir even after the worst winters
The Night of Fire	Summer Solstice	Haelyn's Festival. Marriages on this day are said to be blessed by the gods. Sacred to Erik, Haelyn and Cuiraecen.
Haelynir	Spring/Summer
Anarire	Summer
Deismir	Summer	The 22nd of Deismir is the anniversary of the Battle of Deismaar.
The Veneration of the Sleeping	Autumnal Equinox	Particularly sacred to Ruornil.
Erntenir	Autumn	Harvest festivals including the legendary Brecht Erntenirfest
Sehnir	Autumn	The 11th of Sehnir is currently celebrated by followers of Eloele as her birthday.
Emmanir	Autumn/winter
The Eve of the Dead	Winter Solstice	Sacred to Belinik, Nesirie, the senior members of Ruornil's faithful, Kartathok and reputedly the rare priests of The Cold Rider.
Keltier	Winter	Coldest month, snow is absent only in Khinasi.
Faniele	Winter	Sacred month for Kriesha, a time of fasting for the Vos followed by a feast at the end of the month.
Pasiphiel	Winter / Spring	The Day of Holy Justice falls on the 6th of Pasiphiel

[hide][top]Other festivals

Many festivals and holidays are observed across Cerilia, many of these are religious in nature, others do not relate specifically to religion and are instead considered cultural.

source	Festival/holiday
Anuire	The Sword and Crown
Brecht	Breaking of the Ice, Erntenirfest
Dwarven	Festival of the Forge
Elven	Festival of Dawning, Festival of Rebirth, Day of Revelry, Celebration of Light, Children's Fair, Day of Remembrance, Festival of the Land's Bounty, The Day of Peace, Wrath of the King, The Betrayal of Man
Khinasi	El-Arrasi's day
Goblin	Blooding of the kindred, Challa's Hunt, Feast of Bruul, Rage of Mauglyk
Rjurik	Kenneddfod, Gretchen's flight, Midwinter
Vos	Burning of the Shade
Avani	Remembrance of Deismaar
Belinik	Remembrance of Deismaar, The Eve of the Dead, Sonya's Feast
Cuiraecen	The Day of Rebirth, The Night of Fire, The Challenge of Shaene
Eloele	Kira's Dance
Erik	Remembrance of Deismaar, Harvest Festival, The Night of Fire
Haelyn	Remembrance of Deismaar, The Day of Holy Justice, The Night of Fire
Kriesha	Pola's Revenge, Remembrance of Deismaar, The Teeth of Winter
Laerme	Song of Fire and Water
Nesirie	Remembrance of Deismaar, Blessing of the Sea, The Eve of the Dead
Ruornil	Remembrance of Deismaar, The Veneration of the Sleeping, The Eve of the Dead , All Shadow's Fled
Sera	Remembrance of Deismaar
Solstices	The Day of Rebirth, The Night of Fire, The Veneration of the Sleeping, The Eve of the Dead
Local	Foregathering of the Erebannien, High Festival of the Autumn Moon, High Summer's Fest, The Call of Days