Please take note - Gor is in the same orbit as, but set 180 degrees away from,
Earth. As a result, Gor is always hidden behind Lar-Torvis (the Sun.) The
Gorean year therefore, is the same length as Earth's. Gor is approximately
5/7ths the mass of Earth, resulting in a lower gravitational force. It is not clear
whether Gor has an axial tilt.

The Gorean calendar is divided into twelve twenty-five day months. Each
month consists of five weeks, or hands, each five days long. Each month is
separated from the month which follows it by a five day "Passage Hand".

Following the normal Passage Hand, which marks the end of the twelfth
Gorean month, is a five day period known as "The Waiting Hand." During this
period most Goreans mourn the passing of the old year.

The Waiting Hand concludes on the eve of the Vernal equinox, and the
following day is celebrated as the Gorean New Year. The first Hand of the
month of En'Kara begins on the following day. Every fourth year {leap year} the
Gorean New Year is celebrated on a separate day between the Waiting Hand
of the previous year and the first day of the first Hand of En’Kara.

The Gorean Year

Month of En’Kara (The
First Turning)
First Hand March 21-March
25
Second Hand March
26-March 30
Third Hand March 31-April
4
Fourth Hand April 5-April 9
Fifth Hand April 10-April 14
First Passage Hand April
15-April 19
Month of Hesius(Ar)
First Hand April 20-April
24
Second Hand April
25-April 29
Third Hand April 30-May 4
Fourth Hand May 5-May 9
Fifth Hand May 10-May
14
Second Passage Hand
May 15-May 19
Month of Camerius{Ar} or
Selnar(Ko-Ro-Ba)
First Hand May 20-May 24
Second Hand May 25-May
29
Third Hand May 30-June 3
Fourth Hand June 4-June 8
Fifth Hand June 9-June 13
Third Passage Hand June
14-June 18
Month of En`Var(First
Resting)
First Hand June 19-June 23
Second Hand June 24-June
28
Third Hand June 29-July 3
Fourth Hand July 4-July 8
Fifth Hand July 9-July13
Fourth Passage Hand July
14-July 18
Fifth Month
First Hand July 19-July 23
Second Hand July 24-July
28
Third Hand July 29-August
2
Fourth Hand August
3-August 7
Fifth Hand August
8-August 12
Fifth Passage Hand
August 13-August 17
Sixth Month
First Hand August
18-August 22
Second Hand August
23-August 27
Third Hand August
28-September 1
Fourth Hand September
2-September 6
Fifth Hand September
7-September 11
Sixth Passage Hand
September 12-September 16
Month of Se`Kara(Second
Turning)
First Hand September
17-September 21
Second Hand September
22-September 26
Third Hand September
27-October 1
Fourth Hand October
2-October 6
Fifth Hand October
7-October 11
Seventh Passage Hand
October 12-October 16
Eighth Month
First Hand October
17-October 21
Second Hand October
22-October 26
Third Hand October
27-October 31
Fourth Hand November
1-November 5
Fifth Hand November
6-November 10
Eighth Passage Hand
November 11-November 15
Ninth Month
First Hand November
16-November 20
Second Hand November
21-November 25
Third Hand November 26-
November 30
Fourth Hand December
1-December 5
Fifth Hand December
6-December 10
Ninth Passage Hand
December 11-December 15
Month of Se`Var (Second
Resting)
First Hand December
16-December 20
Second Hand December
21-December 25
Third Hand December
26-December 30
Fourth Hand December
31-January 4
Fifth Hand January
5-Jaunuary 9
Tenth Passage Hand
January 10-January 14
Eleventh Month
First Hand January
15-January 19
Second Hand January
20-January 24
Third Hand January
25-January 29
Fourth Hand January
30-February 3
Fifth Hand February
4-February 8
Eleventh Passage Hand
February 9-February 13
Twelfth Month
First Hand February
14-February 18
Second Hand February
19-February 23
Third Hand February
24-February 28
Fourth Hand March 1-March
5
Fifth Hand March 6-March
10
Twelfth Passage Hand
March 11-March 15
Waiting Hand
March 16-March 20
 

Gorean Holidays and Festivals

Gorean New Year
On the day of the Vernal equinox {March 21}, many northern Gorean cities,
including Ar, celebrate the Gorean New Year. Typically, on this day of
celebration, doors are painted green, and a city-wide festival is held, lasting for
two full Gorean hands (ten days). Every fourth year, the New Year is
celebrated on the extra day which occurs between the Waiting Hand and the
day of the equinox.

Sardar Fairs
The Gorean equivalent of the World's Fair on Earth, these are four huge trade
fairs which are held quarterly in the shadow of the Sardar Mountain Range.
Each young person of Gor is expected to make a pilgrimage to the foot of the
Sardar Mountains before he or she reaches their 25th birthday. They typically
last ten full days (plus at least that long for set up and break down) and are
scheduled to coincide with the solstices and equinoxes. Therefore, the four
annual Fairs are: The Fair of En'Kara (March 21st-March 30th), The Fair of
En`Var (June 19th-June 28th), The Fair of Se`Kara (September 22nd-October
1st), The Fair of Se`Var (December 21st-December 30th)

The Planting Feast of Sa-Tarna
A complex feast celebrated by most Gorean cities early during the growing
season, and believed by many to ensure a plentiful harvest for the year ahead.
Numerous rituals are performed during the three days of the feast (April
16th-18th) by members of the caste of Initiates. Members of each of the five
high castes perform their own part of the ceremony during that three-day
period. Most of these rituals consist of sacrifices or prayers to the Priest Kings
conducted in the presence of the city Home Stone. On the final eve of the
feast, the Home Stone is placed beneath the sky, typically atop the tallest
cylinder in the city, and sprinkled with Sa-Tarna grain and Ka-la-na wine by a
dignitary of the city, often the Administrator, Ubar, or a member of the ruling
family.

The Return to Turia
The last day of the Second Hand of En'Kara (March 30th) is traditionally the
day which marks the beginning of The Season of Little Grass for the Wagon
Peoples, and shortly thereafter they begin the long trek from their winter
pastures back to Turia.

Games of the Love War
The Wagon Peoples compete against the Warriors of Turia on the Plain of
Stakes during the Second Passage Hand (May 15th-19th) in mid-spring,
participating in various challenges and ceremonial-combats in order to
exchange freewoman for slaves.

Taking of the Omens
Every tenth year, dating from 10,119 CA (1969 AD), is considered by the
Wagon Peoples to be an "Omen Year." Therefore, in 10,129 CA (1979 AD) and
in 10,139 CA (1989 AD), the Wagon Peoples halted their annual trek past Turia
and various Omens were divined by their haruspexes regarding the future of
the tribes and the safety of the bosk. This ceremony typically occurs in late
spring, sometimes during the month of Camerius. The next such Omen Year
will be 10,149 CA (1999 AD).

Turian New Year
The people of Turia and certain other southern regions officially celebrate their
own new year on the day of the Summer Solstice (June 21st). A ten day period
of revelry follows, similar to the New Year celebrations in northern cities.

Kajuralia
"The Festival of Slaves" is held in most Gorean cities (except Port Kar, where
it is not celebrated at all) on the last day of the Twelfth Passage Hand (March
15th). In Ar, it is celebrated on the last day of the fifth month (August 12th), the
day which precedes the Love Feast. On this day, slaves may take liberties
which are otherwise not permitted them during the year. Including the drinking
of wine and liquor, the freedom to roam at will (provided of course they do not
attempt to escape from their owners permanently), the freedom to choose
their own sexual partners and to couch with slaves of the opposite sex whom
they find attractive, temporary suspension of all work and duties, and even the
opportunity to play minor tricks and practical jokes upon Free Persons. After
the twentieth ahn, however, they are expected to be back in their respective
kennels and slave quarters to resume the services required by their imbonded
status.

Love Feast
Five day celebration within Ar, held during the Fifth Passage Hand (August
13th-17th.) It is a time when many slaves are sold. The fourth day of the Love
Feast (August 16th) is typically considered the climax of the festival in regard
to the sale of slaves. The fifth day (August 17th) is normally reserved for great
contests and spectacles in the Stadium of Blades, grand races in the Stadium
of Tarns, great Kaissa championships and general celebration feasting.

The Passing of Turia
The herds of the Wagon people traditionally pass closest to the city of Turia on
or around the Second Hand of Se`Kara (September 22nd-26th).

Festival of the 25th of Se`Kara
An annual Festival held in Port Kar to celebrate their great naval victory over
the combined fleets of Cos and Tyros (October 11th.)

The Thing
An annual celebration held in Torvaldsland, during which all of the Shieldmen of
the various Great Jarls travel to the Hall of their particular leader, submit their
weaponry for inspection, and formally re-pledge their oaths of loyalty. The
Thing usually occupies a span of three to five days, and occurs sometime
during the middle of the ninth Gorean month (mid-November), varying
according to such factors as weather and the current political situation.

The Wintering
The nomadic herds of the Wagon people typically occupy their winter pastures
during the period from the middle of the ninth Gorean month (late November)
through the Second Hand of En'Kara (late March).

New Year (Wagon People)
The day of the Winter Solstice (December 21st) is celebrated by the Wagon
People as the first day of the new year, and marks the beginning of The
Season of Snows. In addition, the women of the Wagon People keep a
calendar of their own, based upon the phases of the largest of the three
Gorean moons. It consists of fifteen separate divisions, each named after one
of the fifteen different kinds of bosk, for instance: "The Moon of the Brown
Bosk", "The Moon of the Spotted Bosk", etc.

Carnival
Carnival Held in many southern cities, notably Port Kar, during the five days of
the Twelfth Passage Hand (March 11th-15th). During this celebration it is often
customary to garb oneself in outlandish costumes or masks and attend
various masquerade fetes and feasts.

The Waiting Hand
This is a five day period (March 16th-20th) during which doors are painted
white, little food is eaten, little is drunk and there is no singing or public rejoicing
in the city. Walls and doors are adorned with sprigs and branches from the
brak bush to ward off ill-luck in the coming year. On the day of the Vernal
equinox, the Ubar or Administrator of the city performs a ritual "greeting of the
sun," after which doors are repainted and the brak foliage is removed,
beginning a ten day period of general revelry.