Greyhawk's Calendar
Fireseek |
Starday |
Sunday |
Moonday |
Godsday |
Waterday |
Earthday |
Freeday |
1
New Year's Day |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11
 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20
 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25
 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
Readying |
Starday |
Sunday |
Moonday |
Godsday |
Waterday |
Earthday |
Freeday |
1
Festival of
St. Bane |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10
Snowdrop
Festival |
11
 |
12 |
13 |
14
Heartsday |
15
 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25
 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
Coldeven |
Starday |
Sunday |
Moonday |
Godsday |
Waterday |
Earthday |
Freeday |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10
 |
11
Festival of the Blood Moon
 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23
Trapper's Rendezvous |
24
Trapper's Rendezvous |
25
Trapper's Rendezvous
 |
26
Trapper's Rendezvous |
27
Trapper's Rendezvous |
28
Trapper's Rendezvous |
Growfest |
Starday |
Sunday |
Moonday |
Godsday |
Waterday |
Earthday |
Freeday |
1
Banapis |
2 |
3 |
4
 |
5 |
6 |
7
Foolsday |
Planting |
Starday |
Sunday |
Moonday |
Godsday |
Waterday |
Earthday |
Freeday |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4
 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11
Tanabat |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18
 |
19 |
20
 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
Flocktime |
Starday |
Sunday |
Moonday |
Godsday |
Waterday |
Earthday |
Freeday |
1
Beory's Day |
2 |
3 |
4
 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8
Harnekiah |
9
Harnekiah |
10
Harnekiah |
11
Harnekiah |
12
Harnekiah |
13
Harnekiah |
14
Harnekiah |
15
St. Cuthbert's Day
 |
16 |
17 |
18
Walpurgis
 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
Wealsun |
Starday |
Sunday |
Moonday |
Godsday |
Waterday |
Earthday |
Freeday |
1
Goodrhys
Festival of the Blinding Light |
2
Festival of the Blinding Light |
3
Festival of the Blinding Light |
4
Festival of the Blinding Light
 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10
 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16
Bawming the Thorn |
17
Ceremony of the Turning |
18
 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
Richfest |
Starday |
Sunday |
Moonday |
Godsday |
Waterday |
Earthday |
Freeday |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4
  |
5 |
6 |
7 |
Reaping |
Starday |
Sunday |
Moonday |
Godsday |
Waterday |
Earthday |
Freeday |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11
 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20
 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25
Sotillion's Day
 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
Goodmonth |
Starday |
Sunday |
Moonday |
Godsday |
Waterday |
Earthday |
Freeday |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4
Grandmote festival
King's Festival |
5
King's Festival |
6
King's Festival |
7
King's Festival |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11
 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15
 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25
Miner's Fairs
 |
26
Miner's Fairs |
27
Miner's Fairs |
28
Miner's Fairs |
Harvester |
Starday |
Sunday |
Moonday |
Godsday |
Waterday |
Earthday |
Freeday |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10
 |
11
Loggers' Fests
 |
12
Loggers' Fests |
13
Loggers' Fests |
14
Loggers' Fests |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20
Raksha Bandhan |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25
Imperium Invicta
 |
26
Imperium Invicta |
27
Imperium Invicta |
28
Imperium Invicta |
Brewfest |
Starday |
Sunday |
Moonday |
Godsday |
Waterday |
Earthday |
Freeday |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4
 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
Patchwall |
Starday |
Sunday |
Moonday |
Godsday |
Waterday |
Earthday |
Freeday |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4
 |
5 |
6 |
7
Bellringer's
Feast |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14
Lammas |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18
Wiccrhys
 |
19 |
20
 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
Ready'reat |
Starday |
Sunday |
Moonday |
Godsday |
Waterday |
Earthday |
Freeday |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4
 |
5
Turning of the
Shebbear Stone |
6 |
7
Festival of Hope |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11
Day of
Remembrance |
12
Day of
Reflection |
13
Day of
Retribution |
14
Great Freeday |
15
 |
16 |
17 |
18
 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
Suns'ebb |
Starday |
Sunday |
Moonday |
Godsday |
Waterday |
Earthday |
Freeday |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4
 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10
 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18
 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23
Misrah |
24 |
25
Days of
Thought |
26
Days of
Thought |
27
Days of
Thought |
28
Days of
Thought |
Needfest |
Starday |
Sunday |
Moonday |
Godsday |
Waterday |
Earthday |
Freeday |
1
Mummergin |
2 |
3 |
4
  |
5 |
6 |
7
Feast of
Unreason |
I
Fireseek (Winter)
11th
- Luna's full moon
25th
- Luna's new moon
1st
- New Year's Day. The first day following the Needfest
was offically decreed as the first day of the new year by the
Overking in Rauxes and has been accepted by most of the Oeridian
dominated nations around the Flanaess. The Bakluni nations have
their own new year.
II
Readying (Spring/Winter)
11th
- Luna's full moon
15th
- Celene's new moon
25th
- Luna's new moon
1st
- Festival of St. Bane. Attempts to turn undead on this
date are blessed.
10th
- Snowdrop Festival. Masks are worn to a sort of all-day
party and at dusk clothing is exchanged between the sexes amidst
general hilarity. Due to the weather, this is usually overclothing,
though underclothing is not unheard of in some places.
14th
- Heartsday, or "Myhrissian."
III
Coldeven (Spring)
11th
- Luna's full moon
25th
- Luna's new moon
11th
- Festival of the Blood-Moon. Sacred to worshippers of
Nerull and most lawful evil cults as well, this grim festival
technically begins on the 10th and ends on the evening of the 12th.
It commemorates the blood-red moon which appeared all over the
Flanaess on this day in 294 CY. (Some sages postulated common volcanism
as the source, but proponents dwindled quickly after several
sages disappeared under mysterious circumstances.) Elaborate
ceremonies are held in fell and shadowy places, many of which
are grisly and unpleasant in the extreme. This festival is now
honoured in Iuz' lands as well since the Wars, in mocking celebration
of the surprise attacks which decimated the Heirarchs of Molag
in 583
CY.
22nd-28th - Trapper's
Rendezvous. Much favoured by rangers and other woodsmen.
Growfest
4th
- Celene's full moon, Vernal Equinox
Very important to Atroa, Beory, Berei, Elhonna.
* 1st
day is Banapis, also known as "Losar" among
certain Bakluni sects, who consider it to be New Year's! Huge parties
with presents exchanged, considered everybody's birthday. Not
celebrated in Suel lands, who consider celebration of any but
one's actual birth date to be evidence of ignorance and barbarism.
* Last
day is "Foolsday," sacred to Olidammara and
other trickster gods. In Ulek and among rangers, it is traditional
to send someone 'hunting the gawk' {a meaningless errand}. The Lord of Misrule from the Feast
of Unreason, variantly named Motely or Widdershins, is sometimes
elected to preside over this day as well. In Greyhawk, the Desportium
of Magick is held that night in and around the Great Citadel.
* Also
known as the Feast of Atroa in celebration of a new growing
season and the promise of prosperity. This is time when communities
gather together to plan for the future. It is not uncommon for
a celebration to center around a community event like a barn-raising,
to help a neighbor whose homestead may have been damaged over
the winter. The day's community work is then relieved with revelry
in the evening where bonds of friendship often grow.
IV
Planting (Low
Summer/Spring)
4th
- Luna's full moon
18th
- Luna's new moon
11th
- Tanabat, also known as the Seven Sisters Festival. Legend
has it that Olidammara was entertained on this day by seven lovely
sisters, who welcomed him in his guise as a minstrel and treated
him royally. So impressed was he by their treatment and their
wine that he revealed himself and offered to transport them to
his halls, there to live in bliss forever. Though the vineyard's
exact location is a mystery, the legend is widespread, and many
grapegrowing regions claim that the Seven Sisters came from their
lands. At night, therefore, the story is acted out and people
head out to the grape arbours, listening for echoes of the sisters'
laughter as they ascended to paradise. The rest of the holiday
is a celebration of the grape and its byproducts and features
prayers for a good vintage in the coming year, as well as much
celebration and sampling of the previous year's wines. It is
especially sacred to followers of the Laughing Rogue, though
followers of other nature deities often officiate as well.
V
Flocktime (Low
Summer/Spring)
4th
- Luna's full moon
15th
- Celene's new moon
18th
- Luna's new moon
1st
- Beory's Day. Villagers sing and dance around a wooden
pole to celebrate the passing of the seasons and the blessings
of spring.
8-14th - Dwarven
rituals of Harnekiah, or "cleansing of the mountains."
Ritual humanoid hunts conducted. Some humans {mountaineer rangers in particular} also celebrate
"Ulaa's Hunt."
15th
- St. Cuthbert's Day, which many of his more active followers
honour by trying to root out evil cults before Walpurgis falls.
Unfortunately, this frequently leads to mistakes and misunderstandings,
especially when strangers are involved.
18th
- Walpurgis, The Dark Night, is extremely sacred to priests
of evil. Many evil congregations hold elaborate, depraved ceremonies
in dark and unholy places. Others send agents out into the night
to perform assassinations or otherwise engage in unspeakable
acts. On this dread night, all turning rolls against undead are
cursed, in addition to any other hinderances, and all evil priests
may cast spells as if they were of a higher level. Most other
folk with any sense stay inside, preferably with shutters locked
and barred.
VI Wealsun
(Low
Summer/Summer)
4th
- Luna's full moon
18th
- Luna's new moon
1st
- Goodrhys, a festival dedicated to the arrival of Mayaheine
on Oerth.
1st-4th - Festival
of the Blinding Light (Pholtus).
16th
- Bawming the Thorn, a placation of evil nature aspects
by a parade of children who tie a ribbon to the oldest thorn
tree in the region. Intended to ensure safety for the next day.
17th
- Ceremony of the Turning. Celebrated among the Flannae,
the Marklands, and in Druidic communities. Seven-year olds are
carried blindfolded and barefoot into the woods, and must find
a new name before returning to the village feast. Each child
is released separately and alone. They are guided by rowdy singing {and
a huge bonfire if they are slow}, and when they return they are carried
into the centre of the gathering to whisper their name into the
fire. This is their Truename, with all that implies. It should
be noted that rangers and priests of Elhonna are also especially
busy this night, quietly patrolling the area and looking out
for the children's safety. In friendly lands some elves are also
drawn to this sort of role, and it is considered a good omen
for a child to successfully spot one.
Richfest
4th
- Luna's full moon, Celene's full moon, Summer Solstice
Important to all sea gods,
plus Boccob, Sotillion, Llerg (Beasts) and often Kord (games).
* Sealords'
Feast celebrated in coastal areas, esp. "Festival of
the Blue Moon" at midweek, when Celene is full. In Greyhawk
and other inland areas, Guild Days are celebrated at this time
instead.
* Also
known in some communities as the Feast of Sotillion in
celebration of the god's victory in wresting the sun from its
southern decline and bringing it back to warm Oerth and promote
growth and prosperity. Celebrants use the time to enjoy the leisures
of summer with picnics and family reunions. It is a time to put
aside family strife and offer reconciliation, in honor of the
sun own homecoming.
* Midsummer
Day is consider the Holy Day of Pelor, god of sun, light,
and healing. In most good or neutral places this is an official
rest day, and the holiday is even respected in some evil lands
like the Great Kingdom. Feasting and enjoying the sun are important
activities, and it is considered a sign of respect to wear yellow
somewhere on one's person. In non-evil lands, at least, those
who don't are regarded with some suspicion. The weather tends
to be uncannily reliable (rain is generally a sure sign of Pelor's
extreme disfavour with an area), and public services are held outdoors
by Pelor's priests. A public processional is followed by a free
meal, and healing and comfort is provided to the needy while
priests and priestesses vigorously entreat the more fortunate
for alms.
* All
attempts to turn undead are blessed during Midsummer's Day. Priests
of Nerull also dread this day, as they suffer hardships and opponents
are blessed against their spells. The blessing against undead
vanishes that night, but the priests of Nerull must lie low until
the next night before their curse wears off.
* Note
that in the Theocracy of the Pale, this day is held to be sacred
of Pholtus instead, though many of the same activities occur.
Travelers are warned that celebrants all wear white instead,
and yellow clothing or a yellow fabric strip pinned to one's
tunic are considered blasphemous.
* Both
moons are full the 4th day of Richfest, on Midsummer Night.
Lycanthropes aplently, but faeries are also extremely active
and Mages also report certain spell enhancements now and again.
This is often the evening when spell-shows happen.
VII
Reaping (High
Summer/Summer)
11th
- Luna's new moon
25th
- Luna's full moon
25th
- Sotillion's Day, know popularly as Labor Day and also,
derisively, as "St. Ides" (for "Saint Idler's"). Followers
will do no work and enjoy the summer. Widely popular, especially
for the young and in love. As a result the full moon of this
month is often referred to as the "lover's moon". PCs
should be careful not to attack skulking figures or muffled noises!
VIII
Goodmonth (High
Summer/Summer)
11th
- Luna's new moon
15th
- Celene's new moon
25th
- Luna's full moon
4th
- Grandmote festival, involves large archery competition,
fair, and festivities devoted to gods of luck (Istus, Ralishaz neg., Norebo, Rudd).
4th-7th - King's
Festival in Furyondy/Veluna.
25th-28th - Miner's
Fairs.
IX
Harvester (High
Summer/Autumn)
11th
- Luna's new moon
25th
- Luna's full moon
11th-14th - Loggers'
Fests.
20th
- Raksha Bandhan, a Bakluni festival still celebrated
in those lands, and in Perrenland and Highfolk as well. A celebration
of siblings {usually,
but not always, opposite sex}, where bracelets and flower necklaces
are made and traded along with sweets. For those who do not have
siblings, a 'blood brother' ceremony is sometimes performed among
very close friends. It is considered a great honour to wear such
a token on this day.
25th-28th - Imperium
Invicta festival in the Great Kingdom. Still celebrated in Rauxes, North and South Kingdoms, Szeffrin's lands, and some
other areas.
Brewfest
4th
- Celene's full moon, Autumnal Equinox
* Celebration
of the harvest and the arts of brewing. Very important to Wenta, Berei,
Beory, and Olidammara. The Halfling, Gnomic, and Dwarven
pantheons also hold this day in very high regard.
* Also
known as the Feast of Wenta in some communities and is
a celebrated with song, dance and offerings of the summer's harvest
to the goddess Wenta for her blessings during the cold days before
winter.
* Keoland
and allied states celebrate with the Regal Games in Niole Dra.
X
Patchwall (Autumn)
4th
- Luna's new moon
18th
- Luna's full moon
7th=
Bellringer's Feast in All but Brotherhood and Great Kingdom
lands. Everyone gathers at the largest bell in the region (usually a
town hall or temple) when it is rung, then exchange treats and other
baked goods. The militia also turns out in full regalia, as this
festival is connected with themes of warning and preparedness.
Though this day has become more festive, in some embattled lands
its original purpose has completely reasserted itself, and celebrations
in Nyrond are likely to be strained at best.
14th
- Druidic Festival of Lammas.
18th
- Wiccrhys. Originally celebrated as Samhain ("Oidche
Samha"),
or All Hallows Eve in Geoff, the Ulek states, and Druidic areas.
The borders of the spirit world grow thin this night, so people
traditionally dress as spirits and cavort all night as faeries
are always depicted as doing. The hope is that true spirits will
not recognize them as mortal and thus not harm them. 'Soulcakes'
are begged of passerby, and some larger cities also have a great
mummers' play in which everybody dies at the end but then resurrect
themselves. Persons being raised from the dead on this night
receive a blessing, but evil is also strengthened. Aside from
the obvious danger of summoned fiends et. al., spells from any
evil caster are enhanced.
XI
Ready'reat (Autumn)
4th
- Luna's new moon
15th
- Celene's new moon
18th
- Luna's full moon
5th
- Turning of the Shebbear Stone. Commemorates the feats
of Shebbear, a famous Oeridian hero of awesome strength; also
a way of clearing the land. The largest stone on the property
is rolled once toward the west. This holiday produces many injuries,
just in time for...
7th
- Festival of Hope. Healing and atonement offered, esp.
by priests of Pelor and also for Zodal, for whom this is the
holiest day of the year. It has attained even greater significance
of late as a festival for good generally, especially among exile
communities.
11th-14th - Days
of Dedication, sacred to followers of Trithereon. The Day
of Remembrance, dedicated to those who died defending liberty,
begins the festival.
12th
- Day of Reflection, for followers to reflect on their
lives and their goals.
13th
- Day of Retribution, where solemn oaths of vengeance
are typicaly sworn against those deserving same, priests publicly
judge disputes among the faithful, and special favour may be
shown by the deity to those attempting a daring deed in the name
of liberty.
14th
- Great Freeday celebration ends "Days of Dedication."
XII
Suns'ebb (Winter)
4th
- Luna's new moon
18th
- Luna's full moon
23rd
- Marihwyd. A parade of white costumed followers led by
a white robed person wearing a horse's skull sing blessings at
the doors of the village and are rewarded with treats. Popular
among Geoffites, Tenha, and Sterish, as well as the County of
Ulek and Greyhawk.
25th-28th - Days
of Thought, sacred to devotees of Rao, Delleb, and some sages.
Spent in self-examination and study.
Needfest
4th
- Celene's full moon, Winter Solistice
* Begins
with 'Mummergin'. People wear disguises and try to remain
unrecognized, in order to celebrate the wondrous and strange
effect that magic and magical creatures have in the world. Nevertheless,
it should be noted that actual use of magic in such disguises
is considered cheating, and is frowned on in most areas. There
is dancing and general carousing, and the high point is a parade
and the Performance of the Mummers, a play in which good and
evil battle. Evil wins but the youngest speaking child resurrects
good and removes the evil from the bad actor. It is rare but
not unknown for some members of evil cults to take steps at this
point, and vigilance is usually tight in larger cities.
One exception is The Empire of Iuz, which
holds a variant play in which their evil lord fights good and wins. This is
usually enacted by having priests in ceremonial masks publicly fight,
defeat, and then sacrifice a lightlyarmed prisoner amidst general rejoicing.
The rest of the holiday is
devoted to general merriment, and the last night before the months
are again counted in the calendar is very special. This is the
Feast of Unreason, which is honoured by many diverse faiths (Boccob,
Lydia, Lirr, Norebo, Olidammara, Ralishaz, Trithereon, and even
Rao and Iuz!)
for different reasons. In general, however, the mode of celebration
is the same: Servants are promoted to the head of towns, villages,
and even royal courts, where they preside over the feast's duration.
They orchestrate silly laws {i.e.. having farmers push their carts,
wearing only one shoe, etc.} which must be obeyed, though traditionally
they are followed about by a 'true' authority who can overrule
any proclamations deemed to be disastrous. Popular everywhere,
even in the Great Kingdom, but ruthlessly suppressed in the Theocracy
of the Pale. This is a very popular Greyhawk festival, where
it is colloquially known as "Zagyg's Feast." The Mad
Archmage retains his distinction as the only actual ruler to
ever be elected to preside at these festivals, and his influence
can still be felt today. Mages report that their spells will
occasionally misfire in odd and/or humorous ways during this
period, though such misfires will never occur in lifethreatening
situations unless one has greatly offended Zagyg or Boccob.
* Needfest is also known in some places as
the Feast of Telchur, this holiday honours Telchur's valiant battle
in creating winter, and celebrates the beginning of winter's waning. In some
places, an elaborate play commemorates this event (Great Kingdom). In
others, remembrance of family and recital of the family tree is an important
part of the day (Keoish principalities, Geoff, and Ulek). Most places,
however, celebrate primarily with an open house dinner after dark, the
giving of presents, chainlighting of candles, and singing and folk dancing.
The goal is to make the sun feel like he is missing the fun so that he comes
back before it gets too cold.
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