MONTHS, MOONS & FESTIVALS

Time:
Time in Chicora is typically divided into three watches of eight hours, so the common warrior can look at either the constellations or the sun and figure out how long their shift is. First Watch begins at 4:00 in the morning, with the setting of the constellation Archer. Second Watch begins at High Noon. Third Watch would be equivalent to 8:00 in the evening, usually marked when the constellation Archer rises.

There are clocks and time-pieces that tell the exact hour, but these are largely still an extravagance. Chicora time is 24 hours, and marked the same as ours.

Days of the Week:
Monday - Manday Tuesday - Elfday Wednesday - Gnomeday Thursday - Dwarfday Friday - Folkeday Saturday - Dragonday Sunday - Godday

Months of the Year:
January - Dor - named for an ancient Madessi god of comings and goings
February - Frostdeep - the last month of really cold weather (in Gaia)
March - Moonship -- named for when the Elven Ship arrived from the stars, according to legend
April - Archer - named after the most prominent constellation in the night sky
May - Mage - named for a bright object in the sky, which is actually a distant galaxy
June - Gem - named for one of the brightest stars, actually a planet
July - Jewel - named for one of the brightest stars, actually a the smaller sister planet of Gem
August - Augur - named for a major constellation that resembles the wood-carving handtool
September - Sapphire - another planet, this one looks blue, especially during its month
October - Ogre - the constellation that Archer is taking aim
November - Newt - the constellation that Orge seems to be grabbing
December -- Deepwinter - the darkest month of winter

Moons:
Caliban - large purple moon
Arielle - smaller "elvish" moon, not always visible, also called Celeste by the elves.
Third Moon? - some "dust" in the sky suggests there may have been a third moon at one time.

Festivals:
Although each Kingdom and race have a collection of their own festivals, the below are celebrated/observed universally
New Year - Last Night of Deepwinter/First Day of Month of Dor
Awakening - Spring Festival - Spring Equinox, in the month of Moonship
Founders Day - Mage 14th (it was our first post to the Doom Lounge!)
Sovereign Day - Summer Solstice, in the month of Gem
Harvest Festival - Fall Equinox, in the month of Sapphire
All Hallow's Eve - end of the month of Ogre
Winterfest - Winter Solistic, in the month of Deepwinter

Saint's Days:
Saint's Day are the traditional Trugod holidays, celebrating the life of a Trugod Saint with an acknowledgement to basic cultural traditions.

St. Antioch's Day - 28th day of Dor: Saint Antiochus is the patron of the dead and dying. His day is observed by burning incense (sandalwood) over the graves of loved ones. Celebrated as a part of Midwinter (Which marks the Ascension of Saint Janus Antiochus). St. Antioch's Day, with its Midwinter Feast, is the favorite holiday of Tool.

St. Lithas' Day - 10th Day of Jewel. Saint Lithas is known as the Patron Saint of the unfortunate. Her day is often celebrated by performing a series of good deeds and helping those less fortunate than oneself. Often alms are given to the unfortunate and freshly baked loaves given to the hungry. It's rumoured to be the favourite holiday of Judah Wylde, who's always had a soft spot for the underdog.

St.Susinni's Day - 31st of Jewel. Saint Susinni of Rich Port is one of the most celebrated and enigmatic saints. The humans claim she is the shortest human saint, her head surrounded in a frenzy of long brown hair. Folke say she is their own, and invoke her name in their blessings of their meals. Some scholars even speculate that Susinni's origins go back even further, linking her to a Massini goddess of the hearth. Whatever her origins, Susinni is the patron saint of the defender of the family. Every Saint Susinni Day, families place a shield (real or ceremonial) on their hearth, and gather loved ones from near and far. It is a day of family fellowship, and usually accompanied with a sizable feast. Absolute favorite holiday of the Rosetree family.

St. Akasha's Day - 22nd day of Augur - Saint Akasha is the patron saint of war. It's been said that a young Akasha, inspired by the One Trugod, led the scarce forces of the small village of Santini against the large army of Triton, strategically piercing it's weakest point and reaching and assassinating their king before their forces even notice the breach. After extracting her men and making it safely back, legend has it that Akasha knelt in front of the gates of Santini, offering her sword to the One Trugod in thanksgiving for her victory. The forces of Triton, finding themselves without a leader, retreated shortly after, sparing the lives of the villagers. Prayers to Saint Akasha are said by commanding officers before going to war, and her day is celebrated by the blessing of the blades in all public churches. Saint Akasha is Athena Fikaris' guardian saint.

St. Idarian's Day - 21st Day of Sapphire. Saint Idarian's is the Keeper of Secrets. His day is observed by writing a confession of your deepest secret or most heartfelt wish on a piece of parchment, and lighting it on fire with a short prayer. Celebrated as a part of the Harvest Festival. Fafnir Savage usually requires a full scroll to participate!

St. Luiseach's Day - 6th Day of Newt. St. Luiseach is known as the Bringer of Light. His day is celebrated by lighting candles all over as a way of bringing light to the darkness and preparing for the long, dark winter. Although he hasn't admitted it to anyone, this is the favorite holiday of Griffin Hayes.