Spring Holidays
| Spring Holidays | |
| Folloch 15 | Spring Equinox
Marageddon (the Healing) (Abaris) |
| Folloch 21 | The Beckoning (Selene) |
| Folloch 28 | Saint Justinian's Day (the Walk) (Pavor) |
| Giblean 7 | Disjunction (Cthos) |
| Giblean 21 | Start of the Phemoan Games (Phemos) |
| Giblean 28 | End of the Phemoan Games |
| Beltain 1 | Saint Pomerius' Fair begins (Minos) |
| Beltain 7 | Day of the Patron (Thalia)
Saint Pomerius' Fair ends with the Spring Summit (Minos) |
| Beltain 22 | Greysword's Day (K) |
| Betasha 1 | The Revelation (K, Vortumnus) |
| Betasha 7 | The Annunciation (K, Vortumnus) |
| Betasha 20 | Prelude to the Waters begins (Betshaba) |
Folloch
The Beckoning
The Beckoning is the high holy day to Selene, though it is observed in most human cultures. The day is filled with revelry, drinking and adult worshipers are expected to engage in the sexual act at least once in the day (whether wed or not). In many regions, young women are expected to wear sheer clothing and heavy makeup to beautify themselves, while young men are expected to be anointed by oil and run naked through their city or village. If such a runner is caught by a woman, they are expected to copulate. At a feast at the end of the day, a Rose Queen is selected as the most beautiful woman at the festival and a Green Man is chosen from among the ugliest of men (meant to symbolize Selene and her husband, Podalirius). These two are given the seat of honor at the feast table and, if they copulate that night, it is believed Selene will particularly honor the group in attendance for the following year. In more conservative areas, a kiss can suffice for the sex act.
Marageddon (the Healing)
The spring equinox is referred to by worshipers of Abaris as the Marageddon, the Healing, and is observed with a service at the Mysteriorum at dawn, followed by a day of contests of magical aptitude and scholarly intellect. During the Marageddon Symposium, potential Apprentices are tested and selected by their Masters. Those who cannot attend service are expected to pray to Abaris at dawn in thanks for their knowledge and for the strength to continue to expand their knowledge. Adherents typically wear a Hyacinth cluster on this day.
The Planting
The Planting is a festival on the Spring Equinox observed by farmers and is holy to worshipers of Podalirius. The day is marked with traditional cleaning of the residence in the morning, followed by dancing, drinking and general revelry in the afternoon. Many regions incorporate celebrations to other deities, particularly for Drames, Selene and Taygete, something encouraged by the clergy of Podalirius.
Saint Justinian's Day (the Walk)
Saint Justinian's Day is observed by messengers, laypeople and worshipers of Pavor as a day to honor Saint Justinian the Wanderer. Celebrants participate in "The Walk," a parade that begins at dawn, stopping every three hours to tell a tale or, in more urban areas, watch a play about Pavor or one of his saints. The Walk ends in a feast at dusk, where there is singing, dancing and more tales are told. In many areas, it is considered particularly favorable to cross a river (in honor of Pavor's mother, Adrasteia) on a log (in honor of Pavor's father, Virtus) during the Walk.
Giblean
Disjunction
Disjunction is one of the two high holy days of Cthos and occurs on the 7th day of Giblean. It is during this day that Cthos relinquishes his hold on the spirits of the damned and permits them to walk the mortal world. Most spirits who elect to visit the mortal world do so to remind the sinful of the horrid afterlife that awaits them or relate some important piece of information they took to their grave, but some come to do harm. Mortals celebrate this holy day by attending Church and repenting of their sins during the day and decorating their houses with Yew branches at night, to ward off the angry dead.
Laurel Day
Laurel Day is the high holy day of Phemos, god of sport. On years where the Phemoan Games are held, it is on this day that winners are announced and rewarded for their victories. Even in years where the Games are not held (or in regions where it is not observed), Laurel Day is a day to recognize great heroes and athletes (though it would be sacrilege to recognize a gladiator on this day). Feasts and triumphal marches are held for those chosen to receive the Laurel Crown and songs about their deeds are sung. A foot race for young men or children is usually held on the day, if the day is not celebrating the conclusion of the Phemoan Games.
The Phemoan Games
The Phemoan Games is a series of sporting events conducted to honor Phemos, the god of sport. Particularly popular in Aebasa and in some of the nations formerly part of the Great Empire, organized competitions include wrestling, horse racing, boxing, foot races, discus throwing and javelin throwing, though regional variations often include sports specific to those regions. Unlike most holy weeks, the Phemoan Games take place only once every four years (a period of time sometimes referred to as a Phemiad). The games conclude with Laurel Day, where the winners of the events are awarded and lavished with gifts. Adherents to Phemos consider the Phemoan Games a sacred time for enemies to put aside their weapons and compete peacefully... conducting war during this time is considered a sin. The only worse sin to a worshiper of Phemos would be conducting a gladiatorial combat as part of the Games (there are legends of wicked tyrants daring to do so and invariably they are deposed, rather bloodily, with a Phemiad).
Beltain
Day of the Patron
One of the high holy days of Thalia, the Day of the Patron is a day set aside to honor fathers and fatherhood. Traditionally, it is a day where fathers are granted a day free of work, where their family attends to their needs, where practical. The day begins with a ceremonial footwashing, conducted by the man's wife (or, lacking such, one of his daughters). Children are expected to give a small gift that they crafted themselves to symbolize their thanks to their father. In the Old Empire, it was also considered a day for clients to recognize the beneficence of their patrons, even between client states and the Emperor himself. Though this tradition has waned since the fall of the Empire, the day has recently been celebrated in a more traditional manner.
Greysword's Day
The birthday of King William I Greysword, Greysword's Day is still observed in Koramia even a century after his death. Veterans of the Koramian military are honored on this day, including former soldiers and city guardsmen. In Paeldain, it is a day of great pageantry, where knights and nobles march in a parade through the city, ending with a service at the temple to Vortumnus to honor the memory of their king.
Saint Pomerius' Fair
Saint Pomerius' Fair is a week-long market fair holy to Minos as a week to honor Saint Pomerius the Young. As with most of the Minoan Fairs, the Fair takes place in a designated Market Town where merchants from nearby countries gather to sell and trade. Traditionally, Saint Pomerius' Fair is also when new craftsman or merchant Apprentices are judged and, if they pass the tests placed on them by the Masters of their crafts, are chosen for Apprenticeship. It is also a time when many new contracts are initiated between merchants and craftsmen. Saint Pomerius' Fair ends on Beltain 7, with a morning service at the local temple to Minos where new Apprentices are presented to the congregation, followed by the Spring Summit among local guildmasters.
Spring Summit
Spring Summit is a holy day of Minos where local guildmasters are expected to gather at the nearest temple to Minos to discuss plans for the following year, set prices (where it is legal to do such) and settle any inter-guild disputes from the previous season. It takes place on the last day of Saint Pomerius' Fair, which is why guildmasters observant to Minos are generally absent from the Market Towns during that festival.
Betasha
The Annunciation
The highest of holy days for worshipers of Vortumnus who follow the Koramian Heresy, the Annunciation is believed to be the day that Saint Garimund of Ryard was commanded by the archangel Michahel to spread word of what was revealed to him in the Koram aboard the Glorious Galleon. Where observed, it is a solemn occasion marked by five Great Masses throughout the day.
Prelude to the Waters
Prelude to the Waters are feast days holy to Betshaba celebrating the bounty of the sea, leading up to the Rise of the Waters ceremony on the summer solstice. The solemnity of the event varies widely depending on differences in local culture: some Preludes are loud, drunken affairs where sailors tell tall tales and eat vast amounts of crab and oysters while others are more subdued celebrations with calm music and various fish dishes prepared. Sailing on the open ocean during Prelude is considered bad form at best and, unless the Rise is observed faithfully, tempting Betshaba's legendary rage.
The Revelation
One of the high holy days for Vortumnus in the Koramian Heresy, it is believed that this is the day that Saint Garimund of Ryard first boarded the Glorious Galleon and discovered the Koram in 186 IC. Where observed, it is the start of a week-long series of tournaments where knights compete in jousts and duels for honors. In Koramia itself, a King who has acceded to the throne is formally crowned on this day (recently, this tradition has been observed in Narbonne as well). The holy week ends with the Annunciation.
