Holidays

Holidays

Midwinter Day & Midwinter Night

Midwinter, also known as Deadwinter Day, is a festival to mark the midpoint of winter in the Calendar of Harptos. It occurs on a special day between Hammer 30 and Alturiak 1. Amongst nobles and monarchs it's known as Midwinter and is traditionally used to make or renew alliances; it is the common people that call the holiday Deadwinter Day, a reference to the cold and hard times that remained before the spring.

A social, political and religious day, many social classes and many peoples celebrate Midwinter. To the various folk of Faerun, Midwinter signifies the deepest, darkest point, and it depends on the community, country or church to decide if this turning point is to be celebrated in the brightest fashion or in the most grim. Customs are diverse, but almost all focus on the future: whether it is about appeasing the cruel gods, making new plans, swearing new allegiances or fastening old ones, or trying to chase away winter, the people prepare themselves for the coming year... harsh or gentle.

And in your own faith...

Man's Rites

• Worshipers of Auril the Frostmaiden hold a festival of ice-dancing.
• To the worshipers of Gargauth the Schemer, Midwinter Night is the Unveiling, said to be observed with many grisly sacrifices.
• Worshipers of Grumbar the Mountain hold a festival and set plans for the next year.
• Worshipers of Lliira the Joybringer open a holy festival with the Swords Cast Down ritual in which weapons are thrown on the ground with chanting and covered with fresh flowers (conjured by hired druids or wizards or by senior clergy).
• Worshipers of Loviatar the Willing Whip celebrate the Rite of Pain and Purity by dancing in a circle upon broken glass or other sharp objects.
• Worshipers of the Red Knight the Tactician observe the Retreat to review campaigns, discuss strategies, and codify lore.
• Worshipers of Shiallia the Fertile invite friendly creatures to join in feasting, dancing, and singing.
• Priests of Osiris resanctify all burial crypts in Mulhorand.
• Worshipers of Talos the Destroyer call for storms and lightning.

The Dwarves' Rites

• Worshipers of Berronar Truesilver the All-Mother mark this day with chanted prayers, speeches, reports on the workings of the church, and an underground festival.
• Guardians of Gorm Gulthyn the Protector gather for ritual salutes, martial weapons displays, chanted prayers, and the offering of weapons used in a defensive action.
• Worshipers of Laduguer the Exile observe Grimtidings by stopping work and listening to priests recounting tales of duergar suffering.
• Followers of Marthammor Duin the Wanderer call this day the Rooting and celebrate their renewed ties to the mountains.

The Elves' Rites

• Worshipers of Shevarash the Vengeful observe Midwinter Night in memory of the Dark Court Slaughter in which new members swear not to smile or laugh until the Spider Queen and other dark drow gods and their followers are destroyed.

The Gnomes' Rites

• Worshipers of the svirfneblin deity Callarduran Smoothhands the Deep Brother celebrate the Festival of the Star at midnight when special phosphorescent fungi reflect like stars off of subterranean waters.
• Worshipers of the gnomish god Urdlen the Crawler appease their god with sacrifices in deep caverns on the Night of Blood.

OOC: Midwinter always occurs on 31st January.

Spring (Vernal) Equinox

After winter's reign days grow palpably longer and sunlight graces Faerun slowly but surely more. Peasant and nobleman alike know that in the month of Ches, third month of the year, the tides of night and day start to become equal in strength again. Often though the equinox is more the concern of wisewomen, mysterious druids and spiritual leaders; the bustling, open revelries of spring only feature about a month later, around the day dubbed Greengrass.

While it may not be a holiday for the common man, the vernal equinox is still a special day for many.

Mankind's Traditions

• The deities of the Triad don't hold special celebrations for the equinox; while Impilturans might be able to tell you that Tyr's most noble church holds a ceremony every tenday for a particular aspect of Tyrran dogma, none of those falls on this day.
• Other, less prominent religions in Impiltur do hold rites however. The common Impilturan might not know them, or not well enough to be sure, but if one belongs to the religion in question they would no doubt be familiar with what is to come for their fellow faithful:
• Priests of Lathander traditionally perform the Song of Dawn: a celebration of spring, life, and renewal.
• Worshipers of Mielikki celebrate something called the First Feast and praise the Forest Lady with song. Those whose hearts follow Gwaeron Windstrom the Tracker Mighty, also join in.
• Ominously, on the other side of the scale the Beastlord Malar's followers perform a High Hunt on this day; those who come from Cormyr, the Dalelands or regions with great wilderness might have heard of this rite the most, and all the wild rumours that may surround it.
• Seldom as they may be in Impiltur, worshipers of Sharess celebrate the Endless Revel of Life on this day.
• The worshipers of Auril the Frostmaiden beseech their goddess this day for the Last Storm.
• Secretively, the worshipers of Loviatar perform the Rite of Purity and Pain.
• The Daring God Valkur bids his followers to partake in the Shattering on this day.
• Distant and unknown so far to the east, the barbarian tribes who idolise Uthgar fast for a day and a night to celebrate the Birthing of Spring.

Dwarven Traditions

• The heavy roots of mountains know no spring, nor do the jagged mountain tops or the everlasting tunnels of Dwarven make. The Stout Folk do not have overarching traditions of celebrating the spring equinox.

Hin Traditions

• For a true halfling there is always cause for good eating, and the vernal equinox holds no special meaning or exception.

Elven Traditions

• Elusive, few and rare as the Fair Folk are in Impiltur, little of their customs would be known by the common people. A wandering elf might however remember what the equinox enholds for their people.
• Worshipers of Aerdrie Faenya have a festival called the Dance of the Swirling Winds with aerial ballets and offerings of beautiful feathers.
• Worshipers of Rillifane Rallathil observe the Budding with a ritual hunt to break their long fast and with dances in remote oak groves.

Gnomish Traditions

• To a joyful gnome, any reunion, discovery, farewell or anniversary is a good enough reason for celebration. The spring equinox isn't spectacularly different in this, save for one gnomish deity's followers:
• Worshipers of the Earthfriend, Segojan Earthcaller offer up gems and bury them in holes dug by badgers.

OOC: The server follows the real life calendar: in which case the spring equinox ought to occur on the 19th or 20th March.

Greengrass

Often the spring equinox is more the concern of wisewomen, mysterious druids and spiritual leaders; the bustling, open revelries of spring only feature about a month later, around the day dubbed Greengrass. Greengrass is a widely known festival that welcomes the first continental day of spring. It occurs annually on a special day between Tarsakh 30 and Mirtul 1. Traditionally, the wealthier people bring out flowers to give to the less wealthy, who either wear them or spread them on the ground to encourage the deities to usher in the summer.

Many of the Faerunian pantheon's gods are celebrated one way or another on Greengrass, this joyful and flower-filled day.

Mankind's Festivities

• The solemn, ever astute deities of the Triad don't hold special celebrations for Greengrass; while Impilturans might be able to tell you that Tyr's most noble church holds a ceremony every tenday for a particular aspect of Tyrran dogma, none of those falls on this day.
• Other, less prominent religions in Impiltur do hold rites however. The common Impilturan will know a few, potentially even practice some, but it is often up to priests to educate their fellow faithful on the events:
• Worshipers of Chauntea celebrate this day. As the Earthmother is revered in many rural communities, Greengrass is known by many peasantries of Faerun and welcomed with a hedonistic fertility festival, involving the free flow of mead, food, sharing of flower-crowns and dancing.
• Those who particularly venerate the lesser-known Goddess of Fountains and Tranquility, Eldath, celebrate the Greening. They gather for a festival.
• Worshipers of Lliira the Joybringer open a holy festival with the Swords Cast Down ritual in which weapons are thrown on the ground with chanting and covered with fresh flowers.
• It is not common knowledge - indeed, it is kept secret - that followers of Loviatar celebrate the Rite of Pain and Purity today, by dancing in a circle upon broken glass or other sharp objects.
• Worshipers of Mielikki, Our Lady of the Forest, observe planting rites and the Wild Ride. Some say virgin maidens joining the faith gather deep in the woods, where herds of unicorns assemble and allow them to ride bareback through the forest.
• Followers of Milil the Lord of Song sing the Call to the Flowers. Their choirs supposedly bring tears of joy even to the heartless.
• The hedonistic faithful of Sharess celebrate the Endless Revel of Life again on this day. They say one has not lived life until attending such a feast.
• Worshipers of Shiallia celebrate birth on this day, inviting friendly attendants to join in feasting, dancing, and singing.
• Worshipers of Silvanus the Forest Father consider Greengrass holy and often give sacrifice by breaking and burying an object constructed of wood.
• Worshipers of the Lady of Love, Sune gather people from their communities to celebrate the Chase: an uplifting game outdoors.
• Talos' faithful are ominously said to bring down their god's might on this day, in a ceremony dubbed Calling Down the Thunder. When one hears distant broiling of storms, the fury of Talos is said to have been invoked.

Dwarven Traditions

• The Stout Folk have been hardened like the stones they so prize, and deep in their fortresses there's rarely celebrations dedicated to the seasons. It is mainly the gods whose followers venture out under the Endless Cavern Above that perform rituals for Greengrass.
• Worshipers of the Gleam in the Eye, Dugmaren Brightmantle spend the morning in thoughtful meditation and the rest of the day at a scholarly symposium. They call this day the Convocation.
• Guardians of Gorm Gulthyn gather for ritual salutes, martial weapons displays, chanted prayers, and the offering of weapons used in a defensive action.
• Worshipers of the Flashing Fury, Haela Brightaxe observe the Time of the Spawning, knowing well that with the mountain thaw come goblinoid scum breeding. They sharpen their blades and prepare for the next outpouring of orcs and other creatures that threaten dwarfkind.
• Followers of Marthammor Duin call this day the Wind and celebrate new discoveries.
• Worshipers of the Mirtful Dancer, Sharindlar gather around a natural underground pool to dance and perform secret rituals to the Lady of Life.
• Worshipers of the Merchant King, Vergadain hold a Coin Festival, preceded by a sale of wares in order to maximize their wealth.

Hin Celebrations

• For a true halfling there is always cause for good eating, and Greengrass holds no special meaning or exception. Often halflings partake in the festivities of the humans or gnomes they share land with.

Elven Traditions

• Elusive, few and rare as the Fair Folk are in Impiltur, little of their customs would be known by the common people. A wandering elf would likely remember though that Greengrass is a very human revel.

Gnomish Traditions

• To a joyful gnome, any reunion, discovery, farewell or anniversary is a good enough reason for celebration.

Other Customs

• The dwarves and dwellers of mountains know well that Greengrass isn't only a day of peace and frolics. It is said that the orcs have war-mongering chanters who observe this day by gathering hordes of orcs to rampage across civilized lands.

OOC: The server follows the real life calendar, in which case Greengrass ought to occur on 30th April or 1st May.

Midsummer Day & Midsummer Night

Midsummer is a festival that celebrates love and music through feast. It occurs between 30 Flamerule and 1 Eleasias. It's known to be a time when love advances, and it is common conviction that the deities themselves take a hand to ensure good weather. If bad weather is experienced on Midsummer Night, people of high and low birth consider it an extremely bad omen. In leap years - years that can be divided by 4 - the day after Midsummer is known as Shieldmeet, a festival day of its own.

If Greengrass celebrates the budding of life, Midsummer embodies the culmination of it. Many folktales and ballads revolve around Midsummer as a special time, wrought with magic and destined love. Contests, music and dance dominate the day in many communities; and feasts, frolicking games, and stars bright in the sky and the eyes of youthful lovers rule Midsummer Night.

For the peoples of Faerun, Midsummer is a celebration no matter the gods. But if you venerate one deity above the rest...

Man's Rites in or near Impiltur

• Midsummer morning, priests of Lathander the Morninglord perform the Song of Dawn.
• While there is merry-making on this day, people are always to keep mischief and bad luck in the back of their heads. Worshipers of Beshaba the Black Bes engage in revels of rudeness and destruction.
• Worshipers of Lliira the Joybringer open a holy festival with the Swords Cast Down ritual in which weapons are thrown on the ground with chanting and covered with fresh flowers.
• Unknown to most outsiders, worshipers of Loviatar the Willing Whip celebrate the Rite of Pain and Purity. Some say they do so by dancing in a circle upon broken glass or other sharp objects.
• Among the withdrawn folk, villagers, hermits, rangers and woodland sages that pray to Silvanus the Father of Forests, Midsummer Night is considered holy, and these people often give sacrifice by breaking and burying an object constructed of wood.
• Worshipers of Sune the Lady of Love give special heed to Midsummer Night. They bring lovers and couples together, and spark the fire of love by playing flirtatious games in forests and parks.
• By dashing decree of Tymora, Lady Luck's priests and faithful engage in a night of daring adventure, wild revels, mischievous pranks, and romantic trysts.
• Worshipers of Shiallia the Fertile invite friendly creatures to join in feasting, dancing, and singing.
• Worshipers of Talos the Destroyer call for storms and lightning.
• On Midsummer Night, worshipers of Mielikki, Our Lady of the Forest observe planting rites. Popular Dalelander tales suggest Mielikki's sacred followers take part on the Wild Ride, when it is said that herds of unicorns assemble and allow them to ride bareback through the forest.
• Worshipers of Milil the Lord of Song celebrate the Grand Revel with feasting, dancing, and the performing of parodies and wicked satire in song.
• Worshipers of Oghma the Wise Loremaster make or renew agreements and contracts.

Man's Rites rumoured to be in farther lands

• Worshipers of a Goddess of Wind and Sky gather in the Shaar at the ruins of Blaskaltar, the site of the first known shrine to this elemental being.
• The government of Mulhorand takes a day off and priests of Horus-Re sing songs of praise.

The Dwarves' Rites

• Worshipers of Berronar Truesilver the All-Mother mark this day with chanted prayers, speeches, reports on the workings of the church, and an underground festival.
• Guardians of Gorm Gulthyn the Protector gather for ritual salutes, martial weapons displays, chanted prayers, and the offering of weapons used in a defensive action.
• On Midsummer Night, worshipers of the dwarven goddess of merriment Sharindlar gather around a natural underground pool to dance and perform secret rituals to the Lady of Life.
• Followers of Marthammor Duin call this day the Hammer and celebrate dwarven craftsmanship.

The Elves' Rites

• Midsummer is not celebrated among the elves as it is done among some other peoples: perhaps they enjoy the revelries of mankind from afar. But among their fey-like, old gods, this day and night holds no special meaning, so scholars suggest.

The Gnomes' Rites

• Worshipers of the deity Callarduran Smoothhands the Deep Brother observe the Festival of the Ruby at twilight, celebrating the gems hidden in the earth by the Master of Stone.
• Priests of the gnomish deity Flandal Steelskin, the Gifted, gather to make worked metal offerings, exchange methods, and sell their best works on this day known as the High Forge.

OOC: Midsummer always occurs on 31st July,

Feast of the Moon

All are welcome to gather at taverns to share stories, songs, memories both grim and great.

The Feast of the Moon or Moonfest is celebrated each year on the day before the final month. It marks the onset of winter: the time of sleep, darkness, and no more work in the fields.

It is known across Faerun that Moonfest is the time to celebrate and honour the ancestors and the respected dead.

Traditions are rich and myriad in form, but perhaps across Impiltur too there is room for the Feast.

On this day, folk bless their ancestors' graves and perform the Ritual of Remembrance. People gather to tell stories of the deeds of their ancestors and of the gods until deep into the night, until these merge and become legend. This is a time to hear of past heroes, great treasures, and lost cities.

And in your own faith...

Man's Rites

• Heralds perform the Bloodsong, reciting the genealogies of noble families and reaffirming their traditional authority and status.
• Priests of Bhaal recount tales of heroic slayings.
• Worshipers of Lliira open a holy festival with the Swords Cast Down ritual in which weapons are thrown on the ground with chanting and covered with fresh flowers.
• Worshipers of Lurue observe a quiet ceremony ushering in winter and remembering the dead. It is the anniversary of the founding of Silverymoon and is celebrated by the unveiling of works of art and song.
• This day is known as the Day the Dead are Most With Us by worshipers of Myrkul.
• Worshipers of Savras the All-Seeing call this day the Vision and spend 24 hours meditating in a steam bath or a haze of incense.
• Worshipers of Shar call this day the Rising of the Dark and plot their nefarious deeds for the next year after a live sacrifice.
• Worshipers of Shiallia invite friendly creatures to join in feasting, dancing, and singing.
• Worshipers of Talos call for storms and lightning.
• Worshipers of Tempus honor the dead.

The Hin's Rites

• Worshipers of the halfling deity Arvoreen perform the Ceremony of Remembrance to honor those who died defending their community.

The Dwarves' Rites

• Guardians of Gorm Gulthyn gather for ritual salutes, martial weapons displays, chanted prayers, and the offering of weapons used in a defensive action.
• Worshipers of the dwarven deity Haela Brightaxe call this day the Commemoration of the Fallen and is spent recounting the battles and deeds of those who died defending the Stout Folk and dedicating new weapons and armor to their memory.
• Followers of Marthammor Duin call this day the Beacon and celebrate the path shown them by Finder-of-Trails.

The Elves' Rites

• Worshipers of Sehanine Moonbow gather this night for the Mystic Rites of the Luminous Cloud and are often transformed into scintillating streaks of light that fly across the starry heavens.

The Orcs' Barbarisms

• Worshipers of the orc deity Luthic know this day as the Coming of the Winter Cave, a festival in which many young are conceived.

OOC: The server follows the real life calendar: in which case the Feast of the Moon occurs on 30th November or 1st December.