Holidays

These are holidays relevant either to the city of Haenor, the empire of Endruin, the religions of the region, or the Griths.

Aeristdeg

Guthspell 1

The first day of the year is traditionally a day of rest for the ruling class and one of toil for the underclasses. Workers, slaves, and prisoners are expected to work twice as long on this day to "make sure the coming year is a good one". The rich and powerful expect to relax, with many of them never leaving bed, if possible.

Baendendeg

Gaed 11

On Binding Day, the elite of the empire renew their contracts with their servants, serfs, slaves, and prisoners. Those who they choose to keep are automatically re-bound to them, but those they choose to fire are whipped then released. Those they choose to free (which is extremely rare) are given papers and set free. Those they choose to demote are whipped and demoted. Those they choose to promote are given a special meal and promoted. Those they choose to imprison or enslave are whipped then imprisoned or enslaved. Those they choose to kill are drained of blood and disposed of. All blood lost to a whipping is collected for the night's bath.

Blodnihtes

Gegaderung 12

The most horrific night of the year, Blood Night is when the dreorcwenns who rule the city and the empire murder anyone they please so that they may bathe in their blood. It is a night of terror for anyone who is not one of the ruling elite. Sometimes they even target their own warriors. They are cruel, vicious, and vampiric on this night, and they do it all to honor Mal'och.

Caserndeg

Berendnis 30

Empress' Day is the birthday of the first Empress of Endruin. It is a national holiday during which all of the ruling class has stately, fine parties during which the oppressed are expected to serve silently. On this day, if a commoner, slave, or prisoner speaks to a ruling class person, their tongue will be cut out. The feast includes a toast to the current empress(es), one to the founding empress, and one to the empire, and six courses of bloody desserts.

Cearodeg

Hrafyl 1

The Day of Sorrow comes after the Night of Fear. On this day, all those who were lost in the past year are mourned. Commoners wear white and attend special services for those they grieve. The rich honor the dead by wearing black and red veils, speaking no words, and visiting their family tombs.

Cerennihtes

Ecne 8

The Night of Sweet Wine is a night celebrated by the rich and powerful during which they drink the titular wine. It is a night of fine dining and wine tasting, elegant balls, and formal events. On this night, noble women are told who their future husbands will be, and the oppressed are sacrificed to Mal'och.

Cypadeg

Hrafyl 14

Trader's Day celebrates the Humble Trader, one of the deities of the Red Grith. On this day, members of the Red Grith give each other gifts, give discounts to anyone buying from them if they are selling, and deal fairly with everyone. They take a break from any crime that is unnecessary or doesn't involve commerce.

Dracaerst, Dracaefterra, Dracathridda, Dracafeowrtha, Dracafifta

Angyn 16 to 20

The five days of the Dragon are celebrated by those who follow the religion of the Red Grith. These days honor the Five-Headed God. On the first day, followers engage in training and practice, focusing on their duties and responsibilities. On the second day, they tour their territory (which can be as little as their home or as much as a part of the city) to make sure all is well. On the third day, they exercise their bodies and minds. On the fourth day, they make an accounting of all they own. And on the fifth, they have a lavish feast.

Eigenihtes

Gegaderung 31

The Night of Fear is a night during which the elite wear elaborate costumes, dressing as monsters, and terrorize servants and slaves. Commoners also dress up, trying to trick the rich into thinking they are also rich, and thus not become targets. This often leads to confusion and chaos in the city, outlandish and dangerous pranks, sometimes riots and other mischief, and occasionally mass murder.

Endedeg

Merian 28

The last day of the year is the day of the year the rich elites set aside for accounting their property. As such, if they are in debt or otherwise find they need money, it is often a day they sell property - meaning it is a cruel day for slaves, a day they fear. As such, the Blue Grith treats this as a day to attack slaveowners and try to liberate more people than usual. At the end of the day, commoners, elites, and criminals usually celebrate the ending of the year with some kind of party.

Ficianihtes

Gaed 17

The Night of the First Lie celebrates one of the Red Grith's folk heroes, their Hands, the first liar. The first liar is the untrustworthy one, and all tales of the first liar are considered false. On the night to honor them (their gender changes in every telling), one must make bold and ridiculous claims, tell tall tales, or otherwise lie to one's friends, foes, and family in a playful fashion. It is a night of silliness, a relief from the stresses of criminal life. Oftentimes, the lies are elevated to the level of storytelling or even theatrical events.

Forletenesdeg

Merian 22

The Day of Leaving honors one of the Hands, the folk heroes of the Red Grith. This day honors the first vagrant, a figure of wisdom in the lore of the Red Grith, and thus, it is a day wherein followers make plans. If a departure is needed in their lives, they make it on this day. This can be breaking up a relationship, moving to a new home, leaving a group, or leaving behind a bad habit.

Greneorthdeg

Geblowan 22

The Day of the Green Earth is honored by the Green Grith every year. It is both considered their founding day and the day of their greatest victory - the explosion that took out the tanning mills that were poisoning the river, 87 years ago. To honor this day, the Green Grith always plans mass protests, direct actions, and several smaller attacks on the city's industrial elite. It is considered a day of eco-war.

Grithsnihtes

Berendnis 30

Grith's Night (or Griths' Night) is the anniversary of the founding of the Grith. All members of all Griths celebrate by making an offering of some kind, either by committing a crime toward the purpose of their Grith or by offering something gained from such a crime. At one hour until midnight, they all gather in small, mixed Grith gatherings, and have quiet, secret parties.

Hadnihtes

Geblowan 4

Hooded Night honors the Hooded Lady, the goddess of the Red Grith, matron of all criminals. On this night, all members of the Red Grith (or any Grith) have a +1 to any action while committing a crime if they are in goodstanding with their Grith. To honor the Hooded Lady, anything gained in a crime on this night should be dedicated or sacrificed to her. If a crime is not committed on this night, criminals should make an offering of something from a previous crime to have her favor. If someone is unable to, another criminal may offer in their name.

Haerfest

Reeptim 1

Harvest Day is a major feast day for everyone. It is celebrated with a special feast. Elites have massive, lavish, ten-course meals, and commoners have big family dinners or some kind of special meal. The rich eat expensive menus re-designed every year, while commoners tend to eat fresh ham (if they can afford it or steal it), special bread cooked that morning, recently harvested vegetables, and a fruit dessert.

Hreawdeg

Berendnis 1

The Day of the Body is a feast day in the religion of the Red Grith. On this day, worshippers of the Corpus create healthy meals and share with all members of the Red Grith, making sure no member of the Red Grith nor anyone under its protection goes hungry. They find ways to make sure everyone is nourished properly to their species. They also take time to go through ritual exercises with anyone who is open to it.

Hreddingdeg

Ecne 20

Liberation Day is the day the original Counterblast escaped slavery with her daughter, thus marking the founding of the Blue Grith. It is celebrated each year by members of the Blue Grith who were formerly enslaved as a day of rest and sharing, and by those who weren't by freeing slaves or prisoners.

Huntiannihtes

Gegaderung 1

The Night of the Hunt is a night of ritual hunts, celebrated by many. For the Red Grith, this is the holy night of the Great Huntress, and the ritual hunt takes place in the city streets. For commoners who hunt, this is simply the first night of hunting season, and it is celebrated by going hunting and then drinking and eating well. For the elite, is celebrated with a fox hunt and formal dance. For the Green Grith, it is celebrated by dressing as predator animals and racing through the streets chasing after a beggar dressed as a rabbit (all in fun). For the Violet Grith, it is celebrated by hunting a rich person while wearing special costumes meant to terrify them. And for the Blue Grith, it is celebrated by making sure there is meat on the table for all who need it.

Hyddeg

Ecne 30

Port Day is the day celebrating the founding of the city of Haenor. It is the day new city leaders are chosen by the elites, and it usually sees many political speeches made.

Langsum Nihtes

Wistfullian 15

The Longest Night, Midwinter, is a night of contemplation. Commoners spend it with their families, sharing small gifts, eating special candies and sweets, and reading together old tales. The elite spend it in solitude, contemplating the deep winter, and planning for the warmer months to come. The Green Grith honors the winter and cold by lighting no fires this night. They sit in darkness and speak old tales to one another. The Violet Grith all hide this night.

Lenctendeg

Geblowan 11

The first day of spring is celebrated by commoners, criminals, and especially the Green Grith. Many members of the Blue Grith also honor this day, as spring is associated with liberation, and many members of the Violet Grith honor it as a day of renewal and fey delight. Celebrants wear flowers, attend special dances in green spaces, engage in special songs, and make merry. The giving of gifts is very common on this day.

Libbandeg

Reeptim 1

The Day of Survival is a day honored in the religion of the Red Grith, honoring the energy of Survival worshipped by them. On this day, followers of Survival have a +3 to anything that helps them or others survive. They celebrate the day by engaging in a difficult but necessary task they might have been putting off or finding time to help someone else with the same.

Lidadeg

Gebyrd 25

Traveller's Day is celebrated by followers of the religion of the Red Grith to honor the Traveller's Friend, one of their seven main deities. Those who can actually travel on this day, though this is rare. Usually, it is honored by special races, the winner of which is given a prize by the Cang (usually delivered by his servants).

Lignihtes

Berendnis 1

Flame Night is a warm spring night during which commoners and many members of the Griths (especially Violet and Green) engage in special dances around massive bonfires and sex in green spaces, if possible. On this night, acts of love, passion, and community are practiced.

Lobbenihtes

Angyn 16

The Night of the Spider is a night wherein the rich elites celebrate with an intricate dance. This is a night when the three major political factions of the empire gather together, and politics are the primary purposes of the night. But ostensibly, it is a night wherein the powerful have a formal, ritual group dance, a dance that resembles a spiderweb (hence the name) as a commemoration of ancient alliances.

Myrgandeg

Gebyrd 13

The Day of Merriment is the day of the founding of the Violet Grith. It is celebrated in a secret, massive party with special wines and alcohols, sweets and fishes, and special gifts given by the Abdit. Everyone wears a mask or full costume (and sometimes guests are brought in without costume, perhaps against their will). The party changes location every hour, roving magically through the city. It starts at dawn, and it ends at sunset. After it is over, everyone goes home, very drunk, and dreams a massive, bizarre collective dream, dancing in their sleep through the night.

Myrthrianihtes

Hrafyl 22

The Night of the First Murder honors one of the Hands, the folk heroes of the Red Grith. This night honors the first murderer, a figure who was cursed to guide the souls of criminals into the afterlife. On this night, it is said that all those who died during the year who were part of the Red Grith or were minor, unaffiliated criminals, are guided into an afterlife where they no longer need to suffer or worry. To honor this night, members of the Red Grith set up altars for their dead loved ones, with a candle for each and an extra for those they never knew. They put little offerings on the altar, and they whisper their names. Anyone who was killed by the authorities in the past year is honored by the entire Red Grith, even if they were not a member of the Red Grith, as well.

Naedrenihtes

Angyn 6

The Snake's Night is a night the rich elites celebrate with rituals of violence. It is a night during which they command warriors to engage in ritual combat, lit only by small torches. The loser of the fights must survive the rest of the night in a room full of snakes. If they survive, they are given noble title and retired from combat. If they die, they are drained of blood for the baths of nobles. This is a night of high entertainment for the rich.

Nihtstnig

Gegaderung 22

Fasting is a day wherein commoners are not allowed to eat. If they do, it is an affront to Mal'och, and they will be killed. Some find ways to eat in secret, but most make a show of their hunger to survive the day. Ostensibly this day is about honoring Mal'och through fasting and self-denial, but in truth, it is a way to starve and weaken the already starved and weak.

Sumordeg

Gebyrd 2

The first day of summer is celebrated by commoners and the elite. Commoners and members of the Green, Blue, and Violet Griths often celebrate it with a feast, dancing, and drinking. A drink of acorn beer is often shared, and effigies are burnt of various political figures of the day. It is a day of fun and mockery of the rich and powerful. Meanwhile, the rich and powerful celebrate at their country estates, making their homes targets for criminals that night.

Theofnihtes

Guthspell 16

The Night of the First Theft is celebrated by the Red Grith to honor their trickster hero, the first thief, one of the Hands, the folk heroes of their religion. On this night, they eat food stolen from the best larders in the city, dine-and-dash from fine restaurants, or engage in elaborate pranks on one another or on the rich and powerful.

Unhleowedeg

Reeptim 24

The first day of autumn is celebrated by commoners, the Green Grith, and the Violet Grith, as a day of preparation for colder times to come. They have a big meal (not a full feast) for all meals of the day, and spend the day making sure all is prepared for winter, either planning or checking stores. If all is ready, they celebrate at sunset with a communal procession and song leading to a bonfire, into which they cast an offering for a warm and safe winter.