The Holidays of Elanthia

Edited by Barnacus Vinayan,
servant of Faenella


    May Meraud bless this work, crafted in honor of the gift
    that He has freely given to make it possible.

Introduction

There are many holidays that occur during the year in the Realms. The most widely known and observed of these are: Shosandu (New Years), Lormandu (Spring), Anlandu (Summer), Blufandu (Fall), and Jeolandu (Winter). Only Shosandu and Lormandu are often widely celebrated by the general populace.


Major Holidays

Shosandu

The changing of the Elanthian year is a time of great celebration. The two week long festival combines both religious and secular celebrations, beginning with giving thanks to Tamsine for the boons of beneficial fire and civilization in helping mortals survive the winter.

While thanks are given throughout this time, it is on the last day of the year that Peri'el is honored for Her sacrifice in subduing the World Dragon. It is with Her services that the new year officially begins.

In addition to ceremonies thanking Peri'el for the new year, Kertigen is honored in hopes of a prosperous coming year on Shosandu. Many peoples celebrate the anniversary of the Victory of Lanival the Redeemer on Shosandu. A number of  northern clans do not celebrate Lanival's Victory due to lingering resentment dating back to the formation of the five provinces.

The eve of the last day of the festival is the coming of Divyaush, when children will leave offerings of sweets and cream in His honor. On the last day of the festival, gifts are exchanged between friends and loved ones and the little ones indulged.


Lormandu

Hodierna is revered during Lormandu for Her gift of the spring, Her influence over crops, harvests, and life itself.

Those who have received favor or have been restored to life by the blessings of the gods often give thanks to one of the Powers responsible for such miracles.

The holiday is celebrated by services across the realms on the first day of Lormandor, ending with a song circle held in a place pleasing to both Hodierna and Her sister, Faenella.


Anlandu

The prime growing period when the fruits of the field that will be necessary to ensure health, stamina, and strength in the coming year need the blessings of Truffenyi.

Those who have wronged may seek forgiveness from those they have transgressed against on this day. Criminals are sometimes pardoned for crimes, either due to repentance or the circumstance of their crime. It is a day of healing and reconciliation. Family reunions are often scheduled for this day.

If the weather is foul on Anlandu, Huldah is said to be at work and that ill luck is due in the next year... If the weather is especially fair then any reconcilliations made on this day are sure to last...


Blufandu

Autumn is often the time of alliances, treaties, and contracts. The wars of the spring and summer have been fought and the time for the wisdom of Chadatru is at hand.

On this day, new judges are appointed, kings are coronated, and elections are held. Knights contest against one another in challenges ranging from archery to jousting to poetry to swordplay.

Couples who wish to express a sense of equanimity often choose this as their wedding day and babies born on this day are said to be especially even tempered. A concord broken on Blufandu is said to draw the wrath of Chadatru Himself.


Jeolandu

As the nights grow cold and dark and the harvest winds down, Faenella is honored for her gifts of inspiration and music.  These gifts are held as things essential to make it through the long winter.

Many taverns will use this day to show off improvements and new attractions in the hopes of gaining additional customers in the winter season. Bards are encouraged to perform and often showcase their newest songs. In the last day of this holiday, the last great caravan trains before winter fully sets in are sent off to the far reaches of the world, in the hopes that Faenella's blessing with see them through.

Murrula's blessings are often sought at the start of winter to strengthen the hope of surviving to the spring.


Major High Holy Days
 

In each month, one week is set aside as a holiday to honor each of the immortals below. The faithful of the immortal in question sometimes start these holidays out with pilgrimages to the major shrines of that immortal. At these shrines, special praises are sung and services held throughout the week. The most major shrines hold special events and services on the last day.

* During Jeoldor, in the month of Akroeg, the holiest day of both Kertigen and Divyaush are celebrated as part of Shosandu during the first week of the month.

* On Lormandu, in the month of Ka'len, the holiest day of Hodierna is celebrated.

* During Lormandor, in the month of Larisa, the holiest day of Everild is celebrated at the end of the third week of the month. On this day time is taken to remember the fallen of the campaigns of previous years and to honor the immortal of those who die in battle. In this time rangers will often gather together to relate the news that has occurred since they last met and to engage each other in contests of the blade and bow.

* On Anlandu, in the month of Shorka. the holiest day of Truffenyi is celebrated.

* During Anlador, in the month of Uthmor, the holiest day of Hav'roth is celebrated at the end of the fifth week of the month at high noon. Gemcrafters and jewelers will sometimes wait to start a major project on this day, in hopes of gaining inspiration and favor from Hav'roth. The rich and powerful will often wear their most beautiful jewelry and gem-encrusted possessions when attending functions at this time.

* During Anlador, in the month of Arhat, the holiest day of Eluned is celebrated at the end of the sixth week of the month. Many Elotheans will travel to Shard for the celebrations, symposiums and conventions held in honor of their chief immortal. This is a favored day to publish new works of lore and many libraries exhibit special tomes and expand their collections now.

* On Blufandu, in the month of Moliko, the holiest day of Chadatru is celebrated. For Her role in bringing peace and in sponsoring alliances, Albreda is honored at this time.

* During Blufedor, in the month of Skullcleaver, the holiest day of Glythtide is celebrated at the end of the eighth week of the month. This is the time of the harvest of grapes and apples, key components in the making of wine and hard cider. The mead made from the first honey gathered early in the previous year is also ready for drinking. Many jokes and takes are made about how the name Skullcleaver is appropriate to the after effects of the parties of this holiday. Great feasts are held in halfling communities in His honor.

* On Jeolandu, in the month of Dolefaren, the holiest day of Faenella is celebrated.

* During Jeoldor, in the month of Nissa, the holiest day of Tamsine is celebrated on the last day of the year as part of Shosandu.


Other Immortals


The worshipers of the major powers of Meraud, Damaris, and Urrem'tier do not generally follow any set pattern of holy days.

* Meraud is seen as too aloof for such things. Those who practice magic must seek His blessings each time they work their craft and His intercession is sought at the beginning of many written works. It is said the search for knowledge by all mortals serves to honor Him.

* Damaris moves unseen through all nights. Those who move through the night while the honest man rests must take heed of their patron, lest they be no longer found necessary... Phelim is often invoked prior to sleeping as a way of wishing a good night's rest.

* Urrem'tier is not one who is honored, but is more placated and feared... Those who actively seek the blessing of the void do so in private. It is whispered that whenever great destruction occurs in the world that His followers gather and rejoice.

* The World Dragon is not worshiped by many since the wane of the Dragon Priests. The two cults worship this It in different ways:


    The cult who were the followers of Dzree, seek to destroy the works of Truffenyi, calling Anlandu "Grazhirandu"
    or Grazhir Day in honor of the fall of the fourth moon, the act that struck the first blow against Elanthia.


    The cult who were the followers of Sn'kial, seek to control and appease the World Dragon. So that It would
    cease its rumblings and a golden age of Peace could be achieved. They celebrate this day on Shosandu,
    naming It "Waerdandu" or Dragon's Day in honor of the one they seek to control. There is some tension among
    S'Kra followers of the cult of Sn'Kial with the Ru'atin Peri'el.


Secular holidays

There are nearly more secular holidays then can be counted. Here are a few samples from around the realms:

In The Crossing, the Fall of Aesthene's Close is remembered for the havoc and renewal it brought to the city. There is something of a carnival atmosphere as a parade is held from the Northeast gate to the legendary location of the structure. Children often pretend to be spirits awakened by Aesthene's magic and demand treats from those along the route to not cause mischief.

In Trefan Maug, on the anniversary of his ignoble death, warriors of that clan gather together to Taunt the "Ghost of the Walkway."

Elotheans everywhere mourn the loss of two of their great houses, the House of the Black Fang and the House of the Marching Lotus, as a reminder of the terrible plague that war can be. This held during Lormandor, in the month of Larisa, in the third week of the month, during the holy week of Everild.