Wheel of the Year

Months

Storm Moon

Chaste Moon

Seed Moon

Hare Moon

Dryad Moon

Mead Moon

Wort Moon

Barley Moon

Hunter Moon

Blood Moon

Snow Moon

Oak Moon

Wolf Moon

Holidays

Winter Solstice

Every culture, whether it is a primitive or advanced one, watches the changing of the seasons. The most standard way to tell this is by how long the days and nights are in proportion to each other. In Rhila, the celebration of the winter solstice is also known as “The Longest Night.” It is the mark of the new year, the dawning of the new sun on the following day. It is generally celebrated by keeping a watch on the night and seeing it through until morning. The association with the death of the old year keeps it in the realm of Nanami.

Festival of the First Green

The Festival of the First Green is the beginning of spring. Though not quite released from winter’s clutch, the first touches of spring’s life-giving force can be seen around the edges and in the most temperate of climates. Falling under Alanna’s rule, this holiday marks the true start of her power. It is most often celebrated with the giving of small tokens representative of life, whether this be an egg, acorn, or similar object.

Spring Equinox

The Spring Equinox is a time of fertility and renewal of life. The last touches of winter have passed and life returns, in full force, to the world. This festival is also under Alanna’s domain. This is the height of her power. Most species of fauna have given birth to what their wombs held in winter by this time. Generally, this holiday is celebrated with the cleansing of the house and home, and allowing new life to find a place within the dwellings and temples. This is also a common time for new apprentices to be dedicated to their service.

Festival of Fire and Blood

This festival owns its brutality and general celebration to Abhirati’s people. Throughout the world, mating season has started. In Morida, many of the newly born creatures (of all kinds) are brought to the slaughter and pyres of Abhirati’s temples. New life, young life, is considered the best sacrifice for this holiday. In the rest of the world, smaller sacrifices are made and general merrymaking is done. A common celebration is that of twining a younger tree with ribbons during a dance in an elaborate pattern that takes many people to complete. It is a symbol of tying the young life to the world.

Summer Solstice

This festival is dedicated to Rodrik, who commands it with an even hand. Summer is at its zenith, and the sun deserves a true coming of age ceremony. Games are held for this holiday, though the events held at each gathering are often very different and regional. The only continuity between the regions is that the games are held outside, are physical, and are a common fair.

Festival of the First Harvest

The earliest blooming of the flora are now ready and ripe, and this festival celebrates their fruitfulness. Orin, god of pleasure, delights in this festival and calls it his own. The first wines of the year are harvested as grapes. This holiday is generally celebrated by the gathering and enjoying of the first of the harvests. Occasionally, a hunt is also performed in lieu of an actual harvest. Bounty is celebrated everywhere.

Autumn Equinox

Summer’s heat has turned fully into autumn’s shades of red and yellow. The days and nights are equal, with the sun losing its grasp. This festival is one of work during the day and celebration during the night. The world pulls together the harvest, gathering and storing what it may. Then, the bounty of it all is celebrated in a night of revelry that rarely stops before dawn. This is done to chase away the winter and hold it at bay.

Night of the Failing Lights

The Night of Failing Lights is generally considered to be the beginning of winter and the end of the sun’s rule. The sun, weak and sickly, cannot sustain the warmth needed for life, and the chill begins to creep over the land. He is dead, in all but shadow. This holiday is commonly celebrated by a mass funeral held for all those who have died during the year. It is a day of mourning and communicating with the dead, coming to terms with the losses that have incurred. Because of its connection with the mortal coil, Sirus has taken this holiday to be his own. Not all of the festivities are somber, however. Children oftentimes dress up as those who have departed, or scary creatures that plague dreams, and beg treats from neighbors. This is thought to keep ghosts, who have worked hard at staying on Rhila despite Nanami’s efforts, quieted.

The Gathering at Dopha Etho

The Gathering is an event that happens, on a full scale, once every four years. During the off years, the Rakb-Agume and lesser creatures serve as arbiters of justice, hearing cases and conflicts and deciding the outcomes. The fear associate with the Rakb-Agume ensure the enforcement of such edicts as they deal out. Every four years, however, there is a large scale pilgrimage to Dopha Etho, where the true judgment is dealt out and unsettled issues from all over the world are brought to Nanami’s feet. The goddess herself hears the most dire of situations and verdict is often met out on the spot. Oftentimes, such intervention is not necessary. Many people use this time of year to settle old debts, come to terms with old feuds, and try to mend old friendships.