Does your setting have holidays?

[Tinker Gnome]

Well, if I ever get to play in a Dragonlance game, it has Yuletide an Day of Life Gift.

 

[dazzlegas]

There are a few of mine, here:

http://www.agyris.net/v3/encyclopedia/holidays/

 

[Teflon Billy]

I've got a few, but unless they are seasonal. they are generally only practiced by religious cults (Religion is just another kind of "Magic School" in my game and do not hold sway over the governments the way medieval Christianity did)...unless they are super-fun, then they get a good drw from the commoners

Greencoming: Spring Equinox. Basically just a celebration of the end of Winter. Folks are usually expected to set aside a large amount of food/supplies before socking in for the winter with the knowedge that these extra supplies are for the Greencoming Feast. If it all goes according to plan, these supplies are used for a huge party for everyone in the village. In the event of a particulary hard winter, the people have extra supplies.

Take Day: The high, holy day of Davosa, the God of thieves.

All followers of Davosa are expected to steal two items and take them to the secret celebration hosted by the Temple and the Thieves Guild. The Priest presiding over the the ceremony then chooses one of the items as being representative of the Thief's "Darker Nature" and casts it into the fire to burn away. The other items--symbols of the thieves better natures--are traded around as gifts amongst those in attendance, so that the "better natures" of the thiefs may be shared.

It is largely agreed by sages that this ritual is responsible for the Thieves of the region being somewhat more genial and honorable than elsewhere.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

One of mine that's not from a copyrighted source:

This gnomish holiday involves a great deal of playing bagpipes, dancing jigs, giving of gifts (real gifts are hidden all over the community, gag gifts are given directly), eating lots of sweet foods, and playing games.

 

[reason]

...

Go dig around the internet for lists of Medieval holy days - there were an awful lot of them, many associated with some truly strange legends and recreational behavior. Lives of the saints, especially the pre-1200 saints, are also great for that sort of thing.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=medieval+holidays

Taking the spirit of all that and pouring it into a fallen future of superstition and crusaders in power armor:

http://www.principiainfecta.com/archives/garden_of_the_prophet/calend_of_the_faithful/
http://www.principiainfecta.com/archives/2006/05/procession_of_t_1.php
http://www.principiainfecta.com/archives/2006/05/least_festival_1.php
http://www.principiainfecta.com/archives/2006/07/the_hagfeast_of.php

Reason
Principia Infecta

 

[GrumpyOldMan]

Mine has religious holidays, market days and feast days, and you can pick up eight months of calendar free, here:

http://www.columbiagames.com/cgi-bin/query/cfg/allharnitems.cfg

 

[Bubbalicious]

From our world, I think it's imperative to import our culture's three greatest holidays:

A day of practical jokes, lies, and general tomfoolery (April Fools)

A day of mischief and confronting things that frighten us (Halloween)

And, of course, Talk Like a Pirate Day!!!

As for new, made up holidays:

Any day honoring a particular animal of the region. This could include either consuming the animal OR sparing it from consumption for a day. It could also include shows and or songs depicting mythological histories of the animal, people dressing or painting themselves as the animal, or portraying traits or characteristics of the animal.

Another would be a "Day of the Earth". In areas near mountains that get alot of water runoff after the main Spring thaw have a day (just before planting) where everyone spends the entire day wallowing in mud and getting as dirty as possible. Have games and athletic contests in the mud (tug-of-war, wrestling, and others for example). That night, everyone shares communal baths in huge tubs filled with heated winter thaw.

 

[Mighty Halfling]

Take a look at Johnn Four's new PDF -- Holiday Essentials! It advises you on how to construct a tailor-made holiday to fit your needs -- whether you construct it as a single encounter, single adventure or whole campaign is up to you.
This is more of a background tool, but it also advises you on how to get your PCs working proactively within a holiday's customs and rules.
Johnn is the author of NPC Essentials, one of the best-selling RPG Pdf's of all-time.

http://enworld.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=7673&''

(Disclaimer: I'm listed as a co-author, but did very, very little (almost no) work for this one.)

 

[Slife]

Take a look at Johnn Four's new PDF -- Holiday Essentials! It advises you on how to construct a tailor-made holiday to fit your needs -- whether you construct it as a single encounter, single adventure or whole campaign is up to you.
This is more of a background tool, but it also advises you on how to get your PCs working proactively within a holiday's customs and rules
Johnn is the author of NPC Essentials, one of the best-selling RPG Pdf's of all-time.

http://enworld.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=7673&''

(Disclaimer: I'm listed as a co-author, but did very, very little (almost no) work for this one.)

Here's a link for the lazy.



Here's a free (OA-looking) calendar which includes holidays.





Having variably dated holidays is always good. Saves you from having to keep up with a bunch of fixed dates.

Frostbirth is the first day it frosts in winter. It is celebrated by creating a bonfire in the village square, a rest from all outdoor labors, and eating only fully cooked foods.

 

[el-remmen]

Here is a list of some holidays from my setting:

• listed alphabetically
  
• listed chronologically