out on holiday

alsih2o

First Post
homebrewers, please tell me about holidays and festival days in your world.

i could really use the inspiration.(translation: time for blatant theft)
 

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"The Church" in my homebrew is a polytheistic variation on the powerful Catholic church of the middle ages, so I take much inspiration from there.

Blessings of the Fleets and Fields - in spring, there are a number of rituals as the village priests invoke the goddess of the harvest and bless the fields. Around the same time, the priests in coastal villages also invoke the blessings of the goddess of the seas, on behalf of the fishermen.

Gathering of the Knights - the big knightly order has a gathering in each of the Spring, Summer, and Autumn seasons. Winter is just too cold to move around that much. ;) The summer one is held at their main stronghold. This is a big occasion for tournaments, and it has become local tradition for there to also be a festival held. The other two are held at other strongholds, in rotation, and are occasions for lesser festivals and tournaments there.

Midsummer - the celebration of the height of the growing season. This one is very big for the Druidic orders, and for the devotees of the harvest/grain goddess.

Midwinter - Appeasing the reaper, this one is used to ward off the attentions of famine, plague, pestilence, and to acknowledge the passage of the dead. Common to both the Church and the Druids.

MidSpring - Planting season, usually when the blessings of the fields and fleets occurs.

MidAutumn - Harvest, another celebration, giving thanks for the bounty as it is stored away for the winter.

Other odds and ends:
The Day of Locking - the anniversary of when the Lich King was imprisoned. Celebrated by locking, and keeping locked, containers and chests. It is considered unlucky to have to open a locked object on this day.

The Rebuke - At one point, the priests serving the god of magic had been hoarding the spellbooks of dead mages. The god of magic took exception to this, and struck their temple, scattering the pages of spellbooks to the winds. It is still possible to find, in odd places, a few pages of a spellbook with a complete spell on them.

Having multiple moons (4) makes for some interesting phenomena:

Night of Doom - Once every great while, all 4 moons are dark on the same night. Such a night is greatly feared, as it represents a time when the forces of Darkness are at their greatest strength.

Night of Light - Midway between occurrences of the Night of Doom, the moons are all full together. This marks the time when the powers of Light are their full strength. Such a rare day is highly celebrated, and marked with great festivals.
 



You want holidays?

I will send you up the bomb!

-----------------------

Holidays

The following are the important dates for the year 994 AC and the overall effect they will have on the Surrounding Lands. Note that the Remarian calendar starts on what would be March 21 in the real world.

Maral 1 – Birthyear (Everywhere) – this is the first day of spring. It is universally acknowledged as the beginning of the year and the first day of the Remarian calendar – which is adopted by everyone in the Launhym area. The druids also pay great respect to this day as it is the Vernal Equinox of Argentis (the other two moons don’t really count as far as the druids are concerned).

Maral 10 – King’s Day (Calisia) – the birthday of the Calisian King, Jehan IV.

Avree 12 – Death of Winter (Gadohig) – Winter comes a little later further to the north. The orcs celebrate the second full moon of Argentis after the year begins as their beginning of spring. Since Argentis’ orbital period almost exactly coincides with the solar year, this date doesn’t vary by much.

Avree 23-30 – Festivus Mercantis (Remaria) – The annual Remarian carnival that lasts a full week. Merchants from all over the Surrounding Lands show their wares and the streets of Primus and all major provincial capitals (Galkarnan and Home wouldn’t count) are packed with buyers and sellers. The merchants often try to lure prospective customers with performers and events of every stripe.

Mai 1 - 4 – Borane Tourney (Calisia) – the first major tourney of the year in Calisia takes place in Barony Borane. While the Launhym tradition holds true of at least one Launhym going to this tourney just to make sure no Calisian wins the archery competition, this event overlaps with Sureshot. It has therefore become a common condition in Launhym wagers that the loser must attend this tourney and thus miss Sureshot. Any Launhym at this event will be extra grumpy.

Mai 3 - Sureshot (Launhym) – Skies over Launhym are rife with arrows as the annual Launhym archery competition takes place across the kingdom. The biggest event is in Cear Almagaish, of course, but every thorp and hamlet in the nation has young toughs practicing their skills against old hands. While the rest of the day is given over to feasting and dancing, the archery winners in each town will gain some small amount of respect (+1 to all Diplomacy and Intimidate checks in that town and that town alone for one year).

Mai 10-12 – Talleseu Tourney (Calisia) – also known as “the dark tourney”, it is held in Barony Talleseu, but the Baron never attends. It is the most somber of the Calisian tourneys and only knights who want to prove their name at the events attend. As such it has grown into a very rigorous event and this is the tourney that the “true masters” come to and acknowledge each other as the real aficionados of the combative sports.

Mai 15 – Je 15 – The Rains (Desolati) – There is no set day for The Rains as it is highly dependant on the weather. While Desolati is typically very dry, this is the “rain season” for them and it is celebrated within each sept. The sept will gather what water it can and refuse to engage in any fight against another humanoid for three days. They hunt during the day, feast at night, and there is much of the frenetic chain dancing that the nomads are infamous for.

Mai 23 – 26 – Marceaux Tourney (Calisia) – The tourney at Barony Marceaux.

Mai 29 – Feast of Denarka (Church of Light) – The birthday of Blessed Denarka. This is an especially big event in Galkarnan. Clerics and Paladins who have dedicated themselves to Denarka gain a +5’ bonus to their movement on this day and this day only.

Mai 30 – Arina’s Day (Heremetic Truths/Elemental Lords) - The day of the air goddess Arina. She was also the gambler in the cosmology of the Elemental Lords and this day is given over to games of chance. While technically heresy, this day is observed as a non-secular holiday in Remaria and Remarians are a little superstitious about luck and fortune on this day.

Je 1 – Summerbirth (Druid) – The Summer Solstice is of great importance to the druids. All druids can wildshape two extra times for this day and this day only (assuming they have the ability in the first place). However, all druids are expected to attend services at a druid grove at midnight, those who do not lose spellcasting abilities for two days.

Je 3-6 – Borafor Tourney (Calisia) – the tourney at Barony Borafor.

Je 10 – Day of Secret Pain (Home) – this marks the anniversary of Home falling to the Remarian Empire and becoming officially “Provincia Minutia”. This is honored in secret by most, but not all halflings. Most of the Remarians stationed in Home know of it, but do little about it.

Je 12-15 – Tauxwan Tourney (Calisia) – the tourney at Barony Tauxwan.

Je 20-23 – Delray Tourney (Calisia) – the tourney at Barony Delray.

Jultaus 1 – Summersong (Aeylamdyar) – A bright elf holiday that is a time of signing and music for the whole country.

Jultaus 5-10 – Maximus Tourney (Remaria) – jousting has been catching on in Remaria as a wonderful excuse to throw a celebration. This is the empire’s joust and it is held in all major cities. Calisians attend if they are able – usually at the one in Occissor -- but only to demonstrate their mastery of the game.

Jultaus 15-18 – Halforax Tourney (Calisia) – the tourney at Barony Halforax, known for its unusual emphasis on archery.

Jultaus 20 – Feast of Donica (Church of Light) – the birthday of Blessed Donica. All clerics and paladins who have sworn themselves to Donica cure an extra +2 hit points on all cure spells on this day and this day only.

Jultaus 27-30 – Marceaux Tourney (Calisia) – the tourney at Barony Marceaux.

Remarant 5-8 – Beateh Tourney (Calisia) – the tourney at Barony Beateh.

Remarant 10 – 15 – Borane Tourney (Calisia) – the tourney at Barony Borane.

Remarant 22 – 25 – Portif Tourney (Calisia) – the tourney at Barony Portif.

Remarant 30 – Pyrna’s Day (Hermetic Truth/Elemental Lords) – the day of the fire goddess Pyrna. Not an official holiday anywhere but superstitious Remarians fear to lie on this day as it is supposed to be bad luck to risk Pyrna’s wrath for she is the light that brings knowledge.

Seteb 1 – Autumnal Equinox (Druid) – a day of prayer and celebration for those who worship the infinity of Creation.

Seteb 2 – 5 – Gossair Tourney (Calisia) – the tourney at Barony Gossair.

Seteb 20 – 25 – The Grand Tourney (Calisia) the final tourney of the year held at Baudrau Spires. This is a mandatory event for the Knights of Pure Heart (see prestige classes).

Okteer 7 – Almagaid’s Birthday – this would be a day off and one for celebration, but Almagaid had the “misfortune” to be born during what is for most farmers a harvest time. Cear Almagaish celebrates this day and most inns and taverns will drink a toast to the king’s health, but it doesn’t go beyond that.

Okeer 27 – Feast of Gontier – the celebration of Blessed Gontier. All clerics and paladins who have dedicated themselves to Gontier gain 2 extra hit points per level for this day and this day only, as the faith of the “parish priest” helps them to endure burden and fatigue.

Novranius 1 – Battleday (Launhym) while no real battles are truly fought, this is the day that people in Launhym choose to make sure their defenses are good and to prepare for the inevitable orc raids. Barons and landed knights will conduct inspections and in general make sure that things are well.

Novranius 30 – Geoan’s Day (Hermetic Truth/Elemental Lords) – the day of the earth god. Not an official holiday but superstitious Remrians are very wary of the undead on this day and are loathe to even pass nearby graveyards and will not bury dead on this day. Remarian dead are burned if they must be consecrated on this day at all, but even then Remarians fear the burned dead will return as ghosts). Geoan is the most powerful of the four Elemental Lords and, as such, he is the only one who can still impose his will on the world on his day. All attempts to turn or rebuke undead are made at a –1 circumstance penalty, and all spells cast to summon undead are made as if the caster was one level higher.

Decado 1 – Winter Solstice of Argentis (Druid) an important day for druids. All druids must attend midnight services at a grove or lose spellcasting ability for two days. However, on this day and this day only, druids seem all but immune to death. Druids gain an extra 20 “negative” hit points and do not die until their hit points reach –30 (see “Death, Dying, and Healing” in Core Rulebook I).

Decado 2 – Day of the Prophet/Prophetday/Lightday (Church of Light) – the day after the shortest day of the year and the most holy day of the year for the Church of Light. All clerics and paladins of this faith (it doesn’t matter which Blessed they are dedicated to) must spend the two hours before and after noon in prayer and fast. If they do not they lose their spellcasting powers for two weeks. If the prayer and fast is performed at a church or cathedral of Light, they gain a +1 faith bonus to their Wisdom and Charisma scores for one week. Finally, all followers of the Church of Light have a –1 circumstance penalty on their damage rolls on this day.

Decado 11 – Contemplation of Failure (cult Galkarnan) – the former chief dwarven god, this holiday is time for meditation for craftsfolk. All who create goods are to examine their wares and note where they have not produced the finest masterwork that they could. Those who are highly skilled traditionally are supposed to find the most failure with their work, since they do not have the “excuse” of incompetence to fall back on. Pagan dwarves who still follow Galtorzuk, cover up their heresy in the aftermath of the Day of the Prophet. There are no special rules that follow this day, as Galtorzuk is a very minor power (even if he is one of the most powerful cult gods).

Decado 28 – Feast of Voporix (Church of Light) – the celebration of Blessed Voporix. All clerics and paladins who follow this holy defender gain a +1 holy bonus to their armor class as their patron watches over them on this day and this day only.

Janvees 1 – Wintersong (Aeylamdyar) – this is the day the bright elves choose to sing songs of woe and lament. Others find it incredibly depressing, but the bright elves say it is cathartic.

Janvees ~15 – Faminetide (Gadohig) – there is no set day for this “festival” but most goblinoid tribes in Gadohig have a day about this time of year where they have run out of food and hunger gnaws at them. They take any excuse to go into a battle rage and direct their desperation at anything or anyone. Launhym is usually low on food as well, but they bear the brunt of these assaults. When an orc chief declares a day to be the tribe’s Faminetide, there is always a terrible slaughter and the orcs will feast on whatever or whoever is killed.

Fevrarus 3 – Rememberance (Shintai) – the only holiday specific to Shintai as a nation is spent remembering the Quarrel and the history of the dark elves. Young dark elves coming of age recite poems describing why the bright elves should be hated for breaking away from the true elven culture and it is traditional to wear black clothing or a black headband.

Fevrarus 18 – Wintereve (Remaria) – the imperial capital is far to the south compared to Launhym and the winter ends earlier there. The official end of the winter season sees Remarians giving gifts to each other and otherwise going out of their way to be friendly. It is the traditional day for marriage proposals in Remaria, but this is a tradition that is seen as old-fashioned.

Fevarus 30 – Aquan’s Day (Hermetic Truth/Elemental Lords) – the day of the water god. Aquan was the trickster of the Elemental Lords and Remarians who are superstitious are on the lookout for pranks and will take this day as an excuse to play a prank on someone else. This day is also the end of the calendar year.
 


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