Gorean Calender

GOREAN CALENDAR

A record of the year, is divided into twelve twenty-five day months.




MONTH OF EN'KARA (THE FIRST TURNING)
GOREAN EARTH HOLIDAYS
First Hand March 21-25 Gorean New Year
* * Fair of En'Kara
* * Return to Turia
Second Hand March 26-30 *
Third Hand March 31-April 4 *
Fourth Hand April 5-9 *
Fifth Hand April 10-14 *
First Passage Hand April 15-19 Planting Feast of Sa-Tarna


GOREAN NEW YEAR
On the day of the Vernal equinox (March 21), many northern Gorean cities, including Ar, celebrate the Gorean New Year. Typically upon this day a celebration takes place, doors are painted green, and a city-wide festival is held, lasting for two full Gorean hands (ten days). Every fourth year the New Year is celebrated on the extra day which occurs between the Waiting Hand and the day of the equinox.

SARDAR FAIRS
The Gorean equivalent of the World's Fair on Earth, these are four huge trade fairs held quarterly in the shadow of the Sardar Mountain Range. Each young person of Gor is expected to make a pilgrimage to the foot of the Sardar Mountains before he or she reaches their 25th birthday. They typically last ten full days and are scheduled to coincide with the solstices and equinoxes. THE FAIR OF EN'KARA (March 21st-March 30th)

THE RETURN TO TURIA
The last day of the Second Hand of En'Kara (March 30th) is traditionally the day which marks the beginning of The Season of Little Grass for the Wagon Peoples, and shortly thereafter they begin the long trek from their winter pastures back to Turia.

THE PLANTING FEAST OF SA-TARNA
A complex feast celebrated by most Gorean cities early during the growing season, and believed by many to ensure a rich harvest for the year ahead. Numerous rituals are performed during the three days of the feast (April 16th-18th) by members of the caste of Initiates, and members of each of the five high castes perform their own part of the ceremony during that three-day period. Most of these rituals consist of sacrifices or prayers to the Priest Kings conducted in the presence of the city Home Stone. On the final eve of the feast, the Home Stone is placed beneath the sky, typically atop the tallest cylinder in the city, and sprinkled with sa-tarna grain and ka-la-na wine by a dignitary of the city, often the Administrator, Ubar, or a member of the ruling family.

THE SECOND MONTH
GOREAN EARTH HOLIDAYS
First Hand April 20-24 *
Second Hand April 25-29 *
Third Hand April 30-May 4 *
Fourth Hand May 5-9 *
Fifth Hand May 10-14 *
Second Passage Hand May 15-19 Games of Love War


GAMES OF LOVE WARS
The Wagon People compete against the Warriors of Turia on the Plain of Stakes during the Second Passage Hand (May 15th-19th) in mid-spring, participating in various challenges and ceremonial-combats in order to exchange FreeWomen for slaves.

MONTH OF CAMERIUS
GOREAN EARTH HOLIDAYS
First Hand May 20-24 *
Second Hand May 25-29 *
Third Hand May 30-June 3 *
Fourth Hand June 4-8 *
Fifth Hand June 9-13 *
Third Passage Hand June 14-18 *


MONTH OF EN'VAR (FIRST RESTING)
GOREAN EARTH HOLIDAYS
First Hand June 19-23 Turian New Year
* * Sadar Fair of En'Var
Second Hand June 24-28 *
Third Hand June 29-July 3 *
Fourth Hand July 4-8 *
Fifth Hand July 9-13 *
Fourth Passage Hand July 14-18 *


TURIAN NEW YEAR
The people of Turia and other southern regions celebrate their own new year on the day of the Summer Solstice (June 21st). A ten day period of revelry follows, similar to the New Year celebrations in northern cities.

SARDAR FAIR
The Gorean equivalent of the World's Fair on Earth, these are four huge trade fairs which are held quarterly in the shadow of the Sardar Mountain Range. Each young person of Gor is expected to make a pilgrimage to the foot of the Sardar Mountains before he or she reaches their 25th birthday. They typically last ten full days (plus at least that long for set up and break down) and are scheduled to coincide with the solstices and equinoxes. The Fair of En`Var (June 19th-June 28th)

FIFTH MONTH
GOREAN EARTH HOLIDAYS
First Hand July 19-23 *
Second Hand July 24-28 *
Third Hand July 29-August 2 *
Fourth Hand August 3-7 *
Fifth Hand August 8-12 Kajuralia in Ar
Fifth Passage Hand August 13-17 Love Feast in Ar


KAJURALIA
"The Festival of Slaves", is held in most Gorean cities except Port Kar, where it is not celebrated at all, on the last day of the Twelfth Passage Hand (March 15th). In Ar, it is celebrated on the last day of the fifth month (August 12th), the day which precedes the Love Feast. Upon this day, slaves may take liberties which are otherwise not permitted them during the year, including the drinking of wine and liquor, the freedom to roam at will (provided of course they do not attempt to escape from their owners permanently), the freedom to choose their own sexual partners and to couch with slaves of the opposite sex whom they find attractive, temporary suspension of all work and duties, and even the opportunity to play (minor) tricks and practical jokes upon FreePersons. After the twentieth ahn, however, they are expected to be back in their respective kennels and slave quarters to resume the services required by their imbonded status; slaves who "go renegade" during Kajuralia are typically punished severely if recaptured, and are often executed for such an offense.

LOVE FEAST
Five day celebration within Ar, held during the Fifth Passage Hand (August 13th-17th). It is a time wherein many slaves are sold; the fourth day of the Love Feast (August 16th) is typically considered the climax of the festival in regard to the sale of slaves. The fifth day (August 17th) is normally reserved for great contests and spectacles in the Stadium of Blades, grand races in the Stadium of Tarns, great Kaissa championships and general celebratory feasting.

SIXTH MONTH
GOREAN EARTH HOLIDAYS
First Hand August 18-22 *
Second Hand August 23-27 *
Third Hand August 28-September 1 *
Fourth Hand September 2-6 *
Fifth Hand September 7-11 *
Sixth Passage Hand September 12-16 *


MONTH OF SE'KARA (THE SECOND TURNING)
GOREAN EARTH HOLIDAYS
First Hand September 17-21 *
Second Hand September 22-26 Passing of Turia
* * Fair of Se'Kara
Third Hand September 27-Oct 1 *
Fourth Hand October 2-6 *
Fifth Hand October 7-11 Festival of the 25th of Se'Kara
Seventh Passage Hand October 12-16 *


PASSING OF TURIA
The herds of the Wagon people pass closest to the city of Turia on or around the Second Hand of Se`Kara (September 22nd-26th).

SARDAR FAIRS
The Gorean equivalent of the World's Fair on Earth, these are four huge trade fairs which are held quarterly in the shadow of the Sardar Mountain Range. Each young person of Gor is expected to make a pilgrimage to the foot of the Sardar Mountains before he or she reaches their 25th birthday. They typically last ten full days (plus at least that long for set up and break down) and are scheduled to coincide with the solstices and equinoxes. FAIR OF SE'KARA (September 22nd-October 1st)

FESTIVAL OF THE 25TH OF SE'KARA
An annual Festival held in Port Kar to celebrate their great naval victory over the combined fleets of Cos and Tyros (October 11th).

EIGHTH MONTH
GOREAN EARTH HOLIDAYS
First Hand October 17-21 *
Second Hand October 22-26 *
Third Hand October 27-31 Feast of Fools
Fourth Hand November 1-5 *
Fifth Hand November 6-10 *
Eighth Passage Hand November 11-15 *


FEAST OF FOOLS
This is a festival celebrated in some Gorean cities on the last day of the Third Hand of the eight Gorean month (October 31). It is simialr in many respects to the southern Festival knosn as Carnival, except it lasts only for the period of one night. Also known as "Festival of the Cities of Dust," in homage to the spirits of the deceased who died during the last year.

NINTH MONTH
GOREAN EARTH HOLIDAYS
First Hand November 16-20 Torvaldsland-The Thing
* * The Wintering
Second Hand November 21-25 *
Third Hand November 26-30 *
Fourth Hand December 1-5 *
Fifth Hand December 6-10 *
Ninth Passage Hand December 11-15 *


THE THING
An annual celebration held in Torvaldsland, during which all of the shieldmen of the various Great Jarls travel to the Hall of their particular leader, submit their weaponry for inspection, and formally repledge their oaths of loyalty. The Thing usually occupies a span of from three to five days, and occurs sometime during the middle of the ninth Gorean month (mid-November), varying according to such factors as weather and the current political situation.

THE WINTERING
The nomadic herds of the Wagon peoples typically occupy their winter pastures during the period from the middle of the ninth Gorean month (late November) through the Second Hand of En'Kara (late March).

MONTH OF SE'VAR
GOREAN EARTH HOLIDAYS
First Hand December 16-20 *
Second Hand December 21-25 New Year
* * The Fair of Se'Var
Third Hand December 26-30 *
Fourth Hand December 31-January 4 *
Fifth Hand January 5-9 *
Tenth Passage Hand January 10-14 *


NEW YEAR OF THE WAGON PEOPLE
The day of the Winter Solstice (December 21st) is celebrated by the Wagon People as the first day of the new year, and marks the beginning of The Season of Snows. In addition, the women of the Wagon People keep a calendar of their own, based upon the phases of the largest of the three Gorean moons. It consists of fifteen separate divisions, each named after one of the fifteen different kinds of bosk, for instance: "The Moon of the Brown Bosk", "The Moon of the Spotted Bosk" and so on.

SARDAR FAIRS
The Gorean equivalent of the World's Fair on Earth, these are four huge trade fairs which are held quarterly in the shadow of the Sardar Mountain Range. Each young person of Gor is expected to make a pilgrimage to the foot of the Sardar Mountains before he or she reaches their 25th birthday. They typically last ten full days (plus at least that long for set up and break down) and are scheduled to coincide with the solstices and equinoxes. The Fair of Se`Var (December 21st-December 30th)

ELEVENTH MONTH
GOREAN EARTH HOLIDAYS
First Hand January 15-19 *
Second Hand January 20-24 *
Third Hand January 25-29 *
Fourth Hand January 30-Febuary 3 *
Fifth Hand Febuary 4-8 *
Eleventh Passage Hand Febuary 9-13 *


TWELTH MONTH
GOREAN EARTH HOLIDAYS
First Hand Febuary 14-18 *
Second Hand Febuary 19-23 *
Third Hand Febuary 24-28 *
Fourth Hand March 1-5 *
Fifth Hand March 6-10 *
Twelfth Passage Hand March 11-15 Carnival in Southern Cities
* * Kajurlia


CARNIVAL
Held in many southern cities, notably Port Kar, during the five days of the Twelfth Passage Hand (March 11th-15th). During this celebration it is often customary to dress oneself in outlandish costumes or masks and attend various masquerade fetes and feasts.

KAJURALIA
"The Festival of Slaves", it is held in most Gorean cities except Port Kar, where it is not celebrated at all, on the last day of the Twelfth Passage Hand (March 15th). In Ar, it is celebrated on the last day of the fifth month (August 12th), the day which precedes the Love Feast. Upon this day, slaves may take liberties which are otherwise not permitted them during the year, including the drinking of wine and liquor, the freedom to roam at will (provided of course they do not attempt to escape from their owners permanently), the freedom to choose their own sexual partners and to couch with slaves of the opposite sex whom they find attractive, temporary suspension of all work and duties, and even the opportunity to play (minor) tricks and practical jokes upon freepersons. After the twentieth ahn, however, they are expected to be back in their respective kennels and slave quarters to resume the services required by their imbonded status; slaves who "go renegade" during Kajuralia are typically punished severely if recaptured, and are often executed for such an offense.

THE WAITING HAND
GOREAN EARTH HOLIDAYS
The Waiting Hand March 16-20 The Waiting Hand


THE WAITING HAND
This is a five day period (March 16th-20th) during which doors are painted white, little food is eaten, little is drunk and there is no singing or public rejoicing in the city. Walls and doors are adorned with sprigs and branches from the brak bush to ward off ill-luck in the coming year. On the day of the Vernal equinox, the Ubar or Administrator of the city performs a ritual "greeting of the sun," after which doors are repainted and the brak foliage is removed, beginning a ten day period of general revelry.