The Planet

The world of Celandra has two moons, the larger of which, Calaselia, orbits approximately every 30 days, and the smaller of which, Marselia, orbits approximately every 236 days. The planet takes 364 days to orbit the sun.

The dates on which Calaselia is full cycle through the solar calendar on a 15-year cycle, while the dates of Marselia's full moons have a 59-year cycle. The two moons are full at the same time every 9 years, 264 days, and the sun's, Calaselia's, and Marselia's orbits create an 885-year cycle. That is, if both moons are full on Winter Solstice, they will both be full again on Winter Solstice in 885 years.

Mirrish Calendar

The Midsea calendar evolved from the ancient Avaeran calendar. The year is divided into 4 seasons of 1 fest and 3 months. The middle day of each fest is an equinox or solstice, with three days before and three days after. Dates are specified as Day, Month, Year. (example: 23 Rioth, 1034) For purposes of dates, fests are treated like a short 7-day month. (example: 4 Lithir, 1593) In ancient Avaerea, the four Holy Days (the solstices and equinoxes) were usually set aside for religious observance, and were considered the four cornerstones or elements upon which the world is founded:

• Winter Solstice: water
• Spring Equinox: earth
• Summer Solstice: fire
• Autumnal Equinox: air

In both traditions, these days were and are thought to be particularly auspicious days for magery. The sorcerors of Mir still believe in the potency of these days. Other important days are full moons and new moons. New moons are generally considered to be ill-fated. It is thought to be auspicious to begin a new task on a full moon.

Months & Seasons

The names of the seasons, fests, and months given below are those used in Mir. Most of the words are derived from ancient Avaeran, though some are distinctly Balpuri.

• Winter (Ibra) Ibrir (7 days) winter solstice is Ibrir 4
  • Ibroth (28 days)
  • Sholoth (28 days)
  • Rioth (28 days)
• Spring (Nasa) Nasir (7 days) vernal equinox is Nasir 4
  • Astroth (28 days) planting season
  • Thrimoth (28 days)
  • Veranoth (28 days)
• Summer (Litha) Lithir (7 days) summer solstice is Lithir 4
  • Hanoth (28 days)
  • Uedoth (28 days)
  • Shalioth (28 days) early harvest
• Autumn (Caia) Caiir (7 days) autumnal equinox is Caiir 4
  • Otiboth (28 days) late harvest
  • Boloth (28 days) fruit harvest
  • Kanoth(28 days)

The names of the following weekdays are also Balpuri. None of these are Avaeran in origin.

• Jeno
• Frevo
• Sabilo
• Kamiuo
• Framo
• Hukiio
• Amlo

Sedonian Calendar

The Sedonian Calendar developed independently from the Avaerean Calendar and was originally primarily a lunar, rather than a solar calendar. Originally, years were named, not numbered, with the name of one of 15 animals designating the year's place in Calaselia's cycle, and one of 59 adjectives designating the year's place in Marselia's cycle, producing a list of 885 names that started with the Year of the Red Eagle, and ended with the Year of the Purple Dragon. If it was necessary to be more specific, the number of the 885-year Great Cycle was added, with the First Cycle being considered to have begun in BE 26,550.

During Mir's rule over Sedonia, the Mirrish/Avaerean Calendar was used, and after the creation of the Sedonian Empire, a hybrid calendar was adopted, and the older calendar was relegated to religious and ceremonial use only. Sedonians still celebrate New Year on the day after Winter Solstice, four days after nations using the Mirrish/Avaerean Calendar, and still consider the Solstices and Equinoxes to mark the mid-points of their seasons, rather than the beginning or end of them.

In the Sedonian tradition, the elemental associations of the seasons are:

• Winter Solstice: air
• Spring Equinox: water
• Summer Solstice: earth
• Autumnal Equinox: fire

Months & Seasons

• New Year's Day
  • The Feast of Mother Meranrai, celebrating the birth of the New Year.
• Lussuth (30 days)
  • The Feast of Lights, in honor of Lusia, falls on the 15th.
• Zayuth (30 days)
  • The Feast of Winds, which is also the first day of Spring, falls on the 15th.
• Marmuth (30 days)
  • The Feast of Storms, in honor of Marmdal, falls on the 15th
  • Planting Festival, which honors Arrumantha, and the Vernal Equinox fall on the 30th.
• Seduth (30 days)
  • The Feast of the Traveler, in honor of Sedon, falls on the 15th.
• Tanuth (30 days)
  • The Feast of the Waters, which is the first day of Summer, falls on the 15th.
• Arrumuth (30 days)
  • The Feast of Field and Forest, in honor of Arrumantha and Vazyantha, falls on the 15th.
• Midsummer's Eve
  • First day of the Feast of Cascasoevin, and the Summer Solstice
• Midsummer's Day
  • Second day of the Feast of Cascasoevin
• Arluth (30 days)
  • The Feast of the Healer, in honor of Arlova, falls on the 15th.
• Betaluth (30 days)
  • The Feast of the Earth, which is also the first day of Autumn, falls on the 15th.
• Torruth (30 days)
  • The Feast of the Crafters, in honor of Torronir and Toryanna, falls on the 15th.
  • Harvest Festival, in honor of Arrumantha, and the Autumnal Equinox fall on the 30th.
• Mithuth (30 days)
  • The Feast of Soldiers, in honor of Mithrac and Mithramos, falls on the 15th.
• Rossuth (30 days)
  • The Feast of Fire, which is also the first day of Winter, falls on the 15th.
• Demmuth (30 days)
  • The Feast of Shadows, in honor of Demerhaze, falls on the 15th.
• Year's Long Night
  • The Feast of Coron, commemorating the death of the old year, and Winter Solstice.

The Sedonian names for the days of the week are:

• Lusag (Sun's Day)
• Calag (Calaselia's Day)
• Marag (Marselia's Day)
• Sedag (Sedon's Day)
• Astag (Stars' Day)
• Ertag (Dragon's Day)
• Coronag (Coron's Day)

-- Andrew Janssen - 12 May 2008 -- Kevin Bourne - 25 Sep 2006