Syvattic Calendar
The Syvattic Calendar — sometimes known as the Imperial or Vekhen Calendar, due to their alterations — is a date system adopted by the vast majority of the peoples of Syvat. The calendar is divided into twelve months spanning four seasons, each comprised of 30 days. The calendar week is seven days long, following a regular cycle. In addition to these months and days, the calendar includes a thirteenth incalary period known as 'Festival' which lasts five days or six days on a leap year (every four years).
Calendar Months
The Syvattic Calendar contains twelve seasonal months of 30 days, and one intercalary month of 5-to-6 days, as follows:- Seed's Dawn, the first month of Spring after the new year,
- High-Spring, the month containing the Spring Equinox festival of the same name,
- Seed's Dusk, the last month of Spring before Summer,
- Flame's Start, the first month of Summer,
- High-Summer, the month containing the Summer Solstice festival of the same name,
- Flame's End, the last month of Summer before Autumn,
- Death's Dawn, the first month of Autumn,
- High-Autumn, the month containing the Autumn Equinox festival of the same name,
- Death's Dusk, the last month of Autumn before Winter,
- Snow's Start, the first month of Winter,
- High-Winter, the month containing the Winter Solstice festival of the same name,
- Snow's End, the last month of Winter before the new year,
- Festival, a five-to-six day intercalary month introduced to account for and commemorate the invasion of House Vekhen.
Days of the Week
Each month, including the intercalary Festival, contains days which follow the same cycle as follows:- Sowday, the recognised "start" of the week, which is a minor religious holiday for Reaper & Sower. People are expected to lay down plans for the week ahead. Plans made on a Sowday are believed to bear better fruit than those begun on other days of the week.
- Marketday, the second day of the week, and a day typically set aside for mercantilism across the Vekhen Empire. Though not a religious holiday, it is said by the orthodox Church of Eighteen Eyes that theft performed on a Marketday blasphemes against the bonds of fellowship laid down by the Lord of Bridges & Baubles.
- Glimday, the third day of the week, which is a minor religious holiday for Mother Make Me. People are expected to spend Glimdays reflecting on what they have in life, and what they yet can make for themselves. Families typically gather on Glimdays to celebrate good fortune with a meal. A gift given on a Glimday is said to be repaid thrice-fold with good fortune.
- Loomday, the fourth day of the week, which is a minor religious holiday for Old Lady Loom. People typically let aside Loomdays for important occasions, such as marriages and funerals, given its closeness to Old Lady Loom, though many consider it mere pragmatism, as families are likely already gathered from Glimday before. Being born on a Loomday is said to lead to a long life — specifically one who will outlive their parents and siblings — so often these children are trained in legal matters to handle the estates of wealthier families. A social club — the Loominaries — at the grand University of Evrenkës within the Imperial capitol is said to only admit initiates born on a Loomday.
- Bladesday, the fifth day of the week, which is a minor religious holiday for Banner Bearer. Bladesdays are typically set aside for trials, executions, and — in those cities which haven't outlawed them — duels. Additionally, Bladesdays are considered auspicious days in which to fight battles, with military officials often stalling campaigns to orchestrate such an occurence.
- Restday, the sixth day of the week, is considered a day of peace within the Empire. People are encouraged to do little work on this day, though seldom is that luxury afforded to any but the wealthy.
- Reapday, the recognised "end" of the week, which is another minor religious holiday for Reaper & Sower. People are expected to take stock of their achievements and worldly possessions. Additionally, the Church typically asks for tithes on Reapdays, and by tradition it is illegal for nobles to collect taxes on any other day.
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