The Alven Calendar
General
The Calendar of the Alvenites is profoundly religious. The week, the months and the year signal the passing of the seasons through the celebration of the deities the clansmen revere, fear and pray to.The year is the number of days the Plane goes round its sun: 360 days. The 12 months of the year are based on the lunar cycle of Alven's bigger and brigher moon, The Shine.
Each month is made up of 5 weeks of 6 nights (days) as it takes short of 30 days for the Shine to complete its cycle. The five seasons of the Alven calendar are based on the lunar cycle of the much smaller reddish moon, The Shadow. Each season is of 52 days: the time it takes the smaller moon to finish its cycle.
The Six Nights of the Week
The six nights or days of the Alven week are dedicated to The Divine Hags: the nine daughters of Dona.The Alvenites think that the day is divided into three important parts: the diurn part of the day, the nocturn part or the night and the two liminal parts: the dawn and the sunset.
A 'day' in the Alven calendar starts at sunset and finishes just before dawn. This is why the week is composed of nights and not days.
Newnight
The six-day of the Alven week starts on the first day of the month which is the day of the New Moon. This is the stage where the Shine is not visible to the naked eye and is in its dark phase.The first day of the night is dedicated to Nessa, the goddess of rivers, lochs, and water. On the coasts, it is her twin sister, Shony that is mainly paid tribute to.
They are both the firstborns of the Mother Goddess, Dona. On this day, offerings and rituals are offered to the goddess. Offerings and rituals differ from region to region in Alven and are noted in this article: Newnight's Rituals.
Brightnight
The second day of the week is dedicated to Brigand or Brid, the goddess of fire, youth, and growth. Brid is one of the most important deities in The Pantheon of Alven.The Sanctuary - a powerful religious organization built on the worship of Brid - considers this day the most sacred of the week, and will ask or help the population of Alven to celebrate Brigand devoutly on this specific day of the week: Brightnights' Rituals.
Mednight
The third day of the week is given to Medua. Medua is an all encompassing goddess. Women particularly pay tribute to Medua on that day.She is the Mother: the goddess of fertility, birth, and death. Many fertility rituals are linked to the cult of Medua and are often conducted on that day to help their potency:Mednights' Rituals.
Coldnight
Coldnight is the name traditionally given to Callienight, the night where offerings are given to the Crone. Callie is the goddess of winter and should not be trifled with or ... forgotten.Many rituals will take place on that day of the week to placate the fearsome Hag: Coldnight's Rituals.
Madnight
The 'Mad' in 'Madnight' refers to the goddess Morgan and her sisters: Ria and Mara. The three daughters of Dona represents the wild forces of this world.Morgan is the phantom war goddess, queen of the Underworld. Her sister Ria is the goddess of horses and warriors, while Mara is the embodiment of victory and peace. The three Divine Hags are well-known shapeshifters.
Morgan is the raven, Ria is the horse and Mara is the cow. Many rituals on that day will involve these sacred animals:Madnights' Rituals.
Cornight
The 'corn' in Cornight refers to the Corn Fay, Carlin. She is the last born of Dona, and watches over men's endeavors. She is the goddess of the fields and yields. Many rituals on that day will include the earth and corn, of course: Cornight's Rituals.The Twelve Months of the Year
Following the Shine's lunar cycle, the months of Alven have a total of 30 days. The first of the month is always a very special time of the year and is a known celebration of a god or goddess.The year is also divided into the Light months and the Dark months of the year. Here are the months of the year, their signification and the god or goddess they are dedicated to.
Month 1 - Samtyme
The year starts on the first of Samtyme. This is the first day of the year and it begins with the Samayne Celebrations. This month is dedicated to the goddess Callie.She is winter personified and on that month, she starts her reign over the dark months of the year. Her sister Brigand retires to sleep until she is woken up again in six months' time.
In some tales, Callie turns into Brigand or Brid after drinking from the Well of Youth.
Month 2 - Darktyme
Darktyme is dedicated to the goddess Morgan, the Queen of the Underworld. It reflects the 'dead' appearance of the world in winter or Witamm as it is known to the Alvenites.The first of the month starts with The Feast of Morgan. Her sister Mara is also celebrated and a bull is usually killed in communities throughout Alven at that time.
Month 3 - Wolftyme
Wolftyme takes its name from the wolves who come down from the mountains at that time of the year to scavenge. The wolf is also the emblematic animal of the dark god Donn. He is often portrayed as a white The Winter Wolf.Donn is the son of Morgan and Connend. He personifies the wild aspects of nature in winter and is a god of the hunt. The first of the month starts with a two-week-long (12 days) celebration, called Burnights.
Burnights as well as celebrating hunting also celebrates the power of fire over winter. Logs are placed in ritual patterns in every hearth of Alven to purify and bring light into the darkness of winter. Burnights ends on the first day of the new season, on the 13th.
Month 4 - Heartyme
Heartyme is a month of rest or sitting by the hearth. Hearth is also the place Alvenish myths place mankind before their arrival on the Plane and the continent of Alven. Heartyme is dedicated to the goddess Brid or Brigand.The Feast of Brid lasts a week and signifies the first stirring of spring and the coming of the light months. This is the most sacred week of the year for the seer and seeress of the Sanctuary.
Month 5 - Wyndtyme
Wyndtyme is dedicated to the shapeshifter goddess Corra. Corra is one of the three twin daughters of Medua. She can transform herself into a snake or a crane. As such, she is a liminal goddess who is at ease underground and in the sky.She symbolizes renewal and rebirth, and the cyclical nature of things. She is often portrayed with a wheel pendant at her neck.
Because of her connection with time, she is the only other god with Carnos that can impart prophecies of things to come.
She is the patron of female seers as Carnos is the patron of male seers. The Feast of Corra is celebrated on the first of the month, and many rituals of divination are performed on that night.
Month 6 - Springtyme
Everything comes into sap in Springtyme, and Dyon is the goddess mostly associated with this month.Dyon is the daughter of Callie by her husband, The Old Man.
Dyon is very unlike her mother insofar as she represents the Dawn and the coming of the light of the Planes. Dyon shows the softer side of Callie and her caring nature. The first of Springtyme starts with the Feast of Dyon.
Month 7 - Beltyme
Beltyme is dedicated to Belen, the first born of Dona and one of the most powerful gods of the whole Alven Pantheon. He is the sun god. The first starts a three-day celebration in his honor, Beltane.Lately, this festival has gained much traction in Alven. Belen is the god that the Thanes have claimed as their patron, a symbol of the unity of the clans. Many celebrations at Beltane focus on the Thane and Alven- they have de facto become national days.
Month 8 - Youngtyme
Youngtyme is dedicated to the god Carnos. Youngtyme is when nature is at its most vibrant, the middle of the Light Months' reign.The first of the month starts a seven week's celebration of the god Carnos, the mysterious god of nature: The Feast of Carnos.
The Feast ends on the first day of the new season: Sohamm (Summer). Many bonfires will be lit in the sacred groves or near the sacred trees of Alven and divination rites will be performed to ask for the god's prophecies and tellings.
The day of the full moon is also a special day of worship on that month - usually around the 15th.
Month 9 - Suntyme
Suntyme is dedicated to Ria, the goddess of horses and warriors. The first of the month starts with The Feast of Ria. Many rituals on that day involve horses, and traditional races take place in certain regions of Alven.Month 10- Lutyme
Lutyme is dedicated to Leweyd the-Many-Ones. Leweyd is maybe the most revered god in Alven. He attracts a huge following both from men and women.As his title suggests, he is the god of many things: poetry and arts for example. He is also a very gifted warrior and shapeshifter.
Leweyd is sometimes described as a trickster and gambler, or at least a player of games.
The month of Lutyme starts with the first feat at his name which is then followed by another Feast of Leweyd or Lu on the 19th of the month. The nineteenth is the start of the new season: Foggamm (Autumn).
Month 11 - Sweltyme
Sweltyme is dedicated to the goddess Medua. Sweltyme is the season of floods and ripening fruit.Medua is the bearer, the Mother. She is mostly revered by women, but farmers always pray to her for a fruitful season. She is a goddess of fertility, and many rituals will be held by women wanting to bear children the next year.
The children born nine months after Sweltyme are supposed to be blessed by the goddess and will be exceptionally strong and healthy.
The first of the month is The Feast of Medua.
This is a three day celebration: the first day is celebrated indoors at home, with the family, the second day is celebrated in communal banquets where fruits and nuts are shared with everyone, the third day is a ritual day where fertility ceremonies are taking place - a seer usually conducts the allnight revels and rituals.
Month 12- Faltyme
Faltyme is dedicated to the son of Leweyd - Ogma. Ogma is the god of songs, music, writing. On the first of the month is held The Feast of Ogma - many songs and epics are sung on that day.In some parts of Alven, it is traditional to hold a week-long competition that centers on the arts. Traditionally, it was a competition where Seers distinguished themselves and would show their erudition and eloquence. However, with the broadening of the education of young Alvenites, the competitions are now open to all with musical or writing talents.
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