GOREAN
CALENDAR
Gorean Day
(20 Ahn) = 24 Earth hours Gorean
Week, also called hand
= 5 Earth days
Gorean Month
= five hands + one Passage Hand = 30 Earth
days
Gorean Year
= 12 Earth months
Passage Hand: Five
days period that separates each month
Waiting Hand: Five
days period after the last Passage Hand of the year "The
Gorean week consists of five days. Each month consists of five such weeks. Following
each month, of which there are twelve, separating them, is a five-day Passage
Hand. The twelfth Passage Hand is followed by the Waiting Hand, a five-day period
prior to the vernal equinox, which marks the Gorean New Year." - Tribesman
of Gor; page 26 "...There
are twelve twenty-five day Gorean months, incidentally, in most of the calendars
of the various cities. Each
month, containing five five-day weeks, i separated by a five-day period, called
the Passage Hand, from every other month, there being one exception to this,
which is that the last month of the year is separated from the first month of
the year, which begins with the Vernal Equinox, not only by a Passage Hand,
but by another five-day period called the Waiting Hand, during which doorways
are painted white, little food is eaten, little is drunk and there is to be
no singing or public rejoicing in the city. During
this time Goreans go out as little as possible; The Initiates, interestingly
enough, do not make much out of the Waiting Hand in their ceremonies and preachments,
which leads one to believe it is not intended to be of any sort of religious
significance; it is perhaps, in its way, a period of mourning for the old year;
Goreans, living much of their lives in the open, on the bridges and in the streets,
are much closer to nature's year than most humans of Earth; but on the Vernal
Equinox, which marks the first day of the New Year in most Gorean cities, there
is great rejoicing; the doorways are painted green, and there is singing on
the bridges, games, contests, visiting of friends and much feasting, which lasts
for the first ten days of the first month, thereby doubling the period taken
in the Waiting Hand. Month
names differ, unfortunately, from city to city, but, among the civilized cities,
there are four months, associated with the equinoxes and solstices, and the
great fairs at the Sardar, which do have common names, the months of En-'Kara,
or En-'Kara-Lar-Torvis; En-'Var, or En-'Var-Lar-Torvis; Se'Kara, or Se'Kara-Lar-Torvis,
and Se'Var, or Se'Var-Lar-Torvis." - Assassin of Gor: page 78-9
| Gorean |
Earth |
Holidays |
| First Hand |
March 21-25 |
The Gorean New Year The Fair of En'Kara Wagon People-The 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 |
The 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 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'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 plentiful 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.
Second
Month - Month of Hesius (Ar)
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
Wagon
People - Games of Love War
Games of Love War
The Wagon Peoples 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 freewoman for slaves.
Month of Camerius (Ar) / Selnar (Ko-ro-ba)
| 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 (The First Resting)
| Gorean |
Earth |
Holidays |
| First Hand |
June 19-23 |
Turian New Year The 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 peoples of Turia and certain other southern regions officially 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 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 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", 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.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 |
Wagon People-The Passing of Turia The Fair of Se'Kara |
| Third Hand |
Sep 27- October 1 |
|
| Fourth Hand |
October 2-6 |
|
| Fifth Hand |
October 7-11 |
Port Kar-Festival of the 25th of Se'Kara |
| Seventh Passage Hand |
October 12-16 |
|
The Passing of Turia
The herds of the Wagon peoples traditionally 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. The 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 known 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 (The Second Resting)
| Gorean |
Earth |
Holidays |
| First Hand |
December 16-20 |
|
| Second Hand |
December 21-25 |
Wagon People-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 (Wagon People)
The day of the Winter Solstice (December 21st) is celebrated by the Wagon Peoples as the first day of the new year, and marks the beginning of The Season of Snows. In addition, the women of the Wagon Peoples 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", etc.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 30-3 |
|
| Fifth Hand |
February 4-8 |
|
| Tenth Passage Hand |
February 9-13 |
Twelfth Month
| Gorean |
Earth |
Holidays |
| First Hand |
February 14-18 | |
| Second Hand |
February 19-23 | |
| Third Hand |
February 24-28 | |
| Fourth Hand |
March 1-5 | |
| Fifth Hand |
March 6-10 | |
| Tenth Passage Hand |
March 11-15 | Carnivals |
Carnivals
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 garb oneself in outlandish costumes or masks and attend various
masquerade fetes and feasts.
| Gorean |
Earth |
| Waiting Hand |
March 16-20 |
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.
