Calendar of Aranor
Months of the year
Renewal’s Dawn – The first Holiday week, A time of fresh beginnings and hope, this holiday week celebrates the dawn of a new year with rituals of cleansing, reflection, and community renewal.
Frostwane – The coldest month, marking the icy stillness of winter.
Embershard – A time of lingering chill with the first signs of warmth.
Dawnmarch – The awakening of spring, symbolizing planting and new beginnings.
Bloomtide Festival - The second Holiday week. A celebration of life’s resurgence, this week honors the blossoming of nature, creativity, and unity, marked by vibrant festivals and planting ceremonies.
Verdance – Full bloom of spring, celebrating nature's vibrancy.
Skyflare – Warm breezes and clear skies as summer approaches.
Brightmorn – The height of summer, full of energy and vitality.
Highsun Jubilee - The third Holiday week. Representing the height of summer’s energy, this week is filled with grand feasts, competitions, and revelry to honor vitality, perseverance, and communal achievements.
Suncrest – The turning point of summer to autumn, golden fields abound.
Amberfall – A time of falling leaves and amber hues of early autumn.
Harvestshade – Gathering the fruits of labor during late autumn.
Veil’s Descent - The fourth Holiday week. A solemn yet meaningful week, Veil’s Descent commemorates the fading of the year, honoring ancestors and preparing for the challenges of winter with rites of remembrance and resilience.
Duskwind – Cooling winds of autumn, signaling the approach of winter.
Frostspire – The onset of winter, marked by frosted peaks and icy winds.
Nightveil – The darkest month, symbolizing reflection and the promise of renewal.
Days of the Week
Each week in Aranor consists of seven days, each with its own theme and significance:
Lightwake – A day for fresh starts and optimism, beginning the week with energy and hope.
Bloomrise – Celebrating growth, creativity, and the awakening of nature.
Stormward – Honoring freedom, exploration, and the power of the skies.
Wavecrest – Symbolizing balance, the ebb and flow of life’s cycles.
Fieldstead – Representing diligence, harvest, and the grounding force of labor.
Shroudmark – A reflective day for embracing mysteries and honoring the unseen.
Nightspire – Closing the week with tranquility, rest, and preparation for renewal.
Holiday Weeks
Renewal’s Dawn (Beginning of the Year)
Renewal’s Dawn marks the start of the Aranor calendar, a week-long celebration of new beginnings and the resilience of life. Communities come together to perform rituals of cleansing and preparation, symbolizing the washing away of the past year's struggles and setting intentions for the future. Streets and homes are decorated with fresh greenery, and offerings are made to commemorate the cycle of time. Renewal’s Dawn is deeply tied to themes of hope and unity, with acts of charity and kindness encouraged as a way to set a positive tone for the coming year.
The week concludes with the Ritual of First Light, where participants gather at sunrise to light symbolic lanterns that are sent drifting into the sky or across waterways, representing wishes for a prosperous year. It is also a time for storytelling, with elders recounting tales of Aranor’s founding and the heroics of past ages to inspire the next generation. Renewal’s Dawn serves as a cultural anchor for the people of Aranor, reminding them of their shared resilience and the ever-turning cycles of life.
Bloomtide Festival (Early Spring)
Bloomtide Festival celebrates the arrival of spring, a week that honors the flourishing of nature and the interconnectedness of life. During this time, villages and cities are adorned with flowers, and planting ceremonies are held to bless crops and ensure a fruitful harvest. Communities come alive with parades, featuring dancers and musicians dressed in vibrant floral attire. The festival emphasizes collaboration, with neighbors working together to prepare fields and tend to the land, symbolizing unity and growth.
The highlight of Bloomtide is the Dance of Petals, a grand celebration held in central squares or sacred groves, where participants scatter flower petals into the air as an offering to the natural spirits of Aranor. The week also includes feasts made from the earliest spring produce, and artisans display their crafts, inspired by the beauty of the season. Bloomtide Festival is a joyful and vibrant time, reminding the people of Aranor to celebrate the renewal of life and the bonds that tie them to one another and the world around them.
Highsun Jubilee (Mid-Summer)
Highsun Jubilee honors the height of summer’s energy, a week of revelry, competition, and gratitude for the vitality and prosperity of the season. Feasts are held under the stars, with food and drink shared among neighbors in celebration of the season’s abundance. Communities host contests of strength, skill, and artistry, such as archery tournaments, singing competitions, and feats of endurance, to highlight the talents of their people. Highsun Jubilee also recognizes the bonds of family and friendship, with reunions and marriages often taking place during this week.
One of the central events is the Sunfire Procession, where participants carry golden torches or lanterns through the streets, symbolizing the sun’s life-giving power and the endurance of hope. The festival concludes with the Firelit Feast, a communal gathering where stories and achievements from the year are shared, and prayers are made for continued prosperity. Highsun Jubilee is a time of boundless joy, fostering a sense of pride and gratitude that strengthens the spirit of Aranor’s people.
Veil’s Descent (Late Autumn)
Veil’s Descent is a solemn yet profound week dedicated to honoring ancestors, reflecting on the passage of time, and preparing for the challenges of winter. During this week, homes and temples are adorned with candles and tokens representing loved ones who have passed, creating a serene and introspective atmosphere. Communities gather to share stories of their ancestors, preserving family and cultural histories through spoken word. The lighting of Veil Lanterns—small, intricately carved lanterns—is a central tradition, with these lights symbolizing the guidance of spirits through the dark months ahead.
The week also includes the Feast of Shadows, a communal meal where places are set for the departed to honor their memory. Prayers and rituals are performed to seek the blessings of balance and protection, often led by priests of Eldris, the Veiled Guardian. Veil’s Descent is a time for quiet reflection, gratitude for life’s cycles, and renewal of resolve to endure the trials of winter. It reminds the people of Aranor that even in the darkest moments, the strength and wisdom of the past can illuminate the path forward.