Calendars

Most cultures on Elsemorn track the passage of time with calendars and by watching constellations in the night sky. These are some of the more common methods for timekeeping.

Solar and Lunisolar Calendars

The two most common calendars on Elsemorn are a solar calendar named the Distaftid, and a lunisolar calendar named the Madritarce. The Distaftid is used by most cultures, especially by agrarian cultures as well as in regions with greater seasonal variation—summer and winter, wet and dry, and so on. The Madritarce is used nearly universally by elven cultures.

The humans also used a lunisolar calendar in Cordiana but abandoned it after settling in Allesley.

The Distaftid or Human Calendar

The Distaftid is a solar calendar based on Elsemorn orbiting Morn. This calendar is divided into 12 months, 4 festivals, and occasional leap days. The Distaftid is also called The Morntides and the human calendar. The calendar proceeds as follows:

• Longdays is a festival that lasts 2 days. It coincides with the spring equinox, also called an evennight. It celebrates the new year when days begin to lengthen.

• Sawan or Sawastid lasts 30 days. The month typically begins when Insruurx (The Gull) nears its zenith.

• Edor or Edorstid lasts 30 days. The month typically begins when Ylvila (The Queen) nears its zenith.

• Haws or Hawastid lasts 29 days. The month typically begins when Salt Cinec (The Knight) nears its zenith.

• Midsummer is a festival that lasts 3 days. It coincides with the summer solstice.

• Weuda or Weudastid lasts 29 days. The month typically begins when Belafad (The Ship), also called The Mermaid, nears its zenith.

• Grenom or Grenasreth lasts 30 days. The month typically begins when Ilateir (The Wyrm), also called The Gyle, nears its zenith.

• Bahr or Bahreth lasts 29 days. The month typically begins when Timus (The Lord) nears its zenith.

• Harvest is a festival that lasts 3 days. It coincides with the fall equinox, also called an evennight.

• Fallas or Fallastid lasts 30 days. The month typically begins when Vhowd (The Aska) nears its zenith.

• Fehur or Fehureth lasts 29 days. The month typically begins when Gelaet and Pertu (The Hunter and Haliod) nears its zenith.

• Wergom lasts 30 days. The month typically begins when Fendirok (The Lighthouse) nears its zenith.

• Midwinter is a festival that lasts 2 days. It coincides with the winter solstice.

• Behd lasts 29 days. The month typically begins when Weys (The Woodwose), also called The Barbarian and The Reborn, nears its zenith.

• Dehnes lasts 30 days. The month typically begins when Eoten (The Giant) nears its zenith.

• Selkes or Selkestid lasts 30 days. The month typically begins when Sulls (The Farmer and Plow) nears its zenith.

When it becomes apparent that the Distaftid has drifted by several days, a leap day is added to the Harvest festival. This is often called a riding day, as officials spend the day on horseback, spreading the word about the irregularity.

The seven days of the week are named as follows:

• Seolforwil

• Leadwil

• Arwil

• Isernwil

• Flintwil

• Tinwil

• Colwil

The Madritarce or Elven Calendar

The Madritarce is a lunisolar calendar based on Hirde orbiting Elsemorn and also Elsemorn orbiting Morn. This calendar is divided into 8 half-seasons, or 4 seasons with 4 midseasons. The Madritarce is also called The Gilmadon, The Tree Cycles, and the elven calendar. The calendar proceeds as follows:

• Spring begins when Likantarce or The Lichen reaches its zenith.

• It is Midspring when Acerantarce or The Redspring reaches its zenith.

• Summer begins when Muskligantarce or The Moss reaches its zenith.

• It is Midsummer when Tremantarce or The Ceafalwode (also called The Stilljaw) reaches its zenith.

• Fall begins when Tifantarce or The Cattail reaches its zenith.

• It is Midfall when Kverantarce or The Gale-Oak reaches its zenith.

• Winter begins when Algoantarce or The Seaweed reaches its zenith.

• It is Midwinter when Argeantarce or The Hakesilvern reaches its zenith.

The Madritarce does not have named days or months. Instead, dates are commonly numbered according to the moon phase and moon count for that year. When legal or historical precision is required, date numbers may reference the 235 lunar months or 19-year moon-sun cycle as well.