The Ethelran Calendar

The twelve-month Ethelran calendar was formally established in Thessaria during the imperial period. It remained in use after the empire's decline and is now the standard civil calendar across much of Ethelra, as well as in regions with long-standing Ethelran influence.

The year contains twelve months of thirty days, for a total of 360 days. The seven-day week continues uninterrupted across month and year boundaries, so the same calendar date falls on a different weekday from one year to the next.

Local festivals, religious observances, and seasonal customs vary considerably. The names, order, and length of the months remain broadly consistent wherever the Ethelran calendar is used.

Velisar

Velisar begins the year in the middle of winter. Thessaric households, temples, guilds, and government offices traditionally used the opening of the month to review unfinished affairs and make plans for the year ahead.

That practical association survived the empire. Many families and institutions still use the beginning of Velisar to take stock of their affairs and prepare for the coming months.

Elaris

Elaris falls near the end of winter. In agricultural regions, preparations for spring begin while colder weather still lingers.

Seed stores are inspected, tools repaired, and planting plans made for the coming season. Some rural communities also hold blessings or small observances before the first seed is set aside for spring.

Zarethil

Zarethil marks the beginning of spring across much of Ethelra. Roads become easier to travel, markets grow busier, and work delayed by winter begins again.

Its association with renewed activity is largely practical. Farming, construction, trade, and other seasonal work often increase as conditions improve.

Vaeloris

By Vaeloris, milder weather allows public gatherings to move outdoors more regularly. Festivals, performances, and civic celebrations are common during the month, though their form differs widely between regions.

Many of these observances are local rather than part of the calendar itself. Vaeloris simply became a convenient time for gatherings that were difficult to hold during winter and early spring.

Toramir

Travel and trade usually increase further during Toramir. Roads and sea routes are busier, and seasonal fairs are common in many settlements.

Larger gatherings, competitions, and public events are also often scheduled during late spring, taking advantage of the more dependable weather before the height of summer.

Calrisar

Calrisar begins the summer and the preparation for the first major harvests.

Storehouses are readied, equipment repaired, and labor organized for the weeks ahead. Farming communities also pay closer attention to crop conditions and summer weather as the growing season advances.

Vienor

The first major summer harvests begin during Vienor in many parts of Ethelra.

The exact crops vary by region, but early grains, fruits, and other seasonal produce commonly begin reaching markets during the month. Harvest meals and local observances are also common where the first gathering of the season carries religious or communal significance.

Loramir

Harvest work continues through Loramir as the days begin to shorten.

Fairs and communal gatherings are common in agricultural regions, particularly once the most demanding work of the season begins to ease. Local harvest celebrations vary considerably and are usually tied to the traditions of individual communities rather than to one shared Ethelran observance.

Theranis

Theranis has a long association with remembrance of the dead. Memorial observances, visits to burial places, and gatherings centered on family or community history are common during the month.

The customs surrounding Theranis differ between cultures and faiths. Some hold formal religious rites, while others observe the season through family gatherings or local commemorations.

Dravenis

Dravenis is dominated by preparation for the colder months ahead.

Food is preserved, winter stores are checked, and buildings are repaired before harsher weather sets in. Travel becomes less reliable in colder regions, while coastal communities begin preparing more seriously for autumn storms and rougher seas.

Serathis

Serathis is traditionally associated with astronomy and navigation. Across much of Ethelra, late autumn provides longer nights for observation while conditions remain milder than those of deeper winter.

Astronomers make greater use of the extended darkness during this period, and instruction in stars and constellations has long been common among navigators and sailors during the month.

Endaril

Endaril closes the calendar year as winter settles across much of Ethelra.

Households, businesses, and institutions often use the month to settle unfinished affairs before the beginning of Velisar. Accounts may be closed, obligations completed, and preparations made for the coming year.

The final days of Endaril are observed differently from one culture to another. Some communities mark the year's end with religious rites or public celebrations, while others keep the occasion primarily within the household.