The Wheel of the Year
From MeiLinWiki
The Wheel of the Year describes the Tremontine calendar. It is divided into eight Spokes (more or less a long month from our perspective), each of which has between 44 and 47 days depending on how the Solstice and Equinox fall. The start of each Spoke is marked by a religious holiday dedicated to one of the eight major deities.
The Spokes and observances are as follows:
Winter's Beginning -- Eddin's Day (Winter Solstice/New Year)
Winter's Ending -- Amma's Day (Candlemas approx)
Spring's Beginning (-- Pagg's Day (Spring Equinox)
Spring's Ending -- Neya's Day (Beltane approx)
Summer's Beginning -- Nerr's Day (Summer Solstice)
Summer's Ending -- Venna's Day (Lugh approx)
Fall's Beginning -- Farr's Day (Autumn Equinox)
Fall's Ending -- Harla's Day (Samhain approx)
Every four years, a day is added to the year--the day before Pagg's Day--and is treated as a holiday of its own called Ownday. It's the one day that everyone is guaranteed to have off, even servants. All preparations for Ownday are made in the weeks leading up to it, and all the meals taken that day are cold unless you arrange otherwise. (A common arrangement is for the village baker to stoke his oven well the night before and the villagers set the morning meal in it to cook overnight in the fading heat. Usually the baker charges a couple of coppers for this, but for Ownday he takes as many pots as he can fit, for free.) It is considered an unlucky day for business and travel; all the Temples, shops and markets close, and most folks hold open houses and spend the day visiting one another. If you wish to be in a particular place for Ownday, you must get there before the day begins; otherwise you celebrate it where you are. The nobility traditionally fund parties that night for the common folk of their holdings, and are expected to at least make an appearance, though they must drive themselves; the coachmen have the day off. Generally speaking, Ownday falls on the same schedule as our Leap Day--every four years.
