Post by Victoria on Oct 7, 2009 6:12:37 GMT
MONTHS
Unumber [ooh-NUM-ber]
Duober [doo-OH-ber]
Triaber [Tree-AH-ber]
Quattuorber [KWA-too-OR-ber]
Quinqueber [chink-WEH-ber]
Sexber [SEX-ber]
September [sept-EM-ber]
October [ahkt-OH-ber]
November [no-VEHM-ber]
December [dee-SEHM-ber]
Undecimber [UN-dee-SIHM-ber]
Duodecimber [doo-OH-dee-SIHM-ber]
Tredecimber [TREH-dee-SIHM-ber]FESTIVALS
Festival [FEHS-tih-vul]
A village-wide celebration in which all gather to feast, dance, play games and pay homage to the spirits of the earth and seasons. The weekdays for worship depend upon which festival was celebrated last.
Imbolc [IHM-bohlk]
Jupday, the 5th of Duober, the festival day of birth. It is a celebration of rebirth and new beginnings. Virgins and new brides wear crowns of Baby's Breath blooms and serve the crowd sweet mead. Following this day, worship days occur on Saturday.
Ostara [oh-STAHR-ah]
Marday, the 24th of Triaber, festival day of the spring equinox. This is a time of hope and the celebration of women and children. It is considered an ideal day for a marriage or engagement. The women who are already mothers go into the fields to pick dandelions, which they grind up and put into little bags with are gifted to the unmarried girls of the village. The girls hang these bags on nails above their beds for a week to assure a loving marriage. Following Ostara, worship days occur on Marday.
Beltaine [BELL-tayn]
Monday, the 9th of Quinqueber, festival day of life. It marks the first signs of summer. During this time, herds are brought to summer pastures. It is a time of fertility, health and growth. Hair, clothing and houses are decorated with chains of woven flowers for the festival, and all of the cats are given small poultry patties. After this day, worship days occur on Saturday.
Litha [LITH-uh]
Mercday, the 4th of September, the festival of the summer solstice. This is the height of the sun's power, when the Gewin are thought to have the least strength. Celebrations for this occasion are particularly wild and joyful, and it is considered acceptable for the men to go bare-chested after sunset on this day. Following Litha, worship days occur on Monday.
Lammas [LAHM-uhs]
Marday, the 17th of October, the festival day of plenty. This day marks the first wheat harvest. Summer begins to turn over into autumn. The elderly are especially honoured on this day, including the older of the cats. There is a fishing contest, and the largest fish caught is cooked for the table of the oldest villager. Following this day, worship days occur on Sunday.
Mabon [MA-bon]
Jupday, the 12th of December, the festival of the autumn equinox. It is the height of harvesting season. The colours red, yellow, orange and brown are worn, and pine-needles and certain flowers are burned in a bonfire to release a smoky, pleasant smell.
Samhain [SAH-win]
Marday, the 24th of Undecimber, festival day of death. The graves of deceased relatives and cats are honoured with flowers and hand-made crafts. Grave-markers are cleaned. Come nightfall, leather masks are worn and sweetened fruits are served amongst the dancing and revelry. A gift of roast lamb is left at the edge of the woods before nightfall to pacify the Gewin.
Yule [YOOL]
Jupday, the 19th of Tredecimber, festival day of the winter solstice. As it is too cold to celebrate outdoors, this festival day is celebrated inside homes and then during the night at the Meeting Hall. Holly, pine boughs and bells are used for decoration both inside and outside of houses, including the occasional small tree. Mistletoe is hung over doorways, under which two people caught together must share a modest kiss. Childrens' stockings hung on the fire mantle to dry are filled before they wake with sweets and gifts. Presents are exchanged later at the Meeting Hall, before which ham is served for the feast and a Yule Log is burned in the hearth. A figure of a goat is made of straw and displayed, under which a separate feast is left for all of the cats. Following the Yule festival, worship days occur on Saturday.WEEKDAYS
Cynday [SIHN-day]
The independent day between each year, named for the Northern Pole Star, Cynos. It occurs after the 28th of Tredecimber and before the 1st of Unumber. It belongs to no year, month, or week. It is said to be a day belonging to the darkness, and thus to the Gewin.
Sirday [SEER-day]
Present only every four years, it is the independent day between the second and third weeks of Sexber, named for the brightest star, Sirius. It is a part of no week or month. The cats of the village are groomed, pampered and given treats on Sirday.
Sunday [SUHN-day]
The first day of the week. Every 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd day of each month is a Sunday. Worship days fall on Sundays between Lammas and Mabon. This weekday is ruled by the sun, and is considered the best day for hunting in the woods.
Monday [MUHN-day]
The second day of the week. Every 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd day of each month is a Monday. Worship days fall on Mondays between Litha and Lammas. The festival of Beltaine occurs on a Monday. This weekday is ruled by the moon, and Monday nights are considered particularly dangerous in regards to the Gewin.
Marday [MAHR-day]
The third day of the week. Every 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th day of each month is a Marday. Worship days fall on Mardays both between Ostara and Beltaine and between Samhain and Yule. The festivals of Ostara, Lammas and Samhain occur on Mardays. This weekday is ruled by the planet Mars, and are considered lucky for men and for winning fights.
Mercday [MAYRK-day]
The fourth day of the week. Every 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th day of each month is a Mercday. The festival of Litha occurs on a Mercday. This weekday is ruled by the planet Mercury, and it is viewed as a good day for trade, commerce and communication.
Jupday [JOH-day]
The fifth day of the week. Every 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th day of each month is a Jupday. The festivals of Imbolc, Mabon and Yule occur on Jupdays. This weekday is ruled by the planet Jupiter, and is considered lucky for people seeking to influence others.
Venday [VAHN-day]
The sixth day of the week. Every 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th day of each month is a Venday. Worship days fall on Vendays both between Beltaine and Litha and between Mabon and Samhain. This weekday is ruled by the planet Venus, and is thought to be both lucky for women and especially good for romantic exploits.
Saturday [SAT-eur-day]
The seventh and last day of the week. Every 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th day of each month is a Saturday. Worship days fall on Saturdays between Yule and Ostara. This weekday is ruled by the planet Saturn, and is supposedly a good day for planting and harvests.NAMES
Cynos [SIHN-ose]
The Northern Pole Star. It is fixed in a constant position, and thus is used for navigation. It is believed to be the shining eye of Cynda, the guardian spirit of nursemaids, watching over the earths' children with a mothers' patient consistency.
Gewin [GEH-win]
Cursed beings that live in the woods, wolves by day and beautiful, powerful blood-drinkers at night.
Guardians [GAHR-dee-uhns]
The protectors of the village and sworn enemies of the Gewin; cats by day and super humans (at will) by night.PLACES
Benevolence [behn-EHV-oh-lehns]
A peaceful village in a valley surrounded by hills, a wood and a river.
Branborough
The former name of the village Benevolence, used approx. a century ago.
River Branwen
The lazy river that cuts through the villagers' valley and into the woods; when Benevolence was called Branborough, the river was referred to as Branwen's Cauldron.
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