Calendar
From HammerWiki
A Calendar is a system of time measurement used by various cultures. Below is a list of calendars used throughout the Warhammer world. Calendar events are often used as a lore basis for Live Events in WAR such as the Witching Night event.
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[edit] The Imperial Calendar
The Imperial Calendar or IC is the name of the standardized calendar used in the Empire. Years are numbered from the year that Sigmar was first crowned as Emperor. When describing historical events in the World of Warhammer, almost all dates are given according to the Imperial Calendar, with the date usually followed with the abbreviation IC.
[edit] The Imperial Year
A standard Imperial year lasts 400 days, divided into twelve months of 32 or 33 days each, with six intercalary holidays. These holidays exist outside of the normal sequence of months and weekdays:
| Reikspiel | English name | Number of days | Festival |
| Hexenstag | Witching Day | 1 | New Years Day |
| Nachhexen | After-Witching | 32 | |
| Jahrdrung | Year-Turn | 33 | |
| Mitterfruhl | More-Growth | 1 | Spring Equinox |
| Pflugzeit | Plough Month | 33 | |
| Sigmarzeit | Sigmar Month | 33 | |
| Sommerzeit | Summer Month | 33 | |
| Sonstill | Sun Still | 1 | Summer Solstice |
| Vorgeheim | Fore-Mystery | 33 | |
| Geheimnistag | Mystery Day | 1 | Day of Mystery |
| Nachgeheim | After-Mystery | 32 | |
| Erntzeit | Harvest Month | 33 | |
| Mittherbst | Less-Growth | 1 | Autumn Equinox |
| Brauzeit | Brew Month | 33 | |
| Kaldezeit | Chill Month | 33 | |
| Ulriczeit | Ulric Month | 33 | |
| Mondstill | World Still | 1 | Winter Solstice |
| Vorhexen | Fore-Witching | 33 |
[edit] Weekdays
An Imperial week lasts eight days.
- Wellentag (Work day)
- Aubentag (Levy day)
- Marktag (Market day)
- Backertag (Bake day)
- Bezahltag (Tax day)
- Konistag (King day)
- Angestag (Start week)
- Festag (Holiday)
[edit] Holy Days and Festivals
Special days are set aside during the year for religious festivals dedicated to members of the pantheon of Old World Gods.
- Hexenstag - Morr
- Nachhexen 1 - Verena (Year Blessing)
- Mitherfruhl - Manann, Taal, Ulric
- Sigmarzeit 18 - Sigmar (Sigmarsfest)
- Sonnstill - Taal, Rhya
- Geheimnistag - Morr
- Erntezeit 1-8 - Halfling Pie Week
- Mittherbst - Rhya, Taal, Ulric
- Mondstill - Ulric, Taal, Rhya
- Witching Night - The evening of the festival celebrated in many Old World nations, the turn of the year. This festival was used as a basis for a live event in WAR.
[edit] The Bretonnian Calendar
The Bretonnian Calendar measures year 0 from the founding of Bretonnia by Gilles Le Breton. A standard Bretonnian year, like the Imperial Year, lasts 400 days, divided into twelve months of 32 or 33 days each, with six intercalary holidays. Each year begins on Witching Night, on the same day as Hexenstag in the Imperial Calendar. It shares many of the same holidays as the Imperial Calendar, however holds special reverence for days of The Lady.
| Month | Number of Days | Holiday | Occasion |
| 1 | Witching Night | New Year | |
| After Witching | 32 | ||
| Year-Turn | 33 | ||
| 1 | Lily Day | Spring Equinox | |
| Plough-Tide | 33 | ||
| Lady's Month | 32 | ||
| Summer-Tide | 33 | ||
| 1 | Peace-Tide | Summer Solstice | |
| Fore-Mystery | 33 | ||
| 1 | Day of Mystery | ||
| After-Mystery | 32 | ||
| Harvest-Tide | 33 | ||
| 1 | Grail-Day | Autumn Equinox | |
| Brew Month | 33 | ||
| Chill Month | 33 | ||
| Gilles-Tide | 33 | ||
| 1 | King's Sleep | Winter Solstice | |
| Fore-Witching | 33 |
[edit] Holidays
All holidays on the Bretonnian calender stem from the foundation of the country. The original holidays of the the human tribes are still celebrated (as in the Empire,) but any holiday associated with The Lady takes prominence above all others.
- Witching Night - When both moons of the world are full, Bretonnians will celebrate The Lady's protection from evil magic. This is also a celebration of the Eighth Battle of Gilles Le Breton, when The Lady blessed the "good" magic wielded by The Damsels of his army. On this day, women take charge all over the nation, as a sign of respect for the Damsels. Great bonfires are built, and effigies of male magic wielders are burned (some towns will even go so far as to capture a real, living wizard to burn to little success.) These bonfires are always lit by a woman.
- Lily Day - Lily Day is the celebration of new growth, concurrent with the Imperial More-Growth holiday, and is the most popular day of the year for weddings. Most villages and towns will choose the most beautiful girl among them to preside over the festivities as The Lady of Lillis.
- Peace-Tide - The celebration of Gilles Le Breton's final victory in forging the nation, Peace-Tide features festivals filled with great battle reenactments, pledges of loyalty, and great feasts. All quarrels within a community must be resolved by this day, and some villages will go so far as to force a resolution to conflicts - even fights to the death.
- Day of Mystery - This day marks the first time The Lady appeared to Gilles Le Breton, and is considered the holiest day of the year. The barriers between The Lady's world and the world of man are thought to be thinned on this day, and most will spend the day in Grail Chapels in quiet contemplation.
- Grail-Day - Originally a day meant for honoring the grail, Grail-Day has since become a festival centered mostly around drinking. Traditionally, wine is drunk completely undiluted on this day, making festivities extremely raucous.
- King's Sleep - In the depth of winter, the people of Bretonnia remember that like the trees, like Gilles Le Breton, are not dead, but sleeping. This holiday is usually marked with plays depicting his departure and return.
[edit] The Gospodarin & Ungol Calendar
Kislev uses three dating systems: the Imperial Calendar (IC), the Gospodarin calendar (GC) and the Ungol calendar.
[edit] The Gospodarin Calendar
More widespread is the use of the Gospodarin calendar, which dates from the founding of the city of Kislev by Khan-Queen Shoika (1524 IC). Since the Great War against Chaos, the Imperial Calendar has been growing ever more in its usage, and now it is common for dates to be given in both the Gospodarin calendar and the Imperial Calendar.
[edit] The Ungol Calendar
The Ungol calendar is now only used for the northern tribes, and works on the principle of a four-year cycle called an Urtza, dating from the time that the great Bear God, Ursun, first awoke from hibernation (roughly 500 IC). Dates are also known to vary from tribe to tribe, so that while one tribe may say that the great chieftain Eskadar fought the battle of Lynsk in 452 (IC 1310 = (1310+500)/4), another might say it is in 453 (IC 1312). For these reasons, it is only of interest to scholars for its eccentricity more than its functional use.
[edit] The High Elf Calendar
High Elves reckon time according to the reign of the Phoenix King. Each Phoenix King's reign is regarded as a separate historical epoch. In addition, Elves measure the year not in months but in seasons - the season of Frost, the season of Rain, the season of Sun, and the season of Storm.
Elves traditionally date their calendar from the day that Aenarion passed through the flame in the Shrine of Asuryan. Before that is the reign of the Single Throne when the Everqueen was the sole ruler of Ulthuan.
[edit] Ages of the High Elf calendar
| Age | Phoenix King | Number of years | IC equivalent |
| The Defender | Aenarion | 80 | -4500 to -4420 |
| The Explorer | Bel-Shanaar | 1669 | -4419 to -2750 |
| The Conqueror | Caledor I | 550 | -2749 to -2199 |
| The Warrior | Caledor II | 598 | -2198 to -1600 |
| The Peacemaker | Caradryel | 603 | -1599 to -997 |
| The Slayer | Tethlis | 304 | -996 to -692 |
| The Scholar-King | Bel-Korhardris | 1189 | -690 to 498 |
| The Poet | Aethis | 622 | 498 to 1120 |
| The Impetuous | Morvael | 381 | 1121 to 1502 |
| The Sage | Bel Hathor | 660 | 1503 to 2162 |
| The Seafarer | Finubar | 360 | 2163 to present |
[edit] Festival of Light
Once each decade, the High Elves hold the Festival of Light to celebrate Aenarion and remember his sacrifice. At dawn on the day of the festival, each Elf recites this verse:
- "Brother spoke the four as one, together we shall rule, Surrender to the Darkness within your heart you know holds true.
- In his hand the Sword of Khaine did promise power untold, As God of Light and God of Murder battled for his soul.
- One by one the Daemons fell and Elf Lord he stood tall, For should he fail upon his task then mortal world would fall.
- Upon the isle beneath the fight, wise mages cast their spells And Daemon minions howled in anguish, cursed to eternal hell.
- And on this day we bow our heads to he who world did save, Aenarion the Proud Defender, Aenarion Ever Brave."
- ~ Warhammer Armies: High Elves, 6th edition. (Copyright Games Workshop)
