Spring equinox
Growfest 4 is the point where the sun crosses Oerth's equator.
Holy days and observances
[edit | edit source]Holidays celebrated on this date include :
- Spring Feast
- Feast of Edoira
- Saint Cuthbert's Day
- This date is holy to Aerdrie Faenya
- The Budding—Worshippers of Rillifane Rallathil observe the equinox as "a joyful celebration of new life celebrated through dance and song"[1] It is held "in large groves of oak trees in the heart of the forest." "A ritual hunt of an ancient and noble hart" is conducted, after which the venison is eaten in celebration of Rillifane's bounty.[1]
- Sanctification of Renewal, a sacred holiday to the followers of Garyx.
- Raxivort's Orgy
- Priests of Tlaloc ritually sacrifice and eat the flesh of human children or babies in their patron's honor.
Misattribution
[edit | edit source]The name "spring" or "vernal" equinox is something of a misnomer. In Dragon Magazine Annual: 1999[2] the "spring" or "vernal" equinox is identified as the first day of Spring on Growfest 4th.
However, this would seem to be a misidentification because in all other sources,[3][4][5][6][7][8] spring begins in Readying[9] (when there is no equinox). Growfest is celebrated after the end of spring and at the beginning of low summer.[3][4][5][6][7][10][note 1] Though "an" equinox would certainly be in Growfest, it would not be a "spring" equinox or the beginning of spring. Festivals aren't associated with solstices and equinoxes in any other sources.[note 2] This is likely an editorial error, due in part to Greyhawk having five seasons rather than the expected four (in most sources).
Because of this misattribution, DMs may wish to consider whether Spring Feast should be on Readying 4th at the beginning of Spring instead of Growfest 4th, since both celebrate spring as a season. Also due to this misattribution, this equinox might more accurately be called the "Estival Equinox" or "Summer Equinox" as it marks the beginning of Summer.
See Also
[edit | edit source]See also the related other seasonal events:
| Greyhawk calendar | |
|---|---|
| Days | Starday • Sunday • Moonday • Godsday • Waterday • Earthday • Freeday |
| Months | Fireseek • Readying • Coldeven • Planting • Flocktime • Wealsun • Reaping • Goodmonth • Harvester • Patchwall • Ready'reat • Sunsebb |
| Festivals | Needfest • Growfest • Richfest • Brewfest |
| Seasons | Winter • Spring • Low summer • High summer • (Summer) • Autumn |
| Solar events | Spring equinox, Summer solstice, Autumnal equinox, Winter solstice |
| Holidays | Agelong • Blood Moon Festival • Breadgiving Day • Council Day • Council of Mayors and Manorial Lords • Crowning Day • Dark Night • Day of the Legion Will • Day of Treachery • Declaration Day • Election Day • Faerieluck • Fallrite • Feast of Edoira • Feast of Fools • Freedom Day • Frost Days • Great Moon's Glory • Guild Days • Holy Day of Serenity • Midsummer's Day • Midwinter Night • Remembrance Day • Rollo's Day • Saint Cuthbert's Day • Spring Feast • Springrite • Thrommel's Day • Yeartide • |
References
[edit | edit source]Notes
[edit | edit source]- ↑ However, despite specific dates given for seasons, in The Adventure Begins, Roger Moore refers to Growfest as the "full arrival of spring" (though that has debatable meaning), and in Player's Guide Anne Brown refers to it "as soon as spring comes".
- ↑ Despite not being called solstices, Needfest and Richfest are held at Midsummer and Midwinter in the middle of those seasons, while the "Autumnal Equinox" (as it is called in the Dragon Annual 1999 article) is celebrated in Brewfest at the beginning of Fall, as would seem appropriate.
Citations
[edit | edit source]- ↑ a b Faiths and Pantheons (2002), p.129.
- ↑ "Campaign Holidays". Dragon #A1999 (Annual 1999), p.19.
- ↑ a b The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (1980), p.4.
- ↑ a b World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983), p.5, Table.
- ↑ a b Player's Guide (1998), p.13, Table.
- ↑ a b The Adventure Begins (1998), p.39, Table.
- ↑ a b Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.2, Table.
- ↑ Dungeon Master's Guide (2024), p.146, Chapter 5, Months and Festivals.
- ↑ The Adventure Begins (1998), p.42, "Readying 1st is the calendar date for spring's start.".
- ↑ Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk (2007), p.14.
Bibliography
[edit | edit source]- Boyd, Eric L. Demihuman Deities. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
- Kestrel, Gwendolyn F.M., Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, and Kolja Raven Liquette. Races of the Dragon. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2006.
- Miller, Andy. "Campaign Holidays." Dragon Annual #4. Renton, WA: TSR, 1999.
- Mona, Erik. River of Blood. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Moore, Roger E. The Adventure Begins. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998.
- Ward, James and Robert J. Kuntz. Deities & Demigods. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
| Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image |
|---|