The Ellenida year is 335 days long. The lunar period is 25 days, meaning that there are 13 moons per year plus 10 days left over.

The calendar used by the Southern cities uses the ascension of the current monarch as the "start day", but keeps track of the moons independently. For example, the anniversary of the current King of Galadiahos’ ascension to the throne fell on the sixth day of the moon in which the campaign started. This day is therefore by definition sixth day of the first moon of the third year of the rule of King Tharos of Galadiahos. Note that there were no first, second, third, fourth, fifth days of the first moon of the third year of the rule of King Tharos of Galadiahos because the year start fell on the sixth day.

This means that the number of moons included in a year varies- usually it is 14 but if the year start falls at the end of a moon there can be 15... and if the monarch dies there can be as little as one day in the whole "year"!

All religious and secular festivals are dated based on the phase of the moon and the season, so the festival of the Dancers of Kreenee is always held on the full moon nearest to the beginning of spring. There are no really hard and fast rules about this and it is typically the job of the high priest to decide exactly when each festivals will be held.

The Full Moon defines day 1 of the moon; the moon is considered "full" on the nights of days 25 and 1. The moon is new on the nights of 12 and 13. The waning half is on day 6 and the waxing half is on 19.

In the North, spring, summer and autumn are each about three moons and winter takes up the remaining 4½. In the South the summer is similarly prolonged. The seasons are ill-defined but everyone knows roughly when they start and finish- the high priest of the local city again is likely to have the final say.

Southern Gods:

Ohros the Pale- dark of the moon of midwinter

Ssfayee the Snake God – full moon at start of winter

Ohia the Viper – dark of the moon at the start of winter

Spatlos the Extravagant – Midsummer’s day. On this day Spatlos is said to visit each of his worshippers in turn and judge how extravagantly they have been living their lives, taking the most flamboyant and brave to join him in his fight against tedium and boredom.

Worship is usually offered daily in private prayers and at the temple at full, half and new moons. More devout members will attend a prayer at the temple at dawn each day. Worship takes the form of long (and very tedious) prayers which have to be memorised and droned out in a monotone at least once per day. Any variation of the traditional form is heresy. Sacrifice is usually made at each visit to the temple.

Denome, Goddess of Shelter – full moon at the start of spring. (The festival of Lanterns, many painted lanterns and bonfires)

Loyismos, Keeper of the Scrolls – dark of the moon at the start of each season (the festivals of the dark, one for each season, mainly a day for major sacrifice at the temples; a good sacrifice is said to guarantee that the god will send you a prophetic dream that night.

Kreenee of the fountain – full moon at the middle of spring (Kreenee’s first dance, an extremely wild festival with a great deal of dancing and casual sex.)

Kreenee of the fountain – three days after the first new moon of summer (The fountain festival, a rather calmer affair where ritual ablutions are performed in temples and baths)

Kretharee the Golden – last day of summer (the dancers of the corn, a rather bloody festival where animals and, in the past at least, people are sacrificed to ensure the fertility of the fields and the quality of the harvest. There are dances in the street to re-enact certain scenes from Kretharee’s legends. This festival, although fairly wholesome on the outside has a very sinister and dark undertone.)

Kretharee the Golden - last day of autumn (the dancers of the dust, harvest festival, very wholesome family fun)

General worship is a private prayer on rising and retiring with a trip to the temple a couple of times a moon for most worshippers. Worship takes the form of prayers ad sacred dances, sometimes accompanied by ritual ablutions. The worshippers are encouraged to make up new prayers, poems or dances to celebrate the gods. Sacrifice is performed usually once per moon, something very small like an ear of corn being usual. New dances are very highly prized.

Ksenkano the avenger – every full moon

Faveros the terrible – every new moon

The two outlander gods are typically thought to be struggling over the moon, Ksenkano dragging it into the light and Faveros pulling it back into the shadows.

General worship- daily prayers led by the tribal shaman, sacrifices of goods every holy day and sacrifices of blood once per year on the moon closest to the worshipper’s birthday. Lots of grovelling and ranting by shaman.

Kavalarees – winter solstice (Sunbornday). Masculine fertility ceremonies, thanks for the sun turning back towards summer

Moon Mother – first full moon after Sunbornday. Celebration, traditionally time of high childbirth, children born on this day are supposed to be lucky. If the two festivals co-incide it is a truly special day and all the tribes are supposed to gather together with their families on that day and do nothing but worship and celebrate the glory of the gods.

Soulatsoro the Wanderer – first full moon of spring (journey’s start, a happy festival)

Soulatsoro the Wanderer – first new moon of winter (journey’s end, traditionally a much more sombre festival accompanied by sacrifice, sometimes human in the past but generally not so any more)

Klopee the Thief – no calendrical high holy day- instead a celebration is given when a particularly fine theft or counting coup has been performed.

Deeamesos the Intermediary- celebrates no holy days of his own, worshippers follow local customs.

Horveekos, Lord of the Campfire – first spark – when the constellation of the flame (a faintly orange nebulosity) is in the zenith at midnight, typically somewhere in the latter half of winter. Celebrates the day the Horveekos gave the first flame to man.

Pelvro the Shieldmaiden – last day of the last moon of spring

Platia the Wide – each full moon in summer

Kleevanos the Butcher – also celebrates first spark (Kleevanos discovered fire and Horveekos gave its secret to men)

No regular worship- instead people give thanks when things are going well or go to the priest for help when things are going badly. Feasts and sacrifices are the common form of worship, with prayers usually being led by priests in the midst of celebrations.