AHN OF THE GOREAN DAY

THE STANDARD GOREAN YEAR

GOREAN MONTHSThe Gorean calendar is divided into twelve twenty-five day months. Each month consists of five weeks (Hands), each of which is five days long. Each month is separated from the month which follows it by a five day "Passage Hand" which marks the passage from one month to the next. Following the normal Passage Hand which marks the end of the twelfth Gorean month is a five day period known as "The Waiting Hand" during which most Goreans mourn the passing of the old year. The Waiting Hand concludes on the eve of the Vernal equinox, and the following day is the Gorean New Year. The first Hand of the month of En'Kara begins on the next day after. Every fourth year (leap year) the Gorean New Year is celebrated on a separate day between the Waiting Hand of the previous year and the first day of the first Hand of En`Kara. The calendar below lists the Gorean hands and months along with their equivalent dates according to the calendar of Earth, as calculated from the orbital ecliptic of the twin planets.THE GOREAN YEAR

MONTH OF EN'KARA (The First Turning)

March 21-March 25: First Hand
March 26-March 30: Second Hand
March 31-April 4: Third Hand
April 5-April 9: Fourth Hand
April 10-April 14: Fifth Hand
April 15-April 19: First Passage Hand

MONTH OF HESIUS (Ar)

April 20-April 24: First Hand
April 25-April 29: Second Hand
April 30-May 4: Third Hand
May 5-May 9: Fourth Hand
May 10-May 14: Fifth Hand
May 15-May 19: Second Passage Hand

MONTH OF CAMERIUS (Ar)/ SELNAR (Ko-ro-ba)

May 20-May 24: First Hand
May 25-May 29: Second Hand
May 30-June 3: Third Hand
June 4-June 8: Fourth Hand
June 9-June 13: Fifth Hand
June 14-June 18: Third Passage Hand

MONTH OF EN`VAR (The First Resting)

June 19-June 23: First Hand
June 24-June 28: Second Hand
June 29-July 3: Third Hand
July 4-July 8: Fourth Hand
July 9-July 13: Fifth Hand
July 14-July 18: Fourth Passage Hand

FIFTH MONTH

July 19-July 23: First Hand
July 24-July 28: Second Hand
July 29-August 2: Third Hand
August 3-August 7: Fourth Hand
August 8-August 12: Fifth Hand
August 13-August 17: Fifth Passage Hand

SIXTH MONTH

August 18-August 22: First Hand
August 23-August 27: Second Hand
August 28-September 1: Third Hand
September 2-September 6: Fourth Hand
September 7-September 11: Fifth Hand
September 12-September 16: Sixth Passage Hand

MONTH OF SE'KARA (The Second Turning)

September 17-September 21: First Hand
September 22-September 26: Second Hand
September 27-October 1: Third Hand
October 2-October 6: Fourth Hand
October 7-October 11: Fifth Hand
October 12-October 16: Seventh Passage Hand

EIGHTH MONTH

October 17-October 21: First Hand
October 22-October 26: Second Hand
October 27-October 31: Third Hand
November 1-November 5: Fourth Hand
November 6-November 10: Fifth Hand
November 11-November 15: Eighth Passage Hand

NINTH MONTH

November 16-November 20: First Hand
November 21-November 25: Second Hand

November 26- November 30: Third Hand
December 1-December 5: Fourth Hand
December 6-December 10: Fifth Hand
December 11-December 15: Ninth Passage Hand

MONTH OF SE`VAR (The Second Resting)

December 16-December 20: First Hand
December 21-December 25: Second Hand
December 26-December 30: Third Hand
December 31-January 4: Fourth Hand
January 5-Jaunuary 9: Fifth Hand
January 10-January 14: Tenth Passage Hand

ELEVENTH MONTH

January 15-January 19: First Hand
January 20-January 24: Second Hand
January 25-January 29: Third Hand
January 30-February 3: Fourth Hand
February 4-February 8: Fifth Hand
February 9-February 13: Eleventh Passage Hand

TWELFTH MONTH

February 14-February 18: First Hand
February 19-February 23: Second Hand
February 24-February 28: Third Hand
March 1-March 5: Fourth Hand
March 6-March 10: Fifth Hand
March 11-March 15: Twelfth Passage Hand

March 16-March 20: The Waiting Hand

GOREAN HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS

Below is a listing of various Gorean holidays and festivals; most are mentioned in the books themselves, but a few are new Gorean holidays pertinent to those who frequent the Silk&Steel Tavern in Ar. They arelisted along with their equivalent Earth dates.GOREAN NEW YEAR: On the day of the Vernal equinox (March 21), many northern Gorean cities, including Ar, celebrate the Gorean New Year. Typically upon this day a celebration takes place, doors are painted green, and a city-wide festival is held, lasting for two full Gorean hands (ten days). Every fourth year the New Year is celebrated on the extra day which occurs between the Waiting Hand and the day of the equinox. SARDAR FAIRS: The Gorean equivalent of the World's Fair on Earth, these are four huge trade fairs which are held quarterly in the shadow of the Sardar Mountain Range. Each young person of Gor is expected to make a pilgrimage to the foot of the Sardar Mountains before he or she reaches their 25th birthday. They typically last ten full days (plus at least that long for set up and break down) and are scheduled to coincide with the solstices and equinoxes. Therefore, the four annual Fairs are:

THE PLANTING FEAST OF SA-TARNA:A complex feast celebrated by most Gorean cities early during the growing season, and believed by many to ensure a plentiful harvest for the year ahead. Numerous rituals are performed during the three days of the feast (April 16th-18th) by members of the caste of Initiates, and members of each of the five high castes perform their own part of the ceremony during that three-day period. Most of these rituals consist of sacrifices or prayers to the Priest Kings conducted in the presence of the city Home Stone. On the final eve of the feast, the Home Stone is placed beneath the sky, typically atop the tallest cylinder in the city, and sprinkled with sa-tarna grain and ka-la-na wine by a dignitary of the city, often the Administrator, Ubar, or a member of the ruling family.THE RETURN TO TURIA: The last day of the Second Hand of En'Kara (March 30th) is traditionally the day which marks the beginning of The Season of Little Grass for the Wagon Peoples, and shortly thereafter they begin the long trek from their winter pastures back to Turia. GAMES OF LOVE WAR: The Wagon Peoples compete against the Warriors of Turia on the Plain of Stakes during the Second Passage Hand (May 15th-19th) in mid-spring, participating in various challenges and ceremonial-combats in order to exchange freewoman for slaves.TAKING OF THE OMENS: Every tenth year, dating from 10,119 CA (1969 AD), is considered by the Wagon Peoples to be an "Omen Year

Therefore, in 10,139 CA (1989 AD) and in 10,149 CA (1999 AD), the Wagon Peoples halted their annual trek past Turia and various Omens were divined by their haruspexes regarding the future of the tribes and the safety of the bosk. This ceremony typically occurs in late spring, sometime during the month of Camerius. The next such Omen Year will be 10,159 CA (2009 AD).TURIAN NEW YEAR: The peoples of Turia and certain other southern regions officially celebrate their own new year on the day of the Summer Solstice (June 21st). A ten day period of revelry follows, similar to the New Year celebrations in northern cities.KAJURALIA: "The Festival of Slaves", it is held in most Gorean cities (except Port Kar, where it is not celebrated at all) on the last day of the Twelfth Passage Hand (March 15th). In Ar, it is celebrated on the last day of the fifth month (August 12th), the day

which precedes the Love Feast. Upon this day, slaves may take liberties which are otherwise not permitted them during the year, including the drinking of wine and liquor, the freedom to roam at will (provided of course they do not attempt to escape from their owners permanently), the freedom to choose their own sexual partners and to couch with slaves of the opposite sex whom they find attractive, temporary suspension of all work and duties, and even the opportunity to play (minor) tricks and practical jokes upon freepersons. After the twentieth ahn, however, they are expected to be back in their respective kennels and slave quarters to resume the services required by their imbonded status; slaves who "go renegade" during Kajuralia are typically punished severely if recaptured, and are often executed for such an offense.LOVE FEAST: Five day celebration within Ar, held during the Fifth Passage Hand (August 13th-17th). It is a time wherein many slaves are sold; the fourth day of the Love Feast (August 16th) is typically considered the climax of the festival in regard to the sale of slaves. The fifth day (August 17th) is normally reserved for great contests and spectacles in the Stadium of Blades, grand races in the Stadium of Tarns, great Kaissa championships and general celebratory feasting.THE PASSING OF TURIA: The herds of the Wagon peoples traditionally pass closest to the city of Turia on or around the Second Hand of Se`Kara (September 22nd-26th).FESTIVAL OF THE 25th OF SE`KARA: An annual Festival held in Port Kar to celebrate their great naval victory over the combined fleets of Cos and Tyros (October 11th).THE THING: An annual celebration held in Torvaldsland, during which

all of the shieldmen of the various Great Jarls travel to the Hall of their particular leader, submit their weaponry for inspection, and formally repledge their oaths of loyalty. The Thing usually occupies a span of from three to five days, and occurs sometime during the middle of the ninth Gorean month (mid-November), varying according to such factors as weather and the current political situation.THE WINTERING: The nomadic herds of the Wagon peoples typically occupy their winter pastures during the period from the middle of the ninth Gorean month (late November) through the Second Hand of En'Kara (late March).NEW YEAR (WAGON PEOPLES): The day of the Winter Solstice (December 21st) is celebrated by the Wagon Peoples as the first day of the new year, and marks the beginning of The Season of Snows. In addition, the women of the Wagon Peoples keep a calendar of their own, based upon the phases of the largest of the three Gorean moons. It consists of fifteen separate divisions, each named after one of the fifteen diiferent kinds of bosk, for instance: "The Moon of the Brown Bosk", "The Moon of the Spotted Bosk", etc.PAGA DAY: Anniversary of the founding of the Silk&Steel Tavern (February 21st).CARNIVAL: Held in many southern cities, notably Port Kar, during the five days of the Twelfth Passage Hand (March 11th-15th). During this celebration it is often customary to garb oneself in outlandish costumes or masks and attend various masquerade fetes and feasts.THE WAITING HAND: This is a five day period (March 16th-20th) during which doors are painted white, little food is eaten, little is drunk and there is no singing or public rejoicing in the city. Walls and doors are adorned with sprigs and branches from the brak bush to ward off ill-luck in the coming year. On the day of the Vernal equinox,

the Ubar or Administrator of the city performs a ritual "greeting of the sun," after which doors are repainted and the brak foliage is removed, beginning a ten day period of general revelry.

Holidays

Battles of Oxen
(noun): a gladiator type competition popular in Tharna; men are yoked with horns fitted to them; they battle each other in an arena, one trying to gore or maim the other.
Book 2: Outlaw of Gor, page 112

Contests of Arms
(noun): gladiatorial contests where men fought to the death were banned in Ar when Kazrak of Port Kar became administrator of that city.
Book 3: Priest-Kings of Gor, page 11

En'Kara
(noun; lit. 'first turning'): the first month of the Gorean calendar that of the vernal equinox which is the Gorean new year; roughly equivalent to the Earth calendar month of March.
Book 2: Outlaw of Gor, page 178

En'Var
(noun; lit. 'first resting'): the fourth month of the Gorean calendar that of the summer solstice roughly equivalent with the Earth calendar month of June.
Book 2: Outlaw of Gor, page 178

Equinox, autumnal
(noun): (lit. The Second Turning of the Central Fire ); the month of Autumnal Equinox is Se`Kara or The Second Kara; also called Se`Kara Lar-Torvis
Book 2: Outlaw of Gor page 178

Equinox, vernal
(noun): (lit. The First Turning of the Central Fire); the month of Vernal Equinox is En'Kara or the First Kara; also called En`Kara Lar-Torvis.
Book 2: Outlaw of Gor, page 178

Fair of En'Kara
(holiday); one of four great fairs held in the shadow of the Sardar range in the first month of the Gorean year.
Book 3: Priest-Kings of Gor, page 8

Kajuralia
(noun; lit. 'Festival of Slaves'): this holiday is celebrated in most northern civilized cities with the exception of Port Kar; many cities celebrate on the last day of the 12th Passage Hand but in Ar and some other cities on the last day of the 5th month the day before the Love Feast; in this day practical jokes from slaves are tolerated.
Book 5: Assassin of Gor, page 229

Love Feast
(noun): common name for the 5th Passage Hand occurring in late summer which time is the greatest period for the sale of slaves esp. slave girls.
Book 5: Assassin of Gor, page 193

Love War
(noun): The Wagon Peoples compete against the Warriors of Turia
on the Plain of Stakes during the Second Passage Hand (May 15th-19th) in
mid-spring, participating in various challenges and ceremonial combats. For Turians, the contest is to win ownership of a slave of the Wagon Peoples. The Four Tribes compete to win high born Turian free women, which will be turned into slaves of the wagons.
Book 4: Nomads of Gor, pages 115 -124

Sardar Mountain Fairs
(noun): huge fairs held four times each year at the foot of the Sardar Mountains; they coincide with the equinoxes and solstices and are numbered chronologically. During of the Fair the area is neutral territory: no one may be enslaved at the Fair (though slaves captured elsewhere may be sold) & no blood may be spilled; serves as a trading point for information and merchandise; every Gorean is required to visit the Fair at least once before the age of 25.
Book 2: Outlaw of Gor, page 179

Sardar Mountain Fairs, En'Kara
(noun): occurs during the spring, one of the four great fairs held in the shadow of the Sardar during the Gorean year.
Book 20: Players of Gor, page 8

Sardar Mountain Fairs, En'Var
(noun): occurs during the summer solstice, one of the four great fairs held in the shadow of the Sardar during the Gorean year.
Book 5: Assassins of Gor, pages 78-79

Sardar Mountain Fairs, Se'Kara
(noun): occurs in the fall, one of the four great fairs held in the shadow of the Sardar during the Gorean year.
Book 5: Assassins of Gor, page 78

Sardar Mountain Fairs, Se'Var
(noun): occurs during the winter solstice, one of the four great fairs held in the shadow of the Sardar during the Gorean year.
Book 3: Priest-Kings of Gor, page 309

Tola, Feast of
(noun): the Priest-King festival celebrating the anniversary of the Nuptial Flight of the Mother.
Book 3: Priest-Kings of Gor, page 87

Tolam, Feast of
(noun): the Priest-King festival celebrating the anniversary of the Deposition of the First Egg.
Book 3: Priest-Kings of Gor, page 87

Tolama, Feast of
(noun): the Priest-King festival celebrating the anniversary of the Hatching of the First Egg.
Book 3: Priest-Kings of Gor, page 87

Assignment