Saint Cuthbert's Day
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Saint Cuthbert's Day, also known as Welcoming Day,[1] is the fourth day (Godsday) of Growfest in the common calendar of the Flanaess[2][3][4] and is the holiest day of the year for the faithful of St. Cuthbert.[5]
Holidays and celebrations
The day is usually marked by a parade starting at dawn in which celebrants amrch through their settlement (usually south to north), ending at the local shrine, temple, or church of Cuthbert.[3][4] Participlants chant and sing while children follow them using green switches on them, a tradition called "the cleansing". The children usually are enthusiatic in getting to do so, but others outside the faith are not permitted to do so.[2][3][4]
At the end of the march, a replica of the Mace of Cuthbert is brought forth and used as a centerpiece of a banquet that lasts from noon to dusk.[2][3] From then until midnight, a bonfire is cusotmarily made and kept stoked throughout. Tradition has it that any penitent follower who is warmed by Cuthbert's fire "(by braving the heat but not actually taking a burn)" has a curse removed if they have one.[2][3][4]
Converts are welcomed into the ranks throughout the day of buoyant sermons and simple fellowship, and this portion of celebrations is known as the Day of Welcoming.[1]
Calendar
The following holidays and celebrations also take place on Saint Cuthbert's Day:
| Starday | Sunday | Moonday | Godsday | Waterday | Earthday | Freeday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4  St. Cuthbert's Day Feast of Edoira |
5 | 6 | 7 |
| 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 • Feast of Wenta • 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
Notes
Citations
- ↑ a b "Saint Cuthbert: Cuthbert of the Cudgel". Polyhedron #129 (Apr 1998), p.39.
- ↑ a b c d "The Fairest of the Fairs". Dragon #137 (Sep 1988), p.58.
- ↑ a b c d e The Adventure Begins (1998), p.43.
- ↑ a b c d "Core Beliefs: Saint Cuthbert". Dragon #358 (Aug 2007), p.31.
- ↑ Machinations (2008)(RPGA). p.13
Bibliography
- Gygax, Gary. The World of Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980 (ISBN 0-935696-23-7).
- ———. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983 (ISBN 0-88038-344-5).
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
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Cuthbert, Day of | Calendar | Dragon magazine #358 | 31 | |
| Saint Cuthbert, Day of | Calendar | Dragon magazine #AN4 | 19 | |
| Saint Cuthberts Day | Calendar | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 14 |