View source for Growfest

The second of the four festival weeks in the [[Greyhawk calendar]], '''Growfest''' is held at the beginning of [[low summer]].  Growfest follows [[Coldeven]] before it becomes [[Planting]]. 

It is the only festival which is not considered a municipal holiday in the [[City of Greyhawk]] for at least part of the festival.{{csb|TAB|43}}  An equinox occurs on the fourth of Growfest.<sup>([[Growfest#Misattribution|see below]])</sup> The week is particularly sacred to [[Atroa]], as well as the [[Old Faith]].

In [[Elf|elven]] culture, Growfest is known as "[[Springrite]]", and it is customary to spend the week around the equinox dancing and singing, involving themselves in nothing but merriment. All important decisions and actions are postponed by the elves until the week is over, with the significant exception that this is when most elven couples marry or announce their betrothals.

The faithful of [[Hextor]] call this time the [[Blooding]]; they observe this week with contents of strength, fitness, and skill, offering blood to propitiate their god. 

Since the rise of [[Turrosh Mak]], the entire week of Growfest has featured human sacrifices by the hundreds at the [[Drachenkopf Temple]] in honor of the [[Earth Dragon]].{{csb|Slavers|125}} 

This festival week is marked by the aquamarine moon [[Celene (Kule)|Celene]] shining full in the night sky (as are all the seasonal festivals).

==Calendar==
The following [[:Category:Holidays|holidays]] and celebrations take place during {{PAGENAME}}:
{|class="wikitable"
 !Starday
 !Sunday
 !Moonday
 !Godsday
 !Waterday
 !Earthday
 !Freeday
 |- style="vertical-align:top;"
 |1<br>[[Feast of Edoira]] begins in [[Safeton]]<br>[[Growfest Eel Run]] begins in [[Caronis]]{{csb|WGR4|30}}
 |2
 |3
 |4<br>[[Spring equinox]], <br/>[[Saint Cuthbert's Day]], <br/>[[Spring Feast]]<br>[[Feast of Edoira]] in the [[City of Greyhawk]]<br/>[[File:Phase_luna_first.png|link=Luna]] [[File:Phases_celene_full.png|link=Celene (Kule)]]
 |5
 |6
 |7<br>[[Desportium of Magic]]<br>[[Feast of Edoira]] ends  in [[Safeton]]<br>[[Growfest Eel Run]] ends in [[Caronis]]
 |}

==Misattribution==
The name "spring" or "vernal" equinox is something of a misnomer.  In ''Dragon Magazine Annual: 1999'' (Annual #4), p19, ''Campaign Holidays'', the "spring" or "vernal" equinox is identified as the first day of [[spring]] on [[Growfest]] fourth.

However, in ''all other sources'',{{csb|Folio|4|}note=Table}}{{csb|WoG|5|Catalogue|note=Table}}{{csb|PG|13|note=Table}}{{csb|TAB|39|note=Table}}{{csb|LGG|2|note=Table}} spring begins in '''[[Readying]]'''{{csb|TAB|42|note="Readying 1st is the calendar date for spring's start."}}  (when there is no equinox).  Because there are five seasons, rather than four, Growfest is celebrated ''after'' the end of spring and at the beginning of low summer.{{csb|Folio|4|}note=Table}}{{csb|WoG|5|Catalogue|note=Table}}{{csb|PG|13|note=Table}}{{csb|TAB|39|note=Table}}{{csb|LGG|2|note=Table}}{{csb|EttRoG|14}}<ref group="note" name="arrival">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".</ref>  Though "an" equinox would certainly be in Growfest, it would be neither a "spring" equinox nor the beginning of spring.  Festivals aren't associated with solstices and equinoxes in any other sources.<ref group="note" name="middle">Despite not being called solstices, Needfest and Richfest are held at "Midsummer" and "Midwinter" in the middle of those seasons (which are solstices by definition), while Brewfest (or the "Autumnal Equinox", as it is called in the ''Dragon Annual 1999'' article) is celebrated at the beginning of Fall, as would seem appropriate.</ref>

Because of this misattribution, it is speculated [[Springrite]] and the [[Spring Feast]] should be on Readying fourth at the beginning of Spring instead of Growfest fourth, 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.
{{Refbox-Greyhawk-Calendar}}

== References ==
=== Notes ===
<references group="note" />
=== Citations ===
<references />
=== Bibliography ===
*McComb, Colin. ''The Complete Book of Elves''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992. 
*[[Andy Miller|Miller, Andy]]. "Campaign Holidays." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]] Annual'' #4. Renton, WA: TSR, 1999 (pp. 18-19).
*[[Mona, Erik]]. ''River of Blood''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
*[[Moore, Roger E]]. ''[[The Adventure Begins]]''. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998. 
{{index}}


[[Category:Holidays]]
[[Category:Festivals]]