Winter solstice
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The winter solstice on Oerth occurs on the 4th of Needfest.
The night of the winter solstice is called Midwinter Night,[1] also known as Dark Time,[1][2], Dim Night(s),[1][2][3] and Handmaiden's Glory. It is this night when Luna is completely dark and only Celene is visible in the sky. It is the longest night of the year.
Not to be confused with Dark Night.
Holidays and observances
- Breadgiving Day (Free City of Greyhawk, churches of Pelor, Rao, and Saint Cuthbert)
- Fist of Eternal Malachite (Hextor): Hextorians mark this day to celebrate either the victory of the House of Naelax during the Turmoil Between Crowns, or the victories of a local ruler.
- The Grand Administrative Council (Greyhawk): On this day, Greyhawk's Directing Oligarchy meets with the city's petty nobles.
- Yeartide (elves): The elves believe on this day the earth is purified beneath her blanket of snow. They observe the date with quiet meditation of the past year and on things to come.
- Clerics of Celestian conduct all-night services of moonwatching and stargazing on Midwinter Night.
- Clerics of Garyx celebrate All-Consuming Night on the winter solstice.
- Midwinter Night is also considered holy by followers of Kurell.
- Troglodyte shamans perform the rites to placate their ever-ravenous god, Laogzed, on this day.
- Treasures are offered to the orcish goddess Luthic on the winter solstice.
- The winter solstice is also a holy day for the frost giant god Thrym.
- Graverending is celebrated by Drow worshippers of Kiaransali on the eve of winter solstice.
- Grimtidings is celebrated by Duergar worshippers of Laduguer.
- This night is holy to Orc worshippers of |Luthic.
See Also
See also the related other seasonal events:
Calendar
| Starday | Sunday | Moonday | Godsday | Waterday | Earthday | Freeday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4  Winter solstice |
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 c Dragon #68 (Dec 1982), p.44.
- ↑ a b World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983), p.20, Glossography.
- ↑ The Adventure Begins (1998), p.40.
Bibliography
- McComb, Colin. The Complete Book of Elves. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
- 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: Wizards of the Coast, 1999 (pp. 18-19).
- Moore, Roger E. The Adventure Begins. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
- Reynolds, Sean K. "Core Beliefs: Pelor." Dragon #346. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
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
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midwinter Day | Calendar | Dragon magazine #351 | 67 | |
| Midwinter Day | Calendar | Dragon magazine #356 | 46 | |
| Midwinter Night {Handmaiden's Glory, Dim Night, Dark Time} | Calendar | Dragon magazine #068 | 44 | |
| Midwinter Night {Handmaiden's Glory, Dim Night, Dark Time} | Calendar | Dragon magazine #263 | 51 | |
| Midwinter Night {Handmaiden's Glory, Dim Night, Dark Time} | Calendar | Dragon magazine #AN4 | 19 | |
| Midwinter Night {Handmaiden's Glory, Dim Night, Dark Time} | Calendar | Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e | 16 | |
| Midwinter Night {Handmaiden's Glory, Dim Night, Dark Time} | Calendar | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 14 | |
| Midwinter Night {Handmaiden's Glory, Dim Night, Dark Time} | Calendar | The Adventure Begins | 40 | |
| Midwinter Night {Handmaiden's Glory, Dim Night, Dark Time} | Calendar | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 20 |