Post by sweetlarma on Jul 7, 2007 11:50:17 GMT -5
A Gorean Calendar with Earth equivalents~
Month of En'Kara (The First Turning)~
First Hand March 21-March 25
Second Hand March 26-March 30
Third Hand March 31-April 4
Fourth Hand April 5-April 9
Fifth Hand April 10-April 14
First Passage Hand April 15-April 19
Fair of En Kara
"Months names differ, unfortunately, from city to city, but, among the civilized cities, there are four months, associated with the equinoxes and solstices, and the great fairs at the Sardar, which do have common names, the months of En Kara, or En'Kara-Lar-Torvis; En'Var, or En'var-Lar-Torvis; Se'Kara, or Se'Kara-Lar-Torvis; and Se'Var, or Se'Var-lar-Torvis. "
~Assassin of Gor, page 78~
"It was now the month of the vernal equinox on Gor, called En'Kara, or the First Kara. The full expression is En'Kara-Lar-Torvis, which means, rather literally, The First Turning of the Central Fire. Lar-Torvis is a Gorean expression for the sun. More commonly, though never in the context of time, the sun is referred to as Tor-tu-Gor, or light Upon the Home Stone.
~Outlaw of Gor, page 178~
"It was now near the end of the first passage hand, that following En'Kara, in which occurs the Spring Equinox. The Spring Equinox, in Port Kar, as well as in most other Gorean cities, marks the New Year."
~Raiders of Gor, page 126~
Procession to the Sea
.....in the annual Procession to the Sea, which takes place on the first of En'Kara, the Gorean New Year."
~Raiders of Gor, page 134~
The Gorean New Year
Almost all doors, including that of the House of Cernus, had nailed to them some branches of the Brak Bush, the leaves of which, when chewed, have a purgative effect. It is thought that the pitch and the branches of the Brak Bush discourage the entry of bad luck into the houses of the citizens. During the days of the Waiting Hand, the streets are almost deserted, and in the Houses there is much fasting, and little conversation, and no song. Rations even in the House of Cernus are halved during this period. Paga and Ka-la-na were not served. Then at the dawn, on the first day of En'Kara, in the name of the city, the Administrator of Ar, or a Ubar if it be Ubar, greets the sun, welcoming it to Ar on the first day of the New Year. The great bars suspended about the walls of the city then ring out for more than an Ahn with their din, and the doors of the city burst open and the people crowd out onto the bridges, clad in the splendor of their finest, singing and laughing. The doors are painted green and the pitch washed away, and the branches of the Brak Bush burned in a small ceremony on the threshold. There are processions n the city that day, and songfests, and tournaments of the game, and recitations by poets, and contests and exhibitions. "
~Assassin of Gor, pages 211 & 212~
The Return to Turia
"...the Wagon Peoples calculate the year from the Season of Snows to the Season of Snows; Turians, incidentally, figure the year from summer solstice to summer solstice; Goreans generally, on the other hand, figure the year from vernal equinox to vernal equinox, their new year beginning, like nature's, with the spring; the Omen Year, or season, lasts several months, and consists of three phases, called the Passing of Turia, which takes place in the fall; the Wintering, which takes place north of Turia and commonly south of the Cartius, the equator of course lying to the north in this hemisphere; and the Return to Turia, in the spring, or, as the Wagon Peoples say, in the Season of Little Grass. It is near Turia, in the spring, that the Omen Year is completed, when the omens are taken, usually over several days."
~Nomads of Gor, page 11~
The Planting Feast of Sa-Tarna
"The Home Stone of a city is the center of various rituals. The next would be the Planting Feast of Sa-Tarna, The Life-Daughter, celebrated early in the growing season to insure a good harvest. This is a complex feast, celebrated by most Gorean cities, and the observances are numerous and intricate. The details of the rituals are arranged and mostly executed by the Initiates of a given city."
~Tarnsman of Gor, page 68~
The Second Month (Month of Hesius (Ar)
First Hand April 20-24
Second Hand April 25-29
Third Hand May 5-9
Fifth Hand May 10-14
Second Passage Hand May 15-19
Love War
The Wagon Peoples compete against the Warriors of Turia
The institution of Love War is an ancient one among the Turians and the Wagon Peoples, according to the Year Keepers antedating even the Omen Year. The games of Love War, of course, are celebrated every spring between so to speak, the city and the plains, whereas the Omen Year occurs only every tenth year. The games of Love War, in themselves, do not constitute a gathering of the Wagon Peoples, for normally the herds and the free women of the peoples do not approach one another at these times; only certain delegations of warriors, usually about two hundred from a people, are sent in the spring to the Plains of a Thousand Stakes.
The theoretical justification of the games of Love War, from the Turian point of view, is that they provide an excellent arena in which to demonstrate the fierceness and prowess of Turian warriors, thus perhaps intimating or, at the very least, encouraging the often overbold warriors of the Wagon Peoples to be wary of Turian steel. The secret justification, I suspect, however, is that the Turian warrior is fond of meeting the enemy and acquiring his women, particularly should they be striking little beasts.....
Judges were now circulating, each with lists, among the Wagon Peoples and the Turians.
As I knew, not just any girl, any more than just any warrior, could participate in the games of Love War. Only the most beautiful were eligible, and only the most beautiful of these could be chosen.....
The judges were now calling names, and girls, both of the Wagon Peoples and of Turia, were coming forward....
I looked up and down the lines of stakes. The girls of the Wagon Peoples stood proudly before their stakes, certain that their champions, whoever they were to be, would be victorious and return them to their peoples; the girls of the city of Turia stood also at their stakes, but with feigned indifference....
When more than one wish to fight for a given woman, incidentally, the Turians decide this by rank and prowess, the Wagon Peoples by scars and prowess....
~Nomads of Gor, pages 115 - 121~
Month of Camerius in Ar
First Hand May 20-24
Second Hand May 25-29
Third Hand May 30-June 3
Fourth Hand June 4-8
Fifth Hand June 9-13
Third Passage Hand June 14-18
Month of Selnar in Ko-ro-ba
"He did so late in the spring, on the sixteenth day of the third month, that month which in Ar is called Camerius, in Ko-ro-ba Selnar."
~Assassin of Gor, pages 234 & 235~
~Month OF En'Var~ (First Resting)
First Hand June 19-23
Second Hand June 24-28
Third Hand June 29-July 3
Fourth Hand July 4-8
Fifth Hand July 9-13
Fourth Passage Hand July 14-18
Sadar Fair of En'Var
"Months names differ, unfortunately, from city to city, but, among the civilized cities, there are four months, associated with the equinoxes and solstices, and the great fairs at the Sardar, which do have common names, the months of En Kara, or En'Kara-Lar-Torvis; En'Var, or En'var-Lar-Torvis; Se'Kara, or Se'Kara-Lar-Torvis; and Se'Var, or Se'Var-lar-Torvis. "
~Assassin of Gor, page 78~
"As might be expected there are related expressions for the months of the solstices, En'Var-Lar-Torvis and Se'Var-Lar-Torvis, or again, rather literally, the First Resting and the Second Resting of the Central Fire."
~Outlaw of Gor, page 178~
The Turian New Year
"...the Wagon Peoples calculate the year from the Season of Snows to the Season of Snows; Turians, incidentally, figure the year from summer solstice to summer solstice; Goreans generally, on the other hand, figure the year from vernal equinox to vernal equinox, their new year beginning, like nature's, with the spring; the Omen Year, or season, lasts several months, and consists of three phases, called the Passing of Turia, which takes place in the fall; the Wintering, which takes place north of Turia and commonly south of the Cartius, the equator of course lying to the north in this hemisphere; and the Return to Turia, in the spring, or, as the Wagon Peoples say, in the Season of Little Grass. It is near Turia, in the spring, that the Omen Year is completed, when the omens are taken, usually over several days."
~Nomads of Gor, page 11~
Fifth Month
First Hand July 19-23
Second Hand July 24-28
Third Hand July 29-August 2
Fourth Hand August 3-7
Fifth Hand August 8-12 Fifth Passage Hand August 13-17
The Kajuralia
"The Kajuralia, or Holiday of Slaves, or Festival of Slaves, occurs in most of the northern, civilized cities of known Gor once a year. The only exception to this that I know of is Port Kar, in the delta of the Vosk. The date of the Kajuralia, however, differs. Many cities celebrate it on the last day of the Twelfth Passage Hand, the day before the beginning of the Waiting Hand; in Ar, however, and certain other cities, it is celebrated on the last day of the fifth month, which is the day preceding the Love Feast."
~Assassin of Gor, page 229~
Love Feast
The five days of the fifth passage hand. It is a time of feasts and races and games. It is also a very big time in the sale of slaves from the Curulean in Ar.
"On the other hand, the single greatest period for the sale of slaves is the five days of the Fifth Passage Hand, coming late in the summer, called jointly, the Love Feast.....It is thought to be good luck to buy a girl on that feast, so prices tend to be high"
~Assassin of Gor, page 193~
"The Love Feast, incidentally, as I may have mentioned, occupies the full five days of the Fifth Passage Hand, occurring late in the summer. It is also a time of great feasting, of races and games.....The evening of the fourth day of the Love Feast is usually taken as its climax from the point of view of slave sales. The fifth day, special races and games are celebrated, regarded by many Goreans as a fitting consummation of the holidays. These games are among the most heavily attended and important of the year."
~Assassin of Gor, page 281~
Sixth Month
First Hand August 18-22
Second Hand August 23-27
Third Hand August 28-September 1
Fourth Hand September 2-6
Fifth Hand September 7-11
Sixth Passage Hand September 12-16
Month of Se'Kara (The Second Turning)
First Hand September 17-21
Second Hand September 22-26
Third Hand September 27-Oct 1
Fourth Hand October 2-6
Fifth Hand October 7-11 Seventh Passage Hand October 12-16
Fair of Se'Kara
"The month of the autumnual equinox is called fully Se'Kara-Lar-Torvis, but unusually simply Se'Kara, The Second Kara, or the Second Turning.
~Outlaw of Gor, page 178~
"Months names differ, unfortunately, from city to city, but, among the civilized cities, there are four months, associated with the equinoxes and solstices, and the great fairs at the Sardar, which do have common names, the months of En Kara, or En'Kara-Lar-Torvis; En'Var, or En'var-Lar-Torvis; Se'Kara, or Se'Kara-Lar-Torvis; and Se'Var, or Se'Var-lar-Torvis. "
~Assassin of Gor, page 78~
Omen Year and the Passing of Turia
"...the Wagon Peoples calculate the year from the Season of Snows to the Season of Snows; Turians, incidentally, figure the year from summer solstice to summer solstice; Goreans generally, on the other hand, figure the year from vernal equinox to vernal equinox, their new year beginning, like nature's, with the spring; the Omen Yeaar, or season, lasts several months, and consists of three phases, called the Passing of Turia, which takes place in the fall; the Wintering, which takes place north of Turia and commonly south of the Cartius, the equator of course lying to the north in this hemisphere; and the Return to Turia, in the spring, or, as the Wagon Peoples say, in the Season of Little Grass. It is near Turia, in the spring, that the Omen Year is completed, when the omens are taken, usually over several days."
~Nomads of Gor, page 11~
Eighth Month
First Hand October 17-21
Second Hand October 22-26
Third Hand October 27-31 Fourth Hand November 1-5
Fifth Hand November 6-10
Eighth Passage Hand November 11-15
Ninth Month
First Hand November 16-20 Second Hand November 21-25
Third Hand November 26-30
Fourth Hand December 1-5
Fifth Hand December 6-10
Ninth Passage Hand December 11-15
Month of Se'var (The Second Resting)
First Hand December 16-20
Second Hand December 21-25
Third Hand December 26-30
Fourth Hand December 31-January 4
Fifth Hand January 5-9
Tenth Passage Hand January 10-14
The Fair of Se'Var
"Months names differ, unfortunately, from city to city, but, among the civilized cities, there are four months, associated with the equinoxes and solstices, and the great fairs at the Sardar, which do have common names, the months of En Kara, or En'Kara-Lar-Torvis; En'Var, or En'var-Lar-Torvis; Se'Kara, or Se'Kara-Lar-Torvis; and Se'Var, or Se'Var-lar-Torvis. "
~Assassin of Gor, page 78~
As might be expected there are related expressions for the months of the solstices, En'Var-Lar-Torvis and Se'Var-Lar-Torvis, or again, rather literally, the First Resting and the Second Resting of the Central Fire."
~Outlaw of Gor, page 178~
"These men....had come for the autumn fair, the Fair of Se'Var, which was just being set up at the time of the gravitational lessening."
~Priest-Kings of Gor, page 309~
New Year (Wagon Peoples)
"...the Wagon Peoples calculate the year from the Season of Snows to the Season of Snows; Turians, incidentally, figure the year from summer solstice to summer solstice; Goreans generally, on the other hand, figure the year from vernal equinox to vernal equinox, their new year beginning, like nature's, with the spring; the Omen Yeaar, or season, lasts several months, and consists of three phases, called the Passing of Turia, which takes place in the fall; the Wintering, which takes place north of Turia and commonly south of the Cartius, the equator of course lying to the north in this hemisphere; and the Return to Turia, in the spring, or, as the Wagon Peoples say, in the Season of Little Grass. It is near Turia, in the spring, that the Omen Year is completed, when the omens are taken, usually over several days."
~Nomads of Gor, page 11~
Eleventh Month
First Hand January 15-19
Second Hand January 20-24
Third Hand January 25-29
Fourth Hand January 30-Febuary 3
Fifth Hand February 4-8
Eleventh Passage Hand February 9-13
Twelfth Month
First Hand February 14-18
Second Hand February 19-23
Third Hand February 24-28
Fourth Hand March 1-5
Fifth Hand March 6-10
Twelfth Passage Hand March 11-15
Kajurlia
"The Kajuralia, or Holiday of Slaves, or Festival of Slaves, occurs in most of the northern, civilized cities of known Gor once a year. The only exception to this that I know of is Port Kar, in the delta of the Vosk. The date of the Kajuralia, however, differs. Many cities celebrate it on the last day of the Twelfth Passage Hand, the day before the beginning of the Waiting Hand; in Ar, however, and certain other cities, it is celebrated on the last day of the fifth month, which is the day preceding the Love Feast."
~Assassin of Gor, page 229~
The Waiting Hand
The Waiting Hand March 16-20
The Waiting Hand
There are twelve twenty-five day Gorean months, incidentally, in most of the calendars of the various cities. Each month, containing five five-day weeks is separated by a five-day period, called the Passage Hand, from every other month, there being one exception to this, which is that the last month of the year is separated from the first month of the year, which begins with the Vernal Equinox, not only by a Passage Hand, but by another five day period called the Waiting Hand during which doorways are painted white, little food is eaten, little is drunk and there is to be no singing or public rejoicing in the city; during this time Goreans go out as little as possible; the Initiates, interestingly enough, do not make much out of the Waiting Hand in their ceremonies and preachments, which leads one to believe it is not intended to be any sort of religious significance; it is perhaps, in its way, a period of mourning for the old year......but on the Vernal Equinox, which marks the first day of the New Year in most Gorean cities, there is great rejoicing; the doorways are painted green, and there is song on the bridges, games, contests, visitings of friends and much feasting, which lasts for the first ten days of the first month, thereby doubling the period taken in the Waiting Hand. Months names differ, unfortunately, from city to city, but, among the civilized cities, there are four months, associates with the equinoxes and solstices, and the great fairs at the Sardar, which do have common names, the months of En Kara, or En'Kara-Lar-Torvis; En'Var, or En'var-Lar-Torvis; Se'Kara, or Se'Kara-Lar-Torvis; and Se'Var, or Se'Var-lar-Torvis. "
~Assassin of Gor, page 78~
"Almost all doors, including that of the House of Cernus, had nailed to them some branches of the Brak Bush, the leaves of which, when chewed, have a purgative effect. It is thought that the pitch and the branches of the Brak Bush discourage the entry of bad luck into the houses of the citizens. During the days of the Waiting Hand, the streets are almost deserted, and in the Houses there is much fasting, and little conversation, and no song. Rations even in the House of Cernus are halved during this period. Paga and Ka-la-na were not served
~Assassin of Gor, pages 211 & 212~
Priest-King's Festivals
"None may see the Mother save her caste attendants and the High Priest-Kings," said Sarm, "the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Born."
"Except on the three great holidays," said Misk.
"What are the three great holidays?" I asked.
"The Nest Feast Cycle," said Misk, "Tola, Tolam and Tolama."
"What are these feasts?" I asked.
"They are the Anniversary of the Nuptial Flight," said Misk, "the Feast of the Deposition of the First Egg and the Celebration of the Hatching of the First Egg."
~Priest-Kings of Gor, page 87~
Month of En'Kara (The First Turning)~
First Hand March 21-March 25
Second Hand March 26-March 30
Third Hand March 31-April 4
Fourth Hand April 5-April 9
Fifth Hand April 10-April 14
First Passage Hand April 15-April 19
Fair of En Kara
"Months names differ, unfortunately, from city to city, but, among the civilized cities, there are four months, associated with the equinoxes and solstices, and the great fairs at the Sardar, which do have common names, the months of En Kara, or En'Kara-Lar-Torvis; En'Var, or En'var-Lar-Torvis; Se'Kara, or Se'Kara-Lar-Torvis; and Se'Var, or Se'Var-lar-Torvis. "
~Assassin of Gor, page 78~
"It was now the month of the vernal equinox on Gor, called En'Kara, or the First Kara. The full expression is En'Kara-Lar-Torvis, which means, rather literally, The First Turning of the Central Fire. Lar-Torvis is a Gorean expression for the sun. More commonly, though never in the context of time, the sun is referred to as Tor-tu-Gor, or light Upon the Home Stone.
~Outlaw of Gor, page 178~
"It was now near the end of the first passage hand, that following En'Kara, in which occurs the Spring Equinox. The Spring Equinox, in Port Kar, as well as in most other Gorean cities, marks the New Year."
~Raiders of Gor, page 126~
Procession to the Sea
.....in the annual Procession to the Sea, which takes place on the first of En'Kara, the Gorean New Year."
~Raiders of Gor, page 134~
The Gorean New Year
Almost all doors, including that of the House of Cernus, had nailed to them some branches of the Brak Bush, the leaves of which, when chewed, have a purgative effect. It is thought that the pitch and the branches of the Brak Bush discourage the entry of bad luck into the houses of the citizens. During the days of the Waiting Hand, the streets are almost deserted, and in the Houses there is much fasting, and little conversation, and no song. Rations even in the House of Cernus are halved during this period. Paga and Ka-la-na were not served. Then at the dawn, on the first day of En'Kara, in the name of the city, the Administrator of Ar, or a Ubar if it be Ubar, greets the sun, welcoming it to Ar on the first day of the New Year. The great bars suspended about the walls of the city then ring out for more than an Ahn with their din, and the doors of the city burst open and the people crowd out onto the bridges, clad in the splendor of their finest, singing and laughing. The doors are painted green and the pitch washed away, and the branches of the Brak Bush burned in a small ceremony on the threshold. There are processions n the city that day, and songfests, and tournaments of the game, and recitations by poets, and contests and exhibitions. "
~Assassin of Gor, pages 211 & 212~
The Return to Turia
"...the Wagon Peoples calculate the year from the Season of Snows to the Season of Snows; Turians, incidentally, figure the year from summer solstice to summer solstice; Goreans generally, on the other hand, figure the year from vernal equinox to vernal equinox, their new year beginning, like nature's, with the spring; the Omen Year, or season, lasts several months, and consists of three phases, called the Passing of Turia, which takes place in the fall; the Wintering, which takes place north of Turia and commonly south of the Cartius, the equator of course lying to the north in this hemisphere; and the Return to Turia, in the spring, or, as the Wagon Peoples say, in the Season of Little Grass. It is near Turia, in the spring, that the Omen Year is completed, when the omens are taken, usually over several days."
~Nomads of Gor, page 11~
The Planting Feast of Sa-Tarna
"The Home Stone of a city is the center of various rituals. The next would be the Planting Feast of Sa-Tarna, The Life-Daughter, celebrated early in the growing season to insure a good harvest. This is a complex feast, celebrated by most Gorean cities, and the observances are numerous and intricate. The details of the rituals are arranged and mostly executed by the Initiates of a given city."
~Tarnsman of Gor, page 68~
The Second Month (Month of Hesius (Ar)
First Hand April 20-24
Second Hand April 25-29
Third Hand May 5-9
Fifth Hand May 10-14
Second Passage Hand May 15-19
Love War
The Wagon Peoples compete against the Warriors of Turia
The institution of Love War is an ancient one among the Turians and the Wagon Peoples, according to the Year Keepers antedating even the Omen Year. The games of Love War, of course, are celebrated every spring between so to speak, the city and the plains, whereas the Omen Year occurs only every tenth year. The games of Love War, in themselves, do not constitute a gathering of the Wagon Peoples, for normally the herds and the free women of the peoples do not approach one another at these times; only certain delegations of warriors, usually about two hundred from a people, are sent in the spring to the Plains of a Thousand Stakes.
The theoretical justification of the games of Love War, from the Turian point of view, is that they provide an excellent arena in which to demonstrate the fierceness and prowess of Turian warriors, thus perhaps intimating or, at the very least, encouraging the often overbold warriors of the Wagon Peoples to be wary of Turian steel. The secret justification, I suspect, however, is that the Turian warrior is fond of meeting the enemy and acquiring his women, particularly should they be striking little beasts.....
Judges were now circulating, each with lists, among the Wagon Peoples and the Turians.
As I knew, not just any girl, any more than just any warrior, could participate in the games of Love War. Only the most beautiful were eligible, and only the most beautiful of these could be chosen.....
The judges were now calling names, and girls, both of the Wagon Peoples and of Turia, were coming forward....
I looked up and down the lines of stakes. The girls of the Wagon Peoples stood proudly before their stakes, certain that their champions, whoever they were to be, would be victorious and return them to their peoples; the girls of the city of Turia stood also at their stakes, but with feigned indifference....
When more than one wish to fight for a given woman, incidentally, the Turians decide this by rank and prowess, the Wagon Peoples by scars and prowess....
~Nomads of Gor, pages 115 - 121~
Month of Camerius in Ar
First Hand May 20-24
Second Hand May 25-29
Third Hand May 30-June 3
Fourth Hand June 4-8
Fifth Hand June 9-13
Third Passage Hand June 14-18
Month of Selnar in Ko-ro-ba
"He did so late in the spring, on the sixteenth day of the third month, that month which in Ar is called Camerius, in Ko-ro-ba Selnar."
~Assassin of Gor, pages 234 & 235~
~Month OF En'Var~ (First Resting)
First Hand June 19-23
Second Hand June 24-28
Third Hand June 29-July 3
Fourth Hand July 4-8
Fifth Hand July 9-13
Fourth Passage Hand July 14-18
Sadar Fair of En'Var
"Months names differ, unfortunately, from city to city, but, among the civilized cities, there are four months, associated with the equinoxes and solstices, and the great fairs at the Sardar, which do have common names, the months of En Kara, or En'Kara-Lar-Torvis; En'Var, or En'var-Lar-Torvis; Se'Kara, or Se'Kara-Lar-Torvis; and Se'Var, or Se'Var-lar-Torvis. "
~Assassin of Gor, page 78~
"As might be expected there are related expressions for the months of the solstices, En'Var-Lar-Torvis and Se'Var-Lar-Torvis, or again, rather literally, the First Resting and the Second Resting of the Central Fire."
~Outlaw of Gor, page 178~
The Turian New Year
"...the Wagon Peoples calculate the year from the Season of Snows to the Season of Snows; Turians, incidentally, figure the year from summer solstice to summer solstice; Goreans generally, on the other hand, figure the year from vernal equinox to vernal equinox, their new year beginning, like nature's, with the spring; the Omen Year, or season, lasts several months, and consists of three phases, called the Passing of Turia, which takes place in the fall; the Wintering, which takes place north of Turia and commonly south of the Cartius, the equator of course lying to the north in this hemisphere; and the Return to Turia, in the spring, or, as the Wagon Peoples say, in the Season of Little Grass. It is near Turia, in the spring, that the Omen Year is completed, when the omens are taken, usually over several days."
~Nomads of Gor, page 11~
Fifth Month
First Hand July 19-23
Second Hand July 24-28
Third Hand July 29-August 2
Fourth Hand August 3-7
Fifth Hand August 8-12 Fifth Passage Hand August 13-17
The Kajuralia
"The Kajuralia, or Holiday of Slaves, or Festival of Slaves, occurs in most of the northern, civilized cities of known Gor once a year. The only exception to this that I know of is Port Kar, in the delta of the Vosk. The date of the Kajuralia, however, differs. Many cities celebrate it on the last day of the Twelfth Passage Hand, the day before the beginning of the Waiting Hand; in Ar, however, and certain other cities, it is celebrated on the last day of the fifth month, which is the day preceding the Love Feast."
~Assassin of Gor, page 229~
Love Feast
The five days of the fifth passage hand. It is a time of feasts and races and games. It is also a very big time in the sale of slaves from the Curulean in Ar.
"On the other hand, the single greatest period for the sale of slaves is the five days of the Fifth Passage Hand, coming late in the summer, called jointly, the Love Feast.....It is thought to be good luck to buy a girl on that feast, so prices tend to be high"
~Assassin of Gor, page 193~
"The Love Feast, incidentally, as I may have mentioned, occupies the full five days of the Fifth Passage Hand, occurring late in the summer. It is also a time of great feasting, of races and games.....The evening of the fourth day of the Love Feast is usually taken as its climax from the point of view of slave sales. The fifth day, special races and games are celebrated, regarded by many Goreans as a fitting consummation of the holidays. These games are among the most heavily attended and important of the year."
~Assassin of Gor, page 281~
Sixth Month
First Hand August 18-22
Second Hand August 23-27
Third Hand August 28-September 1
Fourth Hand September 2-6
Fifth Hand September 7-11
Sixth Passage Hand September 12-16
Month of Se'Kara (The Second Turning)
First Hand September 17-21
Second Hand September 22-26
Third Hand September 27-Oct 1
Fourth Hand October 2-6
Fifth Hand October 7-11 Seventh Passage Hand October 12-16
Fair of Se'Kara
"The month of the autumnual equinox is called fully Se'Kara-Lar-Torvis, but unusually simply Se'Kara, The Second Kara, or the Second Turning.
~Outlaw of Gor, page 178~
"Months names differ, unfortunately, from city to city, but, among the civilized cities, there are four months, associated with the equinoxes and solstices, and the great fairs at the Sardar, which do have common names, the months of En Kara, or En'Kara-Lar-Torvis; En'Var, or En'var-Lar-Torvis; Se'Kara, or Se'Kara-Lar-Torvis; and Se'Var, or Se'Var-lar-Torvis. "
~Assassin of Gor, page 78~
Omen Year and the Passing of Turia
"...the Wagon Peoples calculate the year from the Season of Snows to the Season of Snows; Turians, incidentally, figure the year from summer solstice to summer solstice; Goreans generally, on the other hand, figure the year from vernal equinox to vernal equinox, their new year beginning, like nature's, with the spring; the Omen Yeaar, or season, lasts several months, and consists of three phases, called the Passing of Turia, which takes place in the fall; the Wintering, which takes place north of Turia and commonly south of the Cartius, the equator of course lying to the north in this hemisphere; and the Return to Turia, in the spring, or, as the Wagon Peoples say, in the Season of Little Grass. It is near Turia, in the spring, that the Omen Year is completed, when the omens are taken, usually over several days."
~Nomads of Gor, page 11~
Eighth Month
First Hand October 17-21
Second Hand October 22-26
Third Hand October 27-31 Fourth Hand November 1-5
Fifth Hand November 6-10
Eighth Passage Hand November 11-15
Ninth Month
First Hand November 16-20 Second Hand November 21-25
Third Hand November 26-30
Fourth Hand December 1-5
Fifth Hand December 6-10
Ninth Passage Hand December 11-15
Month of Se'var (The Second Resting)
First Hand December 16-20
Second Hand December 21-25
Third Hand December 26-30
Fourth Hand December 31-January 4
Fifth Hand January 5-9
Tenth Passage Hand January 10-14
The Fair of Se'Var
"Months names differ, unfortunately, from city to city, but, among the civilized cities, there are four months, associated with the equinoxes and solstices, and the great fairs at the Sardar, which do have common names, the months of En Kara, or En'Kara-Lar-Torvis; En'Var, or En'var-Lar-Torvis; Se'Kara, or Se'Kara-Lar-Torvis; and Se'Var, or Se'Var-lar-Torvis. "
~Assassin of Gor, page 78~
As might be expected there are related expressions for the months of the solstices, En'Var-Lar-Torvis and Se'Var-Lar-Torvis, or again, rather literally, the First Resting and the Second Resting of the Central Fire."
~Outlaw of Gor, page 178~
"These men....had come for the autumn fair, the Fair of Se'Var, which was just being set up at the time of the gravitational lessening."
~Priest-Kings of Gor, page 309~
New Year (Wagon Peoples)
"...the Wagon Peoples calculate the year from the Season of Snows to the Season of Snows; Turians, incidentally, figure the year from summer solstice to summer solstice; Goreans generally, on the other hand, figure the year from vernal equinox to vernal equinox, their new year beginning, like nature's, with the spring; the Omen Yeaar, or season, lasts several months, and consists of three phases, called the Passing of Turia, which takes place in the fall; the Wintering, which takes place north of Turia and commonly south of the Cartius, the equator of course lying to the north in this hemisphere; and the Return to Turia, in the spring, or, as the Wagon Peoples say, in the Season of Little Grass. It is near Turia, in the spring, that the Omen Year is completed, when the omens are taken, usually over several days."
~Nomads of Gor, page 11~
Eleventh Month
First Hand January 15-19
Second Hand January 20-24
Third Hand January 25-29
Fourth Hand January 30-Febuary 3
Fifth Hand February 4-8
Eleventh Passage Hand February 9-13
Twelfth Month
First Hand February 14-18
Second Hand February 19-23
Third Hand February 24-28
Fourth Hand March 1-5
Fifth Hand March 6-10
Twelfth Passage Hand March 11-15
Kajurlia
"The Kajuralia, or Holiday of Slaves, or Festival of Slaves, occurs in most of the northern, civilized cities of known Gor once a year. The only exception to this that I know of is Port Kar, in the delta of the Vosk. The date of the Kajuralia, however, differs. Many cities celebrate it on the last day of the Twelfth Passage Hand, the day before the beginning of the Waiting Hand; in Ar, however, and certain other cities, it is celebrated on the last day of the fifth month, which is the day preceding the Love Feast."
~Assassin of Gor, page 229~
The Waiting Hand
The Waiting Hand March 16-20
The Waiting Hand
There are twelve twenty-five day Gorean months, incidentally, in most of the calendars of the various cities. Each month, containing five five-day weeks is separated by a five-day period, called the Passage Hand, from every other month, there being one exception to this, which is that the last month of the year is separated from the first month of the year, which begins with the Vernal Equinox, not only by a Passage Hand, but by another five day period called the Waiting Hand during which doorways are painted white, little food is eaten, little is drunk and there is to be no singing or public rejoicing in the city; during this time Goreans go out as little as possible; the Initiates, interestingly enough, do not make much out of the Waiting Hand in their ceremonies and preachments, which leads one to believe it is not intended to be any sort of religious significance; it is perhaps, in its way, a period of mourning for the old year......but on the Vernal Equinox, which marks the first day of the New Year in most Gorean cities, there is great rejoicing; the doorways are painted green, and there is song on the bridges, games, contests, visitings of friends and much feasting, which lasts for the first ten days of the first month, thereby doubling the period taken in the Waiting Hand. Months names differ, unfortunately, from city to city, but, among the civilized cities, there are four months, associates with the equinoxes and solstices, and the great fairs at the Sardar, which do have common names, the months of En Kara, or En'Kara-Lar-Torvis; En'Var, or En'var-Lar-Torvis; Se'Kara, or Se'Kara-Lar-Torvis; and Se'Var, or Se'Var-lar-Torvis. "
~Assassin of Gor, page 78~
"Almost all doors, including that of the House of Cernus, had nailed to them some branches of the Brak Bush, the leaves of which, when chewed, have a purgative effect. It is thought that the pitch and the branches of the Brak Bush discourage the entry of bad luck into the houses of the citizens. During the days of the Waiting Hand, the streets are almost deserted, and in the Houses there is much fasting, and little conversation, and no song. Rations even in the House of Cernus are halved during this period. Paga and Ka-la-na were not served
~Assassin of Gor, pages 211 & 212~
Priest-King's Festivals
"None may see the Mother save her caste attendants and the High Priest-Kings," said Sarm, "the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Born."
"Except on the three great holidays," said Misk.
"What are the three great holidays?" I asked.
"The Nest Feast Cycle," said Misk, "Tola, Tolam and Tolama."
"What are these feasts?" I asked.
"They are the Anniversary of the Nuptial Flight," said Misk, "the Feast of the Deposition of the First Egg and the Celebration of the Hatching of the First Egg."
~Priest-Kings of Gor, page 87~
