The Gorean year consists of 12 months
The Gorean month consists of 5 hands
The Gorean hand consists of 5 days (hand = week)
The Gorean day consists of 20 ahn (ahn = hour)
The Gorean ahn consists of 40 ehn (ehn = minute)
The Gorean ehn consists of 80 ihn (ihn = second)
PASSAGE HAND
Five days that follow each month that marks the passage from one month to the next.
WAITING HAND
The 5-day period between the 12th Passage Hand and the beginning of the New Year, which begins on the Vernal Equinox.
At the end of the twelfth Gorean month is a 5 day waiting hand, during which the passing of the old year is mourned.
THE EXTRA DAY
Every fourth year the New Year is celebrated on the extra day which occurs between the Waiting Hand and the day of the equinox. 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).
MONTH OF EN'KARA (The First Turning)
that of the vernal equinox, which is the Gorean new year; roughly equivalent to the Earth calendar month of March
Mar 21 - Mar 25 First Hand
Mar 26 - Mar 30 Second Hand
Mar 31 - Apr 4 Third Hand
Apr 5 - Apr 9 Fourth Hand
Apr 10 - Apr 14 Fifth Hand
Apr 15 - Apr 19 First Passage Hand
MONTH OF HESIUS
Apr 20 - Apr 24 First Hand
Apr 25 - Apr 29 Second Hand
Apr 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 - Jun 3 Third Hand
Jun 4 - Jun 8 Fourth Hand
Jun 9 - Jun 13 Fifth Hand
Jun 14 - Jun 18 Third Passage Hand
MONTH OF EN`VAR (The First Resting)
that of the summer solstice, roughly equivalent with the Earth calendar month of June.
Jun 19 - Jun 23 First Hand
Jun 24 - Jun 28 Second Hand
Jun 29 - Jul 3 Third Hand
Jul 4 - Jul 8 Fourth Hand
Jul 9 - Jul 13 Fifth Hand
Jul 14 - Jul 18 Fourth Passage Hand
FIFTH MONTH
Jul 19 - Jul 23 First Hand
Jul 24 - Jul 28 Second Hand
Jul 29 - Aug 2 Third Hand
Aug 3 - Aug 7 Fourth Hand
Aug 8 - Aug 12 Fifth Hand
Aug 13 - Aug 17 Fifth Passage Hand
SIXTH MONTH
Aug 18 - Aug 22 First Hand
Aug 23 - Aug 27 Second Hand
Aug 28 - Sep 1 Third Hand
Sep 2 - Sep 6 Fourth Hand
Sep 7 - Sep 11 Fifth Hand
Sep 12 - Sep 16 Sixth Passage Hand
MONTH OF SE'KARA (The Second Turning)
that of the autumnal equinox, roughly equivalent to the Earth calendar month of September
Sep 17 - Sep 21 First Hand
Sep 22 - Sep 26 Second Hand
Sep 27 - Oct 1 Third Hand
Oct 2 - Oct 6 Fourth Hand
Oct 7 - Oct 11 Fifth Hand
Oct 12 - Oct 16 Seventh Passage Hand
EIGHTH MONTH
Oct 17 - Oct 21 First Hand
Oct 22 - Oct 26 Second Hand
Oct 27 - Oct 31 Third Hand
Nov 1 - Nov 5 Fourth Hand
Nov 6 - Nov 10 Fifth Hand
Nov 11 - Nov 15 Eighth Passage Hand
NINTH MONTH
Nov 16 - Nov 20 First Hand
Nov 21 - Nov 25 Second Hand
Nov 26 - Nov 30 Third Hand
Dec 1 - Dec 5 Fourth Hand
Dec 6 - Dec 10 Fifth Hand
Dec 11 - Dec 15 Ninth Passage Hand
MONTH OF SE`VAR (The Second Resting)
that of the winter solstice, roughly equivalent with the Earth calendar month of December
Dec 16 - Dec 20 First Hand
Dec 21 - Dec 25 Second Hand
Dec 26 - Dec 30 Third Hand
Dec 31 - Jan 4 Fourth Hand
Jan 5 - Jan 9 Fifth Hand
Jan 10 - Jan 14 Tenth Passage Hand
ELEVENTH MONTH
Jan 15 - Jan 19 First Hand
Jan 20 - Jan 24 Second Hand
Jan 25 - Jan 29 Third Hand
Jan 30 - Feb 3 Fourth Hand
Feb 4 - Feb 8 Fifth Hand
Feb 9 - Feb 13 Eleventh Passage Hand
TWELFTH MONTH
Feb 14 - Feb 18 First Hand
Feb 19 - Feb 23 Second Hand
Feb 24 - Feb 28 Third Hand
Mar 1 - Mar 5 Fourth Hand
Mar 6 - Mar 10 Fifth Hand
Mar 11 - Mar 15 Twelfth Passage Hand
Mar 16 - Mar 20 The Waiting Hand
Gorean compared to Earth
12 months x 5 hands = 300 days
12 passage hands x 5 days = 60 days
the waiting hand = 5 days
300 days + 60 days + 5 days = 365 days
The day between the Waiting Hand and the day of the equinox = Leap Year:
300 days + 60 days + 5 days + 1 = 366 days
SARDAR FAIRS - THE FAIR OF EN'KARA (March 21st-March 30th)
The Gorean equivalent of the World's Fair on Earth, the first of four huge trade fairs held quarterly in the shadow of the Sardar Mountain Range. During the time of the Sardar Fairs the area is neutral territory, no one may be enslaved at the Fair, however; kaijirii captured outside of the Fair territory may be sold. No blood may be spilled. The Fairs serves as a trading point for information and merchandise. 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. The fairs typically last ten full days and are scheduled to coincide with the solstices and equinoxes.
THE RETURN TO TURIA (March 30th)
The last day of the Second Hand of En'Kara 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.
THE PLANTING FEAST OF SA-TARNA (April 16th-18th)
A complex feast celebrated by most Gorean cities early during the growing season, and believed by many to ensure a rich harvest for the year ahead. Numerous rituals are performed during the three days of the feast 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.
GAMES OF LOVE WARS (May 15th-19th)
The Wagon People compete against the Warriors of Turia on the Plain of Stakes during the Second Passage Hand in mid-spring, participating in various challenges and ceremonial-combats in order to exchange FreeWomen for slaves.
TURIAN NEW YEAR (June 21st)
The people of Turia and other southern regions celebrate their own new year on the day of the Summer Solstice. A ten day period of revelry follows, similar to the New Year celebrations in northern cities.
SARDAR FAIR - The Fair of En`Var (June 19th-June 28th)
The Gorean equivalent of the World's Fair on Earth, the second of four huge trade fairs held quarterly in the shadow of the Sardar Mountain Range. During the time of the Sardar Fairs the area is neutral territory, no one may be enslaved at the Fair, however; kaijirii captured outside of the Fair territory may be sold. No blood may be spilled. The Fairs serves as a trading point for information and merchandise. 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. The fairs typically last ten full days and are scheduled to coincide with the solstices and equinoxes.
KAJURALIA (August 12th)
A festival, similar to the Feast of Fools, is which slaves trade places with their masters and have much freedom to play tricks on free persons; celebrated in most cities on the last day of the 12th Passage Hand(March15th), but in Ar and some other cities on the last day of the 5th month, the day before the Love Feast.
LOVE FEAST (August 13th-17th)
Five day celebration within Ar, held during the Fifth Passage Hand.. the greatest time period for the sale of kajirii, especially kajirae; 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.
PASSING OF TURIA (September 22nd-26th)
The herds of the Wagon people pass closest to the city of Turia on or around the Second Hand of Se`Kara.
SARDAR FAIRS - FAIR OF SE'KARA (September 22nd-October 1st)
The Gorean equivalent of the World's Fair on Earth, the third of four huge trade fairs held quarterly in the shadow of the Sardar Mountain Range. During the time of the Sardar Fairs the area is neutral territory, no one may be enslaved at the Fair, however; kaijirii captured outside of the Fair territory may be sold. No blood may be spilled. The Fairs serves as a trading point for information and merchandise. 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. The fairs typically last ten full days and are scheduled to coincide with the solstices and equinoxes.
FESTIVAL OF THE 25TH OF SE'KARA (October 11th)
An annual Festival held in Port Kar to celebrate their great naval victory over the combined fleets of Cos and Tyros.
FEAST OF FOOLS (October 31)
This is a festival celebrated in some Gorean cities on the last day of the Third Hand of the eight Gorean month. It is similar in many respects to the southern Festival knosn as Carnival, except it lasts only for the period of one night. Also known as "Festival of the Cities of Dust," in homage to the spirits of the deceased who died during the last year.
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 (late November - late March)
The nomadic herds of the Wagon peoples typically occupy their winter pastures during the period from the middle of the ninth Gorean month through the Second Hand of En'Kara.
NEW YEAR OF THE WAGON PEOPLE (December 21st)
The day of the Winter Solstice is celebrated by the Wagon People as the first day of the new year, and marks the beginning of The Season of Snows. In addition, the women of the Wagon People 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 different kinds of bosk, for instance: "The Moon of the Brown Bosk", "The Moon of the Spotted Bosk" and so on.
SARDAR FAIRS - The Fair of Se`Var (December 21st-December 30th)
The Gorean equivalent of the World's Fair on Earth, the fourth of four huge trade fairs held quarterly in the shadow of the Sardar Mountain Range. During the time of the Sardar Fairs the area is neutral territory, no one may be enslaved at the Fair, however; kaijirii captured outside of the Fair territory may be sold. No blood may be spilled. The Fairs serves as a trading point for information and merchandise. 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. The fairs typically last ten full days and are scheduled to coincide with the solstices and equinoxes.
CARNIVAL (March 11th-15th)
Held in many southern cities, notably Port Kar, during the five days of the Twelfth Passage Hand. During this celebration it is often customary to dress oneself in outlandish costumes or masks and attend various masquerade fetes and feasts.
KAJURALIA (March 15th)
"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. 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.
THE WAITING HAND (March 16th-20th)
This is a five day period 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.
GOREAN NEW YEAR (March 21 or on the extra day)
On the day of the Vernal equinox (March 21), many northern Gorean cities, including Ar, celebrate the Gorean New Year. Every fourth year the New Year is celebrated on the extra day which occurs between the Waiting Hand and the day of the equinox. 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).
