Summer solstice
Occuring on Richfest 4, the summer solstice, also called Midsummer Day[1][2] (or Midsummer's Day),[3][4][5] marks the beginning of high summer on the Greyhawk calendar. This is the longest day of the year, and the sun, Liga, appears furthest north among the stars on this date.
The evening of the solstice (called Midsummer Night) is especially significant, because both Luna and Celene shine full in the sky. Druids of both Beory and Obad-Hai hold the night as sacred.[6] Also, both moons being full draws the beast out of the world's lycanthropes,[6] and possibly heralding other portentous events.
Holy days and observances
[edit | edit source]Because the worship of Pelor is so widespread throughout the Flanaess, the solstice, or Midsummer's Day itself is often frequently simply referred to as the Holy Day of Pelor.[7]
Holidays celebrated during the summer solstice include:
- Agelong (elves)
- Brilliance Celebration (Lydians)[8]
- Enlighteningtide, (Theocracy of the Pale, Pholtans)[8]
- Foundation Day (Narwell)[9][10]
- Holy Day of Pelor
- The faithful of Rao consider the night of the summer solstice to be an especially holy time, for they believe the moons were Rao's gift to guide humanity from the darkness of Tharizdun.
- The worshippers of the giant god Surtr celebrate midsummer as their holiest time as well.
- This is a holy day for the followers of Flandal Steelskin.
- This is a holy day for worshippers of Beory, Obad-Hai, and other druidic circles.[6]
In other media
[edit | edit source]In the Greyhawk Adventures novel The Eyes Have It, the solstice is celebrated as a holiday called the Festival of Blossoms. The Festival of Blossoms is presented as a major holiday in the city of Loftwick.
In Gary Gygax's novel Artifact of Evil, midsummer is celebrated with a grand ball in Celene.[11] At the end of celebration, Queen Yolande and her consort, Prince Fasstal Dothmar, perform a ritual dance described as "the Midsummer Frolic, the last formal requirement of the celebration."[12] Afterward, the nobles and guests at the ball "empty into the acres of wooded gardens and parks that surrounded the palace. There they would doff most of their excess finery to trip and prance in dances and games of ancient elvish sort. ... Only when the sky paled and dawn came would the revelry cease."[12] It is likely this describes one of the Faerie Mysteries, especially since Queen Yolande is an avid practitioner.[13]
Calendar
[edit | edit source]| Starday | Sunday | Moonday | Godsday | Waterday | Earthday | Freeday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4  Summer solstice Holy Day of Pelor Agelong |
5 | 6 | 7 |
See Also
[edit | edit source]See also the related other seasonal events:
| 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 • 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
[edit | edit source]Notes
[edit | edit source]Citations
[edit | edit source]- ↑ The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.64, Folks, Feuds, and Factions.
- ↑ Player's Guide (1998), p.14.
- ↑ Dragon #A4 (Annual 1999), p.20.
- ↑ Dragon #68 (Dec 1982), p.44.
- ↑ "Core Beliefs: Pelor". Dragon #346 (Aug 2006), p.29.
- ↑ a b c The Adventure Begins (1998), p.45.
- ↑ "Core Beliefs: Pelor". Dragon #348 (Oct 2006), p.29.
- ↑ a b "Campaign holidays". Dragon #A4 (Annual 1999), p.20.
- ↑ "Campaign holidays". Dragon #A4 (Annual 1999), p.21.
- ↑ The Adventure Begins (1998), p.46.
- ↑ Artifact of Evil—Gord the Rogue novel (1985), p.121.
- ↑ a b Artifact of Evil—Gord the Rogue novel (1985), p.122.
- ↑ Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.38.
Bibliography
[edit | edit source]- Estes, Rose. The Eyes Have It. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989.
- 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).
- Lai, Gary. "Hopeful Dawn." Dungeon #41. Renton, WA: TSR, 1993.
- McComb, Colin D. The Complete Book of Elves. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
- 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.
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
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Solstice | Calendar | Night Watch (1990) | 9, 14, 108, 179, 255, 270 |