Spring equinox
Growfest 4 is the point where the sun crosses Oerth's equator. Holidays celebrated on this date include Saint Cuthbert's Day, the Feast of Edoira, the Spring Feast, and Raxivort's Orgy. This is also the day on which the priests of Tlaloc ritually sacrifice and eat the flesh of human children or babies in their patron's honor. Worshippers of Rillifane Rallathil observe the Budding on the equinox which is "a joyful celebration of new life celebrated through dance and song"[1] and is held "in large groves of oak trees in the heart of the forest." "A ritual hunt of an ancient and noble hart" is conducted, after which the venison is eaten in celebration of Rillifane's bounty.[1]
Also celebrated on this date is the Sanctification of Renewal, a sacred holiday to the followers of Garyx.
Misattribution[edit]
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 4th.
However, in all other sources,[2][3][4][5][6] spring begins in Readying[7] (when there is no equinox). Growfest is celebrated after the end of spring and at the beginning of low summer.[2][3][4][5][6][8][note 1] Though "an" equinox would certainly be in Growfest, it wouldn't be a "spring" equinox or the beginning of spring. Festivals aren't associated with solstices and equinoxes in any other sources.[note 2]
Because of this misattribution, it is speculated Springrite and the Spring Feast should be on Readying 4th at the beginning of Spring instead of Growfest 4th, 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.
See Also[edit]
See also the related other seasonal events:
References[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ↑ However, Roger Moore in The Adventure Begins 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".
- ↑ Despite not being called solstices, Needfest and Richfest are held at Midsummer and Midwinter in the middle of those seasons, 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.
Citations[edit]
- ↑ a b Faiths and Pantheons (2002), p.129.
- ↑ a b The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (1980), p.4.
- ↑ a b World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983), p.5. Table
- ↑ a b Player's Guide (1998), p.13. Table
- ↑ a b The Adventure Begins (1998), p.39. Table
- ↑ a b Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.2. Table
- ↑ The Adventure Begins (1998), p.42. "Readying 1st is the calendar date for spring's start."
- ↑ Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk (2007), p.14.
Bibliography[edit]
- Boyd, Eric L. Demihuman Deities. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
- 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: TSR, 1999 (pp. 18-19).
- Mona, Erik. River of Blood. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Moore, Roger E. Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998.
- Ward, James and Robert J. Kuntz. Deities & Demigods. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Index is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, and his work as continued and updated by Eric Johnson, Richard DiIoia, Jason "PupickDad" Jacobson, a French fan group, and numerous other fans over the years. The wiki page for the EGI has a list of sources, full product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
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