Seasons of Known World

Background

The seasons of the Known World, and the calendar that is followed by the people living there, are best displayed as a circle broken up into four sections. These sections are Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, and fall almost along the same lines as the relative solstices and equinoxes.
There are 364 days in a year, which is broken up into 13 months, known as moons, each of which has 28 days. These months align with the lunar cycle, which is where this way of marking the passage of time came from.
For both Townsfolks and Nomads, the year begins on the first day of spring, just after the spring equinox. They have different names for the moons, but a similar base.
It is worth noting that the seasons as experienced in The Towns are often more mild than that experienced in the rest of the Wilds, due to a fast-moving current which carries warmer climes to the North West part of the Known World that they occupy.

The Wilds Calendar

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Using the filters on the map above it is possible to navigate through the different names for the moons based on ethnicity. Sections below will examine in more detail the months and weather conditions of each of the seasons, followed by a connection to the more traditional calendar view.

Spring

Moons

Nomads

Æmoør
Kokkæblåmstrar
Lisdeg

Translation

Year's Morning
Kokkæ Blooms
Bright Day

Townsfolk

The Seeding Moon
The Flowering Moon
The Daying Moon

Spring starts the year off with the mildest of the months. Temperatures start at between 2°C (35.6°F) and 10°C (50°F), depending on region, and can rise as high as 13°C (55.4°F) to 19°C (66.2°F).
There is a low chance of frost, which drops even more further into the season, and a good chance of rain, although this too drops as the season continues.

Spring is often the best time of year for planting seeds, as is recognised by the Townsfolks name for the first moon of the year. Kokkæ after whom the second nomad moon is named is the god of flowers from the Gods of The Nomads. For both Nomads and Townsfolks the third moon is recognised for containing the summer solstice and the lengthening of the days.
Spring ends shortly after the end of the third moon of the year, making way for Summer.

Annual Festivals & Celebrations

Nomad Name	Translation	Townsfolk Equivalent	Recurring Date	Nomad Purpose	Townsfolk Purpose
Nittør	New Year	Festival of the New Year	1 Æmoør	Celebrate the start of a new year	Ring in the New Year
Blåmstarfast	Flower Festival	Festival of the New Dawn	8 Kokkæblåmstrar	Collect flowers for uses in camp	Celebrate the Protector
Mydtsåmmar	Mid Summer	Midsummer	27 Lisdeg	Celebrate the longest day	Celebrate the longest day

Summer

Moons

Nomads

Sålmøna
Bløhymmal
Ynnhustyng
Fatyng

Translation

Sun Moon
Blue Skies
Harvest
Fattening

Townsfolk

The Breezing Moon
The Waiting Moon
The Rusting Moon
The Fading Moon

Summer is the warmest of the months, with the longest days and proximity to the sun. Temperatures start from lows of between 7°C (44.6°F) and 10°C (50°F) depending on region, and can rise as high as between 19°C (66.2°F) and 28°C (82.4°F).
Frosts do not occur at this time of year, and rains are less common, although they can still be frequent in the mountainous regions. Due to the vast number of rivers and lakes in the region, droughts are scarce. Forest fires are also uncommon but have been known to take place at this time of year.

Summer is generally a time for fattening up livestock and ensuring the growth of plants and creatures to provide nutrients throughout the winter moons. The Nomad names of Ynnhustyng (harvest) and Fatyng (fattening) refer to this idea of preperation for winter. For the Townsfolk, this is a less pressing concern as they are stationary and have the means to protect and slaughter livestock throughout the year. Thus their moons have more whimsical names.
Summer ends halfway through the seventh moon (Fatyng or The Fading Moon), shortly after the Autumn equinox.

Annual Festivals & Celebrations

Nomad Name	Translation	Townsfolk Equivalent	Recurring Date	Nomad Purpose	Townsfolk Purpose
Fålkafast	People's Festival	Festival of the Angels	14 Sålmøna	Celebrate the Camp/Clan	Celebrate the Angels
Hustankåmmar	Autumn Comes	Harvest Festival	5 Fatyng	Celebrate the Autumn Equinox	Give thanks for a good harvest

Autumn

Moons

Nomads

Fatyng
Slækta
Pylvyfulgar
Murkanætt

Translation

Fattening
Slaughter
Pylvy Follows
Dark Night

Townsfolk

The Fading Moon
The Waning Moon
The Freezing Moon
The Nighting Moon

Autumn is by far the wettest season, with the temperatures dropping from highs of between 15°C (59°F) and 19°C (66.2°F) depending on region, to lows of between 3°C (37.4°F) and -4°C (24.8°F). These below-freezing temperatures are most common at the end of the season, hailing the arrival of winter, but have been known to occur earlier as well.
Storms and increased rainfall are mostly likely to occur at this time of year. Floods are common, with the rise in rainfall making some rivers unpassable.

Autumn is the last chance to prepare for Winter, and so moons like Fatyng (fattening) and Slækta (slaughter) are dedicated to the fattening up and slaughter of animals so that their meats can be preserved and consumed when hunting is made difficult or impossible by the weather. The mention of Pylvy in the ninth moon of the year refers to the god of the clouds in the Gods of The Nomads and the increase in cloud cover and in certain areas fogs at this time of year.
For both Nomads and Townsfolks the tenth month of the year references the winter solstice, where the nights are longer. The season ends shortly after the winter solstice.

Annual Festivals & Celebrations

Nomad Name	Translation	Townsfolk Equivalent	Recurring Date	Nomad Purpose	Townsfolk Purpose
Hjammanætt	Home Night	Festival of Light	5 Pylvyfulgar	Warm up the home for winter	Ward off Evil Forces
Mydtvyntar	Mid Winter	Midwinter	13 Murkanætt	Make it through the longest night	Celebrate the Protector for surviving the longest night

Winter

Moons

Nomads

Lomyhvyla
Toolyråpar
Nokkoør

Translation

Lomy's Rest
Tooly Shouts
Year's Night

Townsfolk

The Frosting Moon
The Whitening Moon
The Thawing Moon

Winter is by far the coldest season of the year. High temperatures peak at between 10°C (50°F) and 5°C (41°F) but can drop as low as between 2°C (35.6°F) and -9°C (15.8°F), depending on region.
Snow is common in some parts of the Wilds and there are daily frosts. Even those warmer areas on the west coast tend to experience some light snow, although the chances are it won't last for longer than a day. Snow storms are common in the east of the Wilds and mountains are treacherous.

The Townsfolks moon names all refer to the weather, with the difference between The Frosting Moon and The Whitening Moon being minimal but enough for them to note. For the Nomads, however, their focus is on the gods which causes them problems at this time of year. Lomyhvyla means Lomy's Rest and is a reference to the god of snow resting across the ground. Toolyråpar translates as Tooly shouts and refers to the god of the wind howling through the treetops.
The thirteenth moon is the final moon of the year and is where the winter solstice takes place before the new year begins.

Annual Festivals & Celebrations

Nomad Name	Translation	Townsfolk Equivalent	Recurring Date	Nomad Purpose	Townsfolk Purpose
Aktamænnsdæg	Husband's Day	Husband's Day	1 Lomyhvyla	Celebrate the Men of the Clan	Wives to worship their husbands
Kånasdæg	Wife's Day	Son's Day	1 Toolyråpar	Celebrate the Women of the Clan[/td	Men to show off their sons
Ørsslott	Year's End	Seeding Festival	26 Nokkoør	Remembering what has come to pass	Celebrate planting new seeds (& fertility)

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