Heronoi calendar

This is a description of the traditional calendar used in the culture of Heronoja.

## Months of the year

The Heronoi celebrate their new year on around January 10.

Standard calendar dates can be converted to the Heronoi calendar by how many days they took place from the tenth day (e.g. May 24 - Heronaso 14).

Likewise, a similar method is done to standardise Heronoi festivals to the international calendar (e.g. Heronaso 24, Foundation Day, should be observed on June 3, around 24 days after May 10). So Heronoi who live in other countries celebrate the start of another month on 10 April, May, June, etc.

Each month lasts 29 to 30 days in successive order.

### Osogwori (January)

"Prayer of the North"

* 1 - Heronoi New Year / Nezawai Nani
	+ Standardised to January 10.
	+ Celebrated by people dressed as wolves to mark the coming of spring. They fight other performers dressed as vampires and ice demons in mock battles.
	+ "Bexara Nezawai!"

### Gwotynaso (February)

"Month of Spears"

* 5 - Death of King Heros / Wanaxa Rothumanda / Dárauthuma (Great Day of the King's Death, King's Death)
	+ Some Heronoi instead mourn for King Heros on February 19.
* 17 - End of the Snows / Zujasonne
	+ Effigies of vampries are burned to celebrate the end of winter.

### Woikonaso (March)

"Month of Forests"

* 17 - Day of All Wights / Arowansunmai Nani / Wansunnani
	+ Food offerings are burned for all the wights who protect Heronoja.

### Rejanaso (April)

"Month of Flowers"

* 12 - Spring Festival / Sun Birthday / Iwantewanni / Áranajewanni
	+ According to Heronoi folklore, this was the day when the Sun was created, so it is also the birthday of the Sun.
	+ It is observed by wearing yellow, and brushing and washing blonde hair. It is also a day when young couples go out on romantic dates.
	+ Offerings on that day tend to be yellow, such as chrysanthemum tea, bananas, lemons, and maize.
	+ Standarised to April 22.
* 14 - Midspring / Wesojawante
* 20 - Independence Day / Genaxajanna Nani / Genaxanda
	+ This was the day when the last Thralondian warriors were defeated and expelled from Heronoja. It is celebrated with a countdown, burning effigies of horned monsters, and fireworks.
	+ In the international calendar, it can be standardised to April 30.
	+ "Bexara Genaxanda!"

### Heronaso (May)

"Month of the Moon"

* 24 - Foundation Day/Atagenona Nani
	+ Celebrates Heros' landing on Jerde, the founding of Heronoja, and all the past Epadwaranai heroes of Wosono. It is also observed as "every Heronoi's birthday".
	+ Dark blue and white decorations, and moons. Paper moons are hung at buntings, and people wear blue and white.
	+ Standardised to June 3.

### Merinaso/Saronaso (June)

"Month of Honey/Month of Ghosts"

Because it is the final month of the lesser zodiac, the barriers between the living and the spiritual are weakest, and ghosts are believed to emerge and attack the living on that month.

* 1 - Opening of the Ghosts / Kéresaro Wandonani
	+ Priests pray for the protection of all Heronoi and inhabitants from the ghosts' attacks.
	+ Standardised to June 10.

* 14 - Merimaira / Honey Offerings
	+ A date for young couples to go on dates, get married, and start a family. Unmarried young people kiss their friends to challenge and mock the ghosts.
* 14 - Midsummer / Wesorajeta
	+ Every Midsummer, the kings of Heronoja offer the finest wheat, rice, beef, and ham to statues of Freyr. In some years, the kings went to five temples all over the kingdom in the next four days.
	+ Standardised to June 24.
* 30 - Closing of the Ghosts / Kéresaro Tokutonani
	+ A dance is held outside the ancestors' shrine, ending with its doors being closed to represent the ghosts returning to the spirit realm. Various colourful flags used to keep ghosts away from people were stacked as a pile and burned to celebrate the return to normalcy.
	+ Standardised to July 8.

### Wetijenaso/Sejokeranna (July)

"Yellow Month/Colourful Crown"

* 1 - Day of Accounts / Makadauka Nani
	+ This is the day that the lesser zodiac starts.
	+ This is celebrated by a drum dance and a prayer to the twelve constellations who oversee the months of the year.
	+ Children (and teenagers in some provinces) receive a colourful gift from the nearest temple decorated with stars and the moon, based on the month and year when they were born under. Sometimes, their guardian dolls are also given an extra gift for the child's good behaviour.
	+ Standardised to July 10.
* 7 - Heros' Birthday / Moon Birthday / Daraunajewanni
	+ Heronoi wear yellow and make colourful crowns to celebrate Heros leading their ancestors out of their doomed homeworld. Some youths run around, waving star-sticks and streamers.
	+ It also celebrates the end of Vigefionian oppression on Wosono. It was also the start of the ancient Wosonoi year at winter.
	+ According to some Heronoi, it was also the day when the Moon orbiting Jerde was created.
	+ Standarised to July 17.

### Íseronaso (August)

"Month of the Sea"

* 7 - Invasion Day / Nokize Nani
	+ A day of mourning for the Thralondian Invasion that started centuries of oppression.
	+ Black flags with red disks were raised, and people wear dark and red clothes.
	+ Standarised to August 17.
* 28 - Boat Races / Danodorateke

### Gwepetinaso (September)

"Orange Month"

* 14 - Pumpkin Day / Autumn Festival / Tójurutewanni
	+ Also the date of Thanksgiving for three years in a four-year cycle.
	+ According to legend, this is the day the pumpkin scarecrow Rawaruta records every harvest and reports them to Gororijo, the god of harvests.
	+ It is celebrated with a feast.
	+ Standarised to September 24.
* 20 - Day of Heros' Ascension / Black Day / Hadēnani
	+ This is the day when King Heros' remains were brought to his tomb in on Jerde's Moon.
	+ To mourn for Heros, people wear black and blue clothes. They burn large paper sculptures of cranes to celebrate Heros' ascension to godhood.
	+ In modern times, Heronoi observe this custom by being more polite ("Heros is watching from Heaven"), eating only light meals, and not looking at the Moon.
	+ Standardised to October 4.

### Osonaso (October)

"Prayer Month"

* 15 - Grand Day of Prayer / Darawósanani
	+ A date to thank the gods and ancestors, observed by burning food offerings and doing stage plays.
	+ Standardised to October 25.

* 21 - Ancestors' Day / Dhawönandani
	+ A date to honour the ancestors and the history of the nation. Traditions include stage performances and visits by Rawaruta the scarecrow. Performers act as Rawaruta and ancient heroes as they battle monsters and villains.
	+ Young people go to ancestral shrines and invoke the ancestors, praying for courage for difficult times.
	+ Standardised to October 31, and influenced by the Ardeschi autumn festival.

### Arinaso (November)

"Red Month", named for the crops that grew on Wosono or the Vigefionian massacres.

* 2 - Creation Day / Day of Suffering / Uxurénani
	+ Mourns the creation of the Epadwaranai and their torment under the Vigefionians.
	+ Standardised to 12 November.
* 6 - Red Day / Aurinani
	+ A day of mourning for all those killed by Vigefionian poachers. They may wear the same clothes as they wore on Invasion Day.
	+ Due to Zomjonor's Birthday, it is followed by mock battles between players dressed as Vigefionian hunters and Epadwaranai warriors.
	+ Standardised to 16 November.
* 21 - Winter Prayers / Day of the Snows / Moithowenna / Sonnundani
	+ Considered the start of winter, with the first new moon of winter ushering in colder temperatures and the coming of snowfall.

### Dúnynaso (December)

This is considered the "dark month", as it ushers in the start of winter. The ancient Heronoi were afraid of this month because that was when the "paitejo" (ice cream men) emerge to hunt and kill their people: in modern Heronoja, the hunts were commemorated with white tents resembling ancient ice cream trucks and artificial skulls.

"Deep Month"

* 1 - Winter Prayers / Moithósa
* 10 - Day of the Winter Stars / Moithoxi
* 15 - Winter Festival / Wesomoitho
	+ The date of Thanksgiving in every four years.
	+ Standardised to December 25.

### Variable

* Noxömiti - Lunar Eclipse Night
	+ Before that night, all Heronoi cover their windows with black cloth or tape. They stay inside and pray. Some Heronoi instead host parties until the eclipse is over.

## Heronoi zodiac

See also: Twelve Goddesses of the Months

The Heronoi zodiac has two forms: lesser (for months) and greater (for years). Influenced by other cultures, the Heronoi assigned twelve constellations to represent the months of the year.

The Heronoi also assigned sixty-four other constellations and one hundred and twenty-four stars for the months. These sixty-four constellations are believed to be the bodyguard of the moon god Heros, marching with him as the Moon travels across the sky.

### Lesser zodiac

The lesser zodiac begins at Sejokeranna/July.

* Purokuro (Firegate; July; red)
	+ The executer of evil spirits. Torinna's older sister and protector.
* Amagarawai (Great Current; August; cyan)
	+ After a Heronoi dies, she guides their soul to either one of the Four Paradises.
* Wathasanda (Round Swan; September; white)
* Nöwazei - (Silver Spider; October; orange)
* Tonzakoro - November
* Suribasa - December
* Meig'amure - January
	+ A woman riding on a white bear. She defends those who travel in cold weather against Skadi and her ice vampires.
* Dauwaikothe - February
	+ A scholar.
* Twesaimedho - March
	+ A smith.
* Duribasijo - April
	+ A gardener.
* Ruwemega - May
	+ A farmer.
* Torinna - June
	+ The weakest, youngest, and friendliest of the twelve goddesses. She is a friend to most ghosts, so they pray to her for her help.

### Greater zodiac

For up to a child's thirteenth birthday, his or her döro doll is given new clothes and a little gold star to represent each of the goddesses' successful protection for each passing year. A different song is sung for each birthday of the child, up until the thirteenth birthday.

* Rautadwon (red)
* Hiramegon (yellow)
* Myxawesson (green)
* Naibesabon (blue)
* Besuwontidwon (red-white)
* Rawaneusekon (yellow-red)
* Ábansaujon (green-white)
* Orémixon (blue-red)
* Xaimazejon (red-black)
* Haraimag'owasijon (yellow-blue)
* Medakusawei (green-yellow)
* Jarakiwozawei, Jaxiwotzai (blue-white)
	+ She is represented by a river of fire, which symbolises difficult changes that every child faces before becoming a teenager.

## Days of the week

(From Monday to Sunday)

* Wetēdani (yellow day) - the day of happiness
* Gwepedani (orange day) - the best day for boys or artist men
* Aridani (sun day) - the best day for men or warrior men
* G'oridani (green day) - the best day for girls or warrior girls
* Gomidani (moon day) - the holiest day of the week, one of two best days for women
* Terudani (blue day) - the other best day for women or feminine women
* Arajadani (white day) - the day of purification and correction

## Glossary

### Lunar phases

* Náxo - new moon
	+ Múrogemo (Dark Moon), Tuxigemo (Sad Moon)
	+ White lanterns are placed along the courtyard and wight-shrine every tenth day of the month to mark the new month.
* Anari Hero - waxing crescent
* Ada Nara Hero - first quarter
* Nadara - waxing gibbous
* Dára Góma, Daróma - full moon
	+ Arajóma (White Moon), Bexajóma (Happy Moon)
	+ This is considered the holiest day of the month, when Heronoi people rest, wear white clothes, and worship King Heros.
	+ It is celebrated with white paper disks and blue lanterns.
* Jorara - waning crescent
* Jora Nara Hero - last quarter
* Aïxa Hero - waning crescent

### Seasons

* zojewa, waizaja - season
* iwantara, jawanta, jewanta - spring
* rajeka, rajeta - summer, happiness
* tójoru, nomonto, hotonxo - autumn
* moithondo, moitho, xorokho - winter
* narakha - great winter, blizzard

### Others

* nani, -dani - day
* jewanni - festival
* anedani - week
* gemo - month
* zawai - year
* neizotai - new year
* zawitai - four year cycle
* nei zawitai - new four year cycle
* rutkawoi - twelve month cycle
* dára rutkawoi - twelve year cycle, zodiac
* nei dárutquoi, neitáruquoi - new twelve year cycle

## See also

* Heronoi glossary
* Josolchir calendar
* Siangwaanian calendar
* Marnosyn calendar
* Zvestarid calendar