Calendar

"*For earth... sky. For winter... summer. For darkness... light.*" ―Threnodies 5
 File:Mage book 4.jpg
There are several **calendars** in use throughout Thedas.

## Calendars of Thedas

### Chantry calendar

See also: Timeline
The most common calendar in Thedas is the Chantry calendar, which is used everywhere outside Tevinter. Its first year honors the appointment of the first head of the Chantry, Divine Justinia I. Anything prior to 1:1 Divine is known as the Ancient Era and denoted using negative numbers. The Chantry calendar is further divided into Ages, each a hundred years long and named by the incumbent Divine the previous year based on predictions of things to come. There have been nine ages since the formation of the Chantry.

### Tevinter calendar

The Tevinter Imperium uses its own calendar, known as either the Tevinter calendar or the Imperial calendar, which predates the Chantry calendar by over a thousand years. It starts at the date the Imperium was founded and the first Archon crowned, marked as 0 TE (-1195 Ancient). Tevinter temporarily switched to using the Chantry calendar shortly after its creation but returned to using its own calendar after the Schism of 3:87 Towers and the separation of the Orlesian and Tevinter Chantry. Anything prior to 0 TE is denoted using negative numbers.

### Elven calendar

The oldest known calendar is the elven calendar, which has gone almost entirely unused outside of scholarly circles after Tevinter enslaved the elven race and banned its use. It begins with the founding of Arlathan, capital of the elven empire, and is marked as 1 FA (-6405 TE or -7600 Ancient), the earliest recorded date in the history of Thedas, though it is only a rough estimate.

### Calendar conversion

**Note:** *Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 1* equates 1 FA with -6405 TE and 3000 FA with -3405 TE. That would mean that 3000 years passed in the TE calendar but only 2999 in the FA calendar. The table above represents the data found in *The World of Thedas*.
## List of months and holidays

Both the Chantry and Tevinter calendars consist of twelve thirty-day months with an additional five days known as *annums* which are used to mark the transition between seasons and the first day of the year. The *annums* are major holidays celebrated throughout most of Thedas, from the Tevinter Imperium to Ferelden. The system was developed in the early years of the Tevinter Imperium and was influenced by the elven calendar. Although each month has a name in the language of Ancient Tevinter, the people of Ferelden commonly use the "low" names. Typically, only courts and scholars use the high names for months. The Tevinter names are listed first, followed by the more common name for the month.

The five holidays, or *annums,* take place at the beginning of the month within which they fall.

* 1st month: **Verimensis** / Wintermarch (*Annum*: First Day)
* 2nd month: **Pluitanis** / Guardian (*Annum*: Wintersend)
* 3rd month: **Nubulis** / Drakonis
* 4th month: **Eluviesta** / Cloudreach
* 5th month: **Molioris** / Bloomingtide (*Annum*: Summerday)
* 6th month: **Ferventis** / Justinian
* 7th month: **Solis** / Solace
* 8th month: **Matrinalis** / August (*Annum*: All Soul's Day)
* 9th month: **Parvulis** / Kingsway
* 10th month: **Frumentum** / Harvestmere
* 11th month: **Umbralis** / Firstfall (*Annum*: Satinalia)
* 12th month: **Cassus** / Haring

## Description of holidays

### First Day

The traditional start of the year, this holiday involves visits to neighbors and family (in remote areas, this was once an annual check to ensure everyone was alive), as well as a town gathering to commemorate the year past, accompanied by drinking and merriment. In some areas at least it is custom to eat chicken on First Day.Template:Citation needed

### Wintersend

Once called “Urthalis” and dedicated to Urthemiel, the Old God of Beauty, this holiday has now become a celebration of the Maker. It stands for the end of winter in many lands and coincides with tourneys and contests at the Proving Grounds in Minrathous. In southern lands, this holiday has become a day of gathering for trade, theater, and, in some areas, the arrangement of marriages. It is celebrated at the beginning of **Pluitanis**.

### Summerday

Once called “Andoralis” and dedicated to Andoral, the Old God of Unity, this holiday is universally celebrated as the beginning of summer, a time for joy and, commonly, marriage. Children ready to come of age don white tunics and gowns. They then join a grand procession that crosses the settlement to the local Chantry, where they are taught the responsibilities of adulthood. Summerday is a particularly holy occasion in Orlais. It is celebrated at the beginning of **Molioris**.

### All Soul’s Day

Once called “Funalis” and dedicated to Dumat, the Old God of Silence. However, since Dumat’s rise during the First Blight, Thedosians turn a blind eye to any old ties between the day and the dragon. The holiday is now known across Thedas as All Soul’s Day and spent in somber remembrance of the dead. In some northern lands, the people dress as spirits and walk the streets in parade after midnight. The Chantry uses the holiday to remember the death of Andraste, with public fires that mark her immolation and plays that depict her death. It is celebrated at the beginning of **Matrinalis**.

### Satinalia

Once dedicated to the Old God of Chaos, Zazikel—but now attributed more to the second moon, Satina—this holiday is accompanied by wild celebration, the wearing of masks, and naming the town fool as ruler for a day. In Antiva, Satinalia lasts for a week or more, while a week of fasting follows. In more pious areas, large feasts and the giving of gifts mark the holiday. Satinalia is celebrated at the beginning of **Umbralis**.

## Trivia

* There is something called a "name-day" in the dwarven commoner origin, but it's the only instance of such, and it's not made clear what this day signifies. The term "birthday" is used in every other context including codex entries and conversations in-game.
* Satinalia is also known as "Feastday". It is likely based on the Roman *Saturnalia*, also celebrated in the onset of winter and marked with merriment and revelry.
* The month of August was originally intended to be named after Andraste. This was during a point in early development of *Dragon Age: Origins* when her name was Augusta.
* Most, if not all, weekday names are based on the real-world Gregorian calendar:
	+ Tuesday
	+ Thursday
	+ Friday
	+ Saturday
	+ Sunday

## References

1. ↑ Dragon Age: Origins: Prima Official Game Guide
2. ↑ Template:Cite wot
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 BioWare Blog: Thedosian Holidays
4. ↑ As mentioned by the Dwarf Commoner to Beraht.
5. ↑ Official Feastday Pranks and Gifts DLC description
6. ↑ Template:Tumblr
7. ↑ Referenced by Alistair when talking to the Warden about the events that transpired at Redcliffe Castle.
8. ↑ Referenced by the aggressive Hawke in conversation with Tallis.
9. ↑ Ambient dialogue in the Exalted Plains: "Gaspard will be the ruin of this country. What's his first decree? Thursdays are for punching bears?"
10. ↑ Referenced by Iron Bull through party banter with Blackwall.
11. ↑ Referenced by Leliana when visiting the Valence Cloister during her personal quest.
12. ↑ Note: Tavern Notices
13. ↑ Referenced by Dorian during the cutscene that unlocks The Name of Our Enemy.

de:Die Zeitrechnung von Thedas