The Calendar of Aletheia

The calendar used across most of Aletheia is solar in structure, lunar in symbolism, and practical in daily life. It is older than the Cataclysm and was widely re-established afterward with little alteration. While local variations exist, the underlying system is remarkably consistent across regions.

This article explains how the calendar works, what is fixed, what moves, and how the Mid-Summer Festival fits into the year.

1. The Day

A day in Aletheia is 25 hours long.

This is not considered unusual by its inhabitants; it is simply the natural rhythm of the world. The slightly longer day results in:

• marginally longer work periods
• marginally longer rest periods
• a subtly different daily cadence compared to Earth

The difference is small enough that seasonal rhythms still feel familiar to players and readers, but large enough to distinguish the setting from Earth.

2. The Year

True Solar Year

The true solar year lasts approximately 372.2 days.

This fractional value is important. Without correction, the calendar would drift relative to the seasons.

Civic Year

The civic year consists of:

• 372 days in a normal year
• 373 days every fifth year

The additional day every fifth year prevents long-term seasonal drift.

This correction is simple by design and has been part of the calendar for centuries.

3. Leap Year Rule

Because the solar year exceeds 372 days by roughly 0.2 days, the calendar adds:

One Leap Day every five years

0.2 × 5 = 1 day

This keeps the calendar aligned with the seasons without requiring complex century rules or astronomical reform.

Placement of Leap Day

• The Leap Day occurs during the Mid-Summer Festival.
• It is inserted after the third day of the festival.
• It is not part of any month.
• Month numbering never changes.

This avoids distortions such as “Highsun 32” or shifting dates in Goldwane.

The Leap Day is widely celebrated by default, though its tone varies by region.

4. Months

The year is divided into 12 months of 31 days each.

31 × 12 = 372 days

Month numbering is stable and does not change in leap years.

The commonly used English placeholder names are:

1. Frostmere
2. Thawfall
3. Rainward
4. Greenrise
5. Brightfield
6. Highsun
7. Goldwane
8. Harvestmere
9. Redfall
10. Duskward
11. Longnight
12. Deepfrost

These names reflect seasonal conditions rather than mythological figures, which makes them easy to translate into different languages.

5. The Week

Aletheia uses a six-day week.

There are exactly:

62 weeks in a standard year

This division is mathematically clean and historically practical.

Days of the Week (Working English Set)

1. Lightday
2. Hearthday
3. Forgeday
4. Oathday
5. Fieldday
6. Restday

The final day of the week is typically associated with reduced labor, temple gatherings, and civic activity. However, there is no universal mandatory Sabbath. Religious practice in Aletheia is situational and integrated into daily life rather than confined to a single sacred day.

6. The Moon

Aletheia has a single moon.

The lunar synodic period is approximately 31.1 days.

Because months are 31 days, the lunar cycle does not remain fixed to the calendar. The full moon drifts gradually across the months over time.

This produces:

• seasonal full moons
• shifting religious observances
• regional traditions tied to moonlight

The moon matters symbolically and ritually, but the civic calendar remains solar.

7. The Mid-Summer Festival

The largest shared celebration across Aletheia occurs at mid-year.

Astronomical Anchor

The year’s midpoint falls within Highsun.

The festival begins on:

The first full moon after the midpoint of Highsun

This means the festival usually begins between late Highsun and early Goldwane. It shifts slightly year to year due to the lunar cycle.

Duration

• Six days in a normal year
• Seven days in a leap year

The additional leap day is inserted after the third day of the festival.

Nature of the Festival

There are no universally mandated named days.

Across most regions, the festival involves:

• feasting
• games and contests
• public gatherings
• fairs and performances
• temple ceremonies
• guild announcements
• marriages and oath-taking

The tone is celebratory by default.

However, emphasis varies:

• Some regions highlight agricultural gratitude.
• Some emphasize civic pride.
• Some incorporate solemn remembrance tied to historical trauma.
• Temple-dominant areas may add formal rites.
• Urban centers often extend markets and competitions.

Participation is intense but not universally compulsory. Agricultural labor and essential services continue where necessary.

8. Institutional Role

The calendar predates the Cataclysm and was quickly resumed afterward.

Its survival reflects:

• administrative stability
• agricultural necessity
• cultural continuity

Temple astronomers typically announce the exact start of the Mid-Summer Festival each year, though the full moon is visible to all.

There is no single global authority enforcing the calendar, but deviation is rare because the system is simple, functional, and widely accepted.

9. Summary

• Day: 25 hours
• Solar Year: 372.2 days
• Civic Year: 372 days (373 every fifth year)
• Leap Rule: +1 day every 5 years
• Months: 12 × 31 days
• Week: 6 days
• Moon: ~31.1-day cycle, not month-aligned
• Mid-Summer Festival: Begins on first full moon after mid-Highsun; 6 days (7 in leap years)

The Calendar of Aletheia is not perfectly tidy, nor is it chaotic. It reflects a world that values continuity, practicality, and seasonal alignment — and one that remembers the importance of maintaining balance.