The Lalenth Calendar

The Lalenth year is split into six periods of 60 days, each of which is named after one of the Great Households. They run in this order: Evrus, Aelus, Dicantus, Vishrus, Gefeldus, and Lakrus. There are two major festivals, at opposite ends of the year, marking the seasons.

The Nevernight Festival, on the longest day of the year, usually in Dicantus, is perhaps the most eagerly anticipated. A three festival, the Nevernight Festival celebrates the summer plenty. Held in the Larkwood orchards and funded by the Grunfelds, it comprises of three days of tournaments, fairs, markets and trade competitions. The festival is started by a traditional masked ball, where all rank boundaries are dropped as the guests dance and mingle in complete anonymity. A huntsman's daughter may dance with a nobleman, a great lady with a chimney sweep. Indeed, many a scandalous tryst has been achieved under the cover of the Masque. It is at this festival that new huntsmen are sworn in after the completion of their trials. Also at this festival, all members of the Wordsmiths Guild must present a new work of some kind before the leader of House Di Canto. The author of the best is declared Lalenth Laureate for the following year.

The second of the festivals is the Huntsworn, which is held in snow-filled Lakrus. As Lalenth's supplies dwindle in the winter months, the Forest Gate is opened and a great hunt is held into the Wastelands and forests. It may seem strange that this inherently dangerous activity is celebrated but all of Lalenth do so. A feast is held in honour of the huntsmen and dances and plays about the hunt are performed. The Star ChamberÔs floor is covered in straw and hunting dogs and hawks join their masters in the feasting hall, whilst horses are brought into the outer chamber. Special cakes made of honey, dried fruit, and nuts are eaten. After a day of feasting the Hunt sets forth at night from the Star Chamber, their path to the Forest Gate lit with torches. The gates are then locked behind them and not opened again for three days, by which time the hunt returns, laden with fresh meat. A further day of feasting follows. It is both a celebration and a commemoration, as no hunt has ever been without its casualties.

The only other regular occasion is the three-yearly Fresh Leaf ceremony. All leaves, the currency in Lalenth, are returned to the Banking House and exchanged for fresh ones. Originally this was simply a method of preventing fraud. The print on each new set of leaves is distinctly different, making counterfeiting difficult. Now it is a day's holiday and one of only three occasions when the Autumn Hall will close its doors. The Fresh Leaf is also a common time for the nobles to levy taxes. By insisting that all currency is changed and invalidating old currency, the nobility can insure that it is impossible to avoid paying the tax. A man will simply hand over twelve old leaves and receive eleven new ones.