Standard calendar

Alva uses a standard calendar identical to our own solar calendar, but with different names and traditions. Below is information on the year cycle, the months, the holidays, and the zodiac.

Year Cycle

Years are counted in a four-year cycle, each of which is associated with a particular god and is traditionally considered to be suited for different kinds of activities. This doesn't stop life going on as normal, but it is a small indication of luck.

The current year is 8293, Year of Beginnings.

Months

There are twelve months identical to ours. Dates are parsed as, x-th month name, e.g. 1st Frost.

Holidays

The holidays observed in Alva are similar but not identical to ours. The major ones celebrated everywhere are as follows:

Day of Forgiveness - 28th Mirrors (28th Feb)
A day to settle or put aside old grudges. People often take this day as an opportunity to approach those who they've lost contact with. Observance is particularly important during the Year of Souls, when it precedes Spectre Day.

Spectre Day - 29th Mirrors (29th Feb)
This is the 'ghost day', which appears only during the Year of Souls. It is held to be a danger-ridden day when influences of insanity are close and bad luck is rife, and is the subject of many superstitions.

Day of Mourning - 20th Thawing (20th Mar)
Set on the spring equinox, this is a day to remember the dead, and set aside time to grieve. Visits to the graves of relatives are customary. It is overall a day treated with solemnity.

Day of Keys - 7th Arrival (7th Apr)
A particularly lucky day. It is said that doors will open on this day, and indeed it is traditional to be generous with opportunities on the Day of Keys.

Spring Festival - 30th Seeds (30th May)
Celebrations to mark the end of the planting season. It is particularly important to Cantor, rural Koben and Bratkowice.

Day of Blossoming - 21st Flowers (21st Jun)
As summer solstice, this is a day of indulgence. Many wear their best clothes and take time to do things or try luxuries they have wanted to but not been able to.

Day of Renewal - 22nd Fire (22nd Sep)
Autumn equinox, and a day to replace old things with new things. Houses are cleaned and often bonfires are made with the discarded things.

Harvest Eve - 30th Rains (30th Oct)
Celebrations for the end of the harvest season. It is universally observed with lavish festivities.

Day of Lovers - 3rd Gifts (3rd Nov)
A day dedicated to romance and lovers.

Week of Kin - 3rd week of Gifts (3rd week of Nov)
This week is for showing appreciation for your kin of all kinds. The days are dedicated, in order, to:
1. Community, work relations, friends
2. Close family
3. Extended family
4. Fostered family and close friends
5. Those from the past
6. Future family and young children
7. Day for charity - A day for giving out kindnesses to strangers, usually done anonymously.

Day of Prayer - 21st Stars (21st Dec)
At winter solstice, this is a day to pray for the end of winter. In the Kingdom tribute is paid to Aurea to seek the return of warmth, and in the Empire tribute is paid to Atros to ease the cold. In Estraude tradition is to pray to both, however Aurea often receives greater attention.

Starfall Night - 31st Stars (31st Dec)
The last day of the year. Full night vigils are held from dusk to the dawn of the new year.

Zodiac Signs

Alva has a standard zodiac that is equivalent to ours. The signs themselves are tied to different, Alvan constellations, but the characteristics denoted by each sign is identical.


While Songluans acknowledges the standard solar calendar, they take great pride in following their own lunisolar calendar as well, which has been a significant part of their culture for over two and a half millennia.

The calendar consists of twelve lunar months, each named after a zodiac animal, plus a thirteenth which is inserted in leap years. Month lengths alternate between 29 and 30 days (the first day of the cycle having 29 and the last 30), with the leap month always being 30 days. Years themselves follow a 60-year cycle (currently in its 41st cycle since the arrival of the people to Song-Lu).

Every Songluan year has an aspect, a luxury, and an associated zodiac animal. It is commonly believed that these attributes give hints as to what will occur during the year, and that they determine a lot about the personality and life of a person born in the same year.

Aspects

Aspects are the influence of the two gods, Aurea and Atros, whose heavenly embodiments of sun and moon shine down upon Alva. They influence the temper of a person or year.

Luxuries

Luxuries are precious commodities associated with each of the five gods. They influence a person or year's area of power.

Zodiac Animals

The zodiac animals are those who have in some way distinguished themselves in the mythos of Song-lu’s creation. Each is associated with a certain set of traits and karma.

Interpretation

Everyone understands that the signs only give indications of how a given year will progress, or what a person will be like, but reading and interpreting the zodiac is a favoured pastime in Song-Lu.

Aspect

The aspects influence the temper of a person or year, both in positive and negative ways. It is never viewed on its own, but used as a guideline for interpreting the rest of the signs.

Luxury

The luxury represents your area of power, a personality trait or talent which is your main forte. For those who believe in the gods, the luxury also represents the god who is most likely to attend your prayer, or bestow favors upon you. When used to predict the outcome of a year, the luxury represents something that will occur or a course of action which is favored in that year.

Outer Animal

This is determined by your year animal. The sign represents your overall qualities, generally focusing on the positive aspects of the sign rather than the negative. These are believed to be your most visible traits - the ones you allow others to see. When used to predict the outcome of a year, one must view both the positive and negative aspects of the animal sign, and view them in combination with the year’s associated luxury and aspect.

Inner Animal

This is determined by your month animal. It is generally believed that this sign represents your love life. While fairly innocuous, some believe it can also represent various intrigues you will experience, and it can give insights into your family affairs. For these reasons, many choose not to share this sign with others.

True Animal

This is determined by your day animal. Shared only with close friends, if at all, the true animal represents tendencies in how your life develops, as well as your talents for various lines of work. It can also give insights into your health. Experts claim they can track your life from birth to death based on this sign alone.

Secret Animal

This is determined by your hour animal. Usually known only to your parents and yourself, the secret animal represents your innate qualities, which come into play when you are at your most truthful to yourself. Sometimes repressed, these qualities can lead you into trouble or save you from the most dire of situations.  The effects of this sign can be highly unpredictable, but some believe it is the most defining sign of them all. It is said that if you don’t know your secret animal, then you don’t know yourself.

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