Calendar and Timekeeping
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The year
The year is 357 bells long, and according to the commonly used Grickian Calendar it is divided into 13 months of lengths from 18 to 37 bells. This calendar has it's start in the Ordering, hence the notation "p.o." or "post ordering" often used to denote its use. Its main progenitor was Saint Igric Blackhollow which codified it in the year 251 p.o. at the Ivonvar observatory.
The months of the calendar take their names from the primary nightward constellation at that given part of the year. These constelations are the ones recognized by the Stargazers at Ivonvar, and are taken up by the Mistfaith for their own holibells.
The week
As the month is often inaccurate, and too broad, there is usually a division of 7 bells, which denote the week. These bells have their own names presented below, but the numerical denotation is also often used.
| 1st bell | Moonbell |
|---|---|
| 2nd bell | Secondbell |
| 3rd bell | Omenbell |
| 4th bell | Thunderbell |
| 5th bell | Freebell |
| 6th bell | Starbell |
| 7th bell | Sunbell |
For adjacent bells, the terms "yonderbell" and "yesterbell" denote the upcoming and previous bell, respectively.
The Bell
Natural rhythms have dictated the way most people live their daily lives. 16 hours of wakefulness followed by 8 hours of rest is the usual routine, though there are some whom, for one reason or another, follow different patterns. Most cities fall into a shared cycle, but some more populous cities have taken up a dual or even triple cycle - having two or more shifts to provide continuous service in their shops, restaurants, or industries.
The language used to describe time intervals is different from that of a planet with a regular day-night cycle. Most refer to a period of sleep and wakefulness as a cycle, period, or most commonly a bell. This is because of the custom of marking the passing of a 24-hour period by ringing a central bell or bells.
In recent time more precise timekeeping methods such as clocks has made the public service of a large central bell less necessary, but the nomenclature has persisted.
Time
Hours, minutes and seconds are as one might expect. 24 hours per bell, 60 minutes per hour, and 60 seconds per minute.
Etymology
The name Grickian is a mutation of the name Igrick, which was the calendars creator. Due to this, there are some who insist on calling it the Igrickian calendar, but both are accepted.
The months
All the months arranged in order tell a broad story.
The Lantern
The Lantern starts of the year, with sun starting to rise higher. A natural start, new hope and beginnings.
Light springs over the horizon.
The Rider
Movement, new frontiers, an upheaval.
A man on the horizon.
The Path
The night sky is dominated by the glowing nebula.
The man follows the path. (from outside, in a broader sense, to The Land)
The Beast
A constellation resembling a pair of horns.
The rider subjugates the beast, either through domestication or hunt. Growing rich from the bounty of nature.
The Daughter
The man meets a young maiden, love blooms
The Songbird
Fertility, life, companionship
The Newlyweds
The early days of two lovers. The honeymoon days
The Mother
The maiden becomes a woman, bearing children, raising them, caring for the home.
The Father
The man takes on the role of a father, raising his children, providing for his family
The Sons
Two sons grow up, fulfilling their potential, being a boon to the family as their parents grow older.
The Stranger
The Stranger, in this case a representation of death, comes to claim the parents who have grown old.
The Wagon
The psychopomp carrying the souls of the dead to the afterlife.
The Follower
In the wake of death one son stays, and the other leave, following
See Also
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| The Grickian Calendar[T] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Months | ||
| Holibells | Mistfaith | |