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I wouldn't mind seeing a copy of you compiled list of holidays from the Book of priestcraft and the boxed set. Care to post it here??
Good luck with the game.
Festivals & Important Days
1st Roelir - Foundation Festival/Fair
This festival lasts for 3 days. It celebrates the Founding of the City of Anuire, and also the Founding of the Empire of Anuire. People aren't really sure which any more, so they celebrate both. It includes a huge fair, set mainly outside the city gates, on the Avanil Side of the River, but manages to spread it's way all over the city.
The first day used to consist of a jousting competition, archery contest and a grand melee, but this has been dispensed with since the fall of the empire. It is still a great public event today, since merchants from all over Cerilia bring in their goods, bards tell stories, there are seers and fortune tellers (both real ones and charlatans). The CoS tries to get in on the activities, but the common people are either simply too scared of their magic, or they are so skeptical they start harrassing the mages as 'frauds'. Either way, the crowds tend to stay right away from their stalls. In fact, in recent years, the CoS has begun to consider withdrawing from the event completely.
The main event of the second day is the Parade of guilds, where all of the guilds compete to see who has the best float. the parade winds through the entire city, and crowds line the entire length of the causeway to get a look in.
The highlight of the third day are two races, the winners of which become quite famous over the next few days. In the morning, the Horse Race is held. This tradition has its origin in the desire to find the best riders of the nation for a special corps to carry important messages back and forth between the cities.
In the afternoon, the "City of Anuire Memorial Land Brige Race" is held. A footrace that starts in the Avanil Shore and travels from island to island and end up back on the cause way. The winners get taken into Imperial Island and treated like Emperors by the Chamberlain's staff. The winner(s) (one male and one female) of the foot race are quite famous and well-known throughout the city as a result of his/her win. Of course, the race would have to finish at the Imperial Colloseum ('a lap around the Olympic stadium').
The evening of the last day culminates in spectacular fireworks, launched from a barge in the Imperial Harbour. The harbour becomes crowded with people and seats are quite hard to come by. Families sometimes reserve their places in the morning, and bring lunch/dinner with them so they get the best seats. The CoS plays a significant part in bringing the fireworks to life with their magic (though this is either unknown or dismissed as hearsay by the people). As stated above, however, there have been tensions in the last few years, and the CoS is threatening to pull out of the celebrations due partly to the disrespect of the people (could lead to some interesting adventures).
Day of Remembrance
This is similar (in what it remembers) to the present day ANZAC, VE and Remembrance Days. Celebrated on the date of the anniversary of the death of Michael Roele, this day means different things to different people. Some commemorate the death of the last Emperor (Michael Roele), while others use it to remember all those who have died in the defence of both the city and the Empire. The day is usually given over to dawn ceremonies, wreath laying ceremonies, etc. This day is one of great respect amongst the inhabitants of the city. It has long been tradition that on this day, no bells, horns etc can be sounded within the walls of the Imperial City. In addition, all ships which sail in or out of the city on this day must fly a black flag at half mast , in honour of the dead soldiers.
In the evening, the ceremonies change direction, and become much more official. In addition, the emphasis is changed from remembering those who have died to remembering Michael Roele. This part of the 'day' is mostly pomp and ceremony, and only really recognised by some of the population. Those who remember Michael Roele as the ruler who was tricked by the Gorgon remember him how he was, and pray for the rise of a new Emperor (whoever that may be) who will rule as well as he once did. Then there are those who remember Michael Roele as an egotistical ruler, who put his personal pride above his duties to his people. Those who remember him in the latter way register their protest by not recognising the events of the evening. Some of the highest city dignitaries even feel this way, and refuse to attend official events. However, although arguments may erupt, it never comes to blows.
During the day, wreaths are laid at the tomb of Michael Roele, in recognition of all those who have died defending their homeland. In the early evening, these are cleared away and placed on a bier, to be set on their way out into the Arnienbae. Where they end up, no-one knows... In the evening, the Tomb of Michael Roele becomes a site to remember Michael Roele, and many people come to pay their respects. A long-standing tradition has been to lay a burning candle around the Tomb, and plenty of people still observe this tradition (though not in the numbers that appear on the Eve of the Dead).
The churches are also well attended on this day, with many people coming to pray for the rise of a new emperor, and the return of the Anuirean Empire.
Pinwheel Day
[Mark VanderMeulen] Then I think that it would be interesting to have a long-standing tradition that almost everyone follows but no one really knows why any more (perhaps it was started in the early days of the Empire, or even before Desimaar, and has become more of a social event, and its original reason is forgotten). Something like: Pinwheel Day! Everyone takes a picnic lunch that includes a special type of spiced bread, and goes to one of the parks or to the public squares/public areas of their local island and the children all get brightly coloured pinwheels, and the businesses deck out their buildings in coloured pinwheels as well.
Eve of the Dead
On the Eve of the Dead, the entire city lights candles and bonfires, etc. It is an awesome sight, and it would be easy to make the mistake of thinking the City has been set on fire. There are two reasons for lighting the fires. The first is to protect the living from the undead which sometimes emerge on this night. This would than also work as some sort of protection from the "undead" that emerge during the winter time. Those that are remembered will be protected from this undead status and remain in their graves while those that are not remembered are not protected from this. This will make people be sure that they are remembered by their families so that they will be spared the agony of being an undead and it will also make people remember their loved ones to protect them from this undead state. Whether people actually believe this, or simply do it out of tradition, nobody knows? Midwinter/the Eve of the Dead is the darkest day of the year, but it also represents the ascendency of light (hope, goodness, whatever). The lighting of the city represents this.
This holiday is very religious in nature, and most of the major faiths have their own ceremonies on this night. In these ceremonies, the second point above is stressed - that the city can now look forward to a time of prosperity, etc.
Fisherman's Festival
Since the City of Anuire is a coastal city there are likely to be lots of fishermen. Once a year they all meet for a great festival. This festival used to be for the lower class what the fair was for nobles and the middle and upper classes. The fishermen also hold a tournament, consisiting of a boat race and a "fishermen's joust". Two fishermen standing in small boats are rowed towards each other and try to push each other into the water with blunt lances. The winner is proclaimed "Fisher King".
The festival is widely recognised and held to be very important among the fisherman, and it takes on an almost religious nature. The 'festival' may have two reasons: - to promote a good harvest in the coming 'season' - to celebrate the prosperous season that has just passed.
Ascendency of the Gods [Victory at Diesmaar]
This celebration celebrates the ascendency of the current gods, and their victory over Azrai at Deismaar. It is fervently celebrated in churches, at the Palace and in the nobility, with extremely elaborate ceremonies, costumes, etc. The churches in particular, celebrate the ascendancy of 'their' god with great vigour. However, it is not so much of an occasion for the people, being somewhat removed from the events at Deismaar. The fact that most commoners are unblooded means they probably don't 'feel' the ancient bloodlines as a blooded person does, and it thus doesn't mean as much to them. There is also an 'official' re-enactment of the event, by the Imperial Theatre, usually attended by the nobility, though some seats are reserved for commoners. This stage production attracts many of the finest actors from all over Cerilia.
Thanks, Mr. Gorgon
Behold: a calendar for the realms of the Great Bay:
http://www.geocities.com/xagunder/Calendar.pdf