The Chantry calendar is the most common in Thedas. It's first year honors the appointment of the Chantry's original head, Divine Justinia I. Unlike other calendars, the Chantry marks time by ages, each a hundred years long. At the end of each age, Chantry scholars name the next. To do this they look to the current state of Thedas and watch for signs from the Maker to help predict what will come.
Currently Thedas is in the middle of the ninth age of the Chantry calendar known as the Dragon Age, due to the reappearance of the Dragons previously believed to be extinct. It was predicted be a time of great destruction upheaval. To say this prediction was accurate has proven an understatement.
Anything prior to 1:1 Divine is known as the Ancient Era, and the years counting backwards are designated with negative numbers.
The people of the Tevinter Imperium do not honor the authority of the Chantry or its calendar. Citizens of the Imperium follow their own calendar, which predates the Chantry's by well over a thousand years. The Tevinter calendar starts at the date the Imperium was founded and the first Archon was crowned, marked as 0 TE. Past history is counted back with negative numbers, much like the Chantry calendar. Tevinter abandoned the use of its calendar breifly with the creation of the Chantry calendar, but returned to it after the Schism.
The elven calendar was established with the formation of the city of Arlathan. It was used for more that six thousand years, only to be banned when the Tevinter Imperium sacked Arlathan and enslaved the elven race. Modern scholars outside of Tevinter recognize the existence of the original elven calendar, although only a few key elven dates have survived the passage of time. These include the first contact with the dwarves in 3000 FA (-4600 Ancient), the arrival of the humans in 4500 FA (-3100 Ancient), and the founding of the Tevinter Imperium in 6405 FA (-1195 Ancient or 0 TE). The founding of Arlathan is marked as 1 FA, the earliest recorded date in the history of Thedas.
There have been nine ages since the foundation of the Chantry.
Divine Age (1:1-1:99): Named to celebrate the reign of the first Divine.
Glory Age (2:1-2:99): Named for the predictions of a grand rebirth after the deviation of the First Blight.
Towers Age (3:1-3:99): Named upon the completion in 2:99 Glory of the Grand Chatherdral in Val Royeaux, it's towers visa Le for miles around.
Black Age (4:1-4:99): Named as the Chantry called for retribution against the "Black Divine" installed by the Tevinter lmperium to rule it's Imperial Chantry following the Schism.
Exalted Age (5:1-5:99): Named during a period of near constant war with the Tevinter Imperium that included multiple Exalted Marches.
Steel Age (6:1-6:99): Named after Queen Madrigal of Antiva was assassinated during a hunt. She was found with four steel swords in her chest.
Storm Age (7:1-7:99): Named as war with the Qunari raged. The leaders of Thedas called for a great storm of violence to expell the invaders.
Blessed Age (8:1-8:99): Named by the Chantry as an age of bounty and prosperity.
Dragon Age (9:1-present): Named after the reappearance of dragons, long thought extinct.
The current twelve months and four seasons that define a year are rooted in the early years of the Tevinter lmperium. Except for the addition of Chantry holidays after the Second Blight, the months and primary seasonal holidays remain unchanged after more than two thousand years.
Each thirty day month has a low name, largely used among the common classes, as well as on official high name. Only courts and scholars use the months high names, based on the original Tevinter. The high names are included bellow using parentheses:
Wintermarch (Verimensis)
Guardian (Pluitansis)
Drakonis (Nebuilis)
Cloudreach (Eluviesta)
Bloomingtide (Molioris)
Justinian (Ferventis)
Solace (Solis)
August (Matrinalis)
Kingsway (Parvulis)
Harvestmere (Frumentum)
Firstfall (Umbralis)
Haring (Cassus)
The majority of Thedas, from Tevinter to Ferelden celebrate five major holidays, each tied to the transition of a season or the beginning of a new year
First Day: The traditional start of the year, this holiday involves visits to neighbors and family (in remote areas this was once used as an annual check to ensure everyone was alive), as well as a town gathering to commemorate the year past, accompanied by drinking and merriment.
Wintersend: Once called "Urthais" and dedicated to Urthemiel, the Old God of Beauty, this holiday has now become a celebration of the Maker. It stands for the end of winter in many lands and coincides with tourneys and contests at the Proving Grounds in Minrathous. In southern lands, this holiday has become a day of gathering for trade, theater in some areas, the arrangement of marriages. It is celebrated at the beginning of Pluitansis.
Summerday: Once called the "Andoralis" and dedicated to Andoral, the Old God of Unity, this holiday is universally celebrated as the beginning of summer. A time for joy, and commonly marriage. Boys and girls ready to come of age don white tunics and gowns. They then join a grand procession that crosses the settlement of the local Chantry, where they are taught the responsibilities of adulthood. Summerday is a particularly holy day in Orlais. It is celebrated at the beginning of Molioris.
Funalis: This holiday was once dedicated to the Old God of Silence, Dumat. However, since Dumat's rise during the First Blight, Theodosians turn a blind eye to any old ties between the day and the dragon. The holiday is now known across Thedas as All Soul's Day and spend in somber remembrance of the dead. In some northern lands, the people dress as spirits and walk the streets in parade after midnight. The Chantry uses this holiday to remember the death of Andraste, with public fires that mark her immolation and plays that depict her death. It is celebrated at the beginning of Matrinalis.
Satinalia: Once dedicated to the Old God of Freedom, Zezikel- but now attributed more to the second moon, Satina- this holiday is accompanied by wild celebration, the wearing of masks and the naming the town fool as ruler for a day. In Antiva Satinalia lasts for a week or more, while a week of fasting follows. In more pious areas large feasts and the giving of gifts mark the holiday. Satinalia is celebrated at the beginning of Umbralis.