The calendar of Eldris divides the year into twelve months, each associated with the changing seasons, the rhythms of agriculture, and the natural world. The names of the months reflect the passage from winter frost to spring growth, the warmth of summer, and the harvests and declining light of autumn. These seasonal divisions govern much of ordinary life, influencing the planting and gathering of crops, the movement of livestock, the preparation of winter stores, and the customary periods of travel and labor.
Winter is the coldest season, marked by short days, frozen earth, and the scarcity of fresh provisions. Snow and ice hinder travel, while rural households depend upon stores gathered during the preceding harvest.
Prosinec marks the beginning of winter, when daylight grows scarce and the sun hangs low in the sky. Snow begins to settle across the countryside, rivers grow cold, and the first lasting frosts harden the soil. Households prepare their hearths and provisions for the harsher months ahead.
Leden is the depth of winter, named for the ice that binds rivers, ponds, and roads. The ground lies frozen beneath snow, and bitter cold makes outdoor labor difficult. Travel becomes treacherous, particularly in mountainous regions, while settlements endure the season upon their stored grain, salted meat, and firewood.
Unor marks the waning of winter, when ice begins to sink and break beneath the first uncertain thaws. Snowmelt swells streams, and the frozen ground gradually softens. Though bitter weather remains common, the lengthening days herald the approaching spring.
Spring is the season of renewal, when thawing soil, rising sap, and returning warmth restore life to the countryside. Farmers begin sowing their fields, livestock return to pasture, and the roads gradually recover from winter.
Brezen takes its name from the birch, among the trees that first stir with the return of spring. Sap begins to rise, snow retreats from the lowlands, and roads turn to deep mud beneath the thaw. Farmers inspect their fields and prepare the soil for the coming planting season.
Duben is associated with the oak, whose emerging leaves announce the strengthening of spring. Fields are plowed and sown, orchards begin to flower, and fresh grasses spread across the countryside. Agricultural labor intensifies as communities prepare for the growing season.
Maj is the height of spring, when meadows and orchards stand in full bloom. The countryside grows lush and green, temperatures become pleasantly warm, and livestock graze upon abundant pasture. Flowers, new foliage, and lengthening days mark the transition toward summer.
Summer brings the longest days and greatest warmth of the year. Fields and orchards approach maturity, hay is gathered for winter fodder, and agricultural work occupies much of the rural population. The latter part of the season is dominated by the grain harvest.
Cerven marks the beginning of summer, when ripening fruits begin to redden and insects flourish in the warmth. Fields stand thick with growing crops, and the long days permit extended labor. Early fruits are gathered while farmers tend the grain that will sustain their households through winter.
Lipen takes its name from the linden tree, whose fragrant blossoms appear during the height of summer. The days are long and warm, and haymaking occupies much of the countryside. Meadows are cut and the dried grasses stored to feed livestock during the colder months.
Srpen is named for the sickle, the traditional implement of the grain harvest. Summer heat persists as farmers reap their fields, bind sheaves, and gather the year's most important crops. Villages are occupied with threshing, drying, and storing grain, for the success of this harvest often determines whether their provisions will endure the winter.
Autumn is the season of gathering, preparation, and decline. The final harvests are brought in, forests exchange their green foliage for red and gold, and the days steadily shorten. Communities prepare their winter stores as colder winds, rain, and fog return to the countryside.
Zari marks the transition from summer to autumn, traditionally associated with the period preceding the rutting season of deer. The last great harvests are gathered, orchards yield their ripened fruit, and the first cool nights signal the passing of summer. Farmers begin clearing their fields and preparing stores for the months ahead.
Rijen is named for the rutting season, when the calls of stags echo through the forests. Trees turn brilliant shades of red, gold, and brown, while vineyards are harvested and newly pressed wine begins its fermentation. Hunting becomes particularly important as animals prepare for winter and the countryside grows steadily colder.
Listopad means the falling of leaves, marking the final decline of autumn. Trees stand increasingly bare, dense fog settles over fields and roads, and the first hard frosts announce winter's approach. Livestock that cannot be sustained through the cold months are slaughtered, their meat salted, smoked, or otherwise preserved. Households complete their winter preparations as the days grow increasingly dim.