1st: Summer Festival (sacred to Flora) PUBLIC HOLIDAY

The Summer Festival begins at dawn, with unmarried girls going out into the fields dressed in white to collect flowering blossom from the trees and bushes. They then make them into baskets to be left on the doorsteps of friends and neighbours. In Camden, the flowers are bought from the markets instead, and are used to decorate the Temple of Flora as well. 

The day is given over to games and dancing, with the prettiest girl being crowned The Flower Queen. This day marks the first day of summer - that is, the six months of warm weather for the year. The traditional meal this day is grilled beef steak with jacket potato and cheese salad, and trifle with whipped cream.   

4th: Birthday of King Bernard PUBLIC HOLIDAY

The king's birthday is celebrated with great pomp and pageantry, followed in the evening by a banquet and grand ball. For the common people, it is a day to continue the spring celebrations with village fetes, bazaars, dancing on the green, and country games.   

6th: Blessing of the Fleet (sacred to Neptune)

On this day does the Temple of Neptune bless the fleet of the Royal Navy at Port Brine, the vessels being made especially ship-shape and decorated with flags for the occasion. In Camden the blessing is done on all the ships at the docks and harbours, and fishing boats are blessed in towns and villages along rivers and the coast.   

10th: Day of the Hen

This day is considered to be the best to eat spring chicken, which is at its peak. Almost everyone will eat roast chicken today, and butchers sell ones already cooked to those without ovens. The Board of Guardians host a free chicken dinner for the poor so that nobody need miss out. The usual meal today is roast chicken with boiled new potatoes, carrots and broccoli, followed by rhubarb and custard.

11th: Picnic Day 

A picnic is held on the banks of the River Tayo, very popular with the common people. At this jovial feast, people sprawl on the grass beside the river, drinking wine and wishing good things upon all those they encounter. Some foresighted people bring tents in case of rain, and not a few camp overnight so that the fun may continue - or so they can sleep off their picnic. 

15th: Festival of Mercury

The Temple of Mercury blesses merchants, their ships, their businesses, and their merchandise with water taken from Mercury's sacred well on Dock Street, beneath the mulberry tree. Today being a holiday for merchants, all shopping and business is closed.  

21st: Birthday of King Philip PUBLIC HOLIDAY

A garden party is always held at Camden Palace for the King Consort's birthday. An entertainment is arranged for the common people, usually a circus. King Philip announces today the winner of the Duke of Ravenswood Award for the happiest, healthiest, and best-kept animal in the kingdom.

23rd: Day of the Flowers

This day is thought the best to buy fresh flowers from the market, with spring blooms abounding. The flower stalls at Garden Market do a roaring trade in Camden, and every house will be filled with the colour and scent of fresh flowers. Flowers are sent to hospitals as a gift by the Board of Guardians, and many people will receive a bouquet from a friend or admirer. Bluebells are everywhere in the woods, and today is the perfect time to enjoy their beauty. 

24th: Feast of the First Fruits of Summer (sacred to Apollo)

This day is one to celebrate and enjoy the first fruits of summer, and the markets will be filled with fresh produce. Delicious platters of leafy green salads, baby carrots, baby broad beans, early peas, asparagus, new potatoes, eggs, and cheese are served, along with fresh bread and butter. With the first bite of each item, it is traditional to hold it in the mouth and ask Apollo to grant a wish.     

25th: Day of Adopted Children (sacred to Diana)

This day of the year all adoptions of children that have taken place in the past twelvemonth become formally recognised. There is a ceremony at the Temple of Diana where all paperwork is finalised, and families welcome their new child with open arms. Families with adopted children often choose to celebrate this day as an anniversary of the adoption.     

27th: The Camden Lawn Tennis Championships

The tennis season opens with a tournament at Camden, with a silver plate as the trophy for men and women players. An important social event for the nobility. 

29th: Blessing of Beasts (sacred to Ceres)

The Temple of Ceres conducts blessing ceremonies for all livestock and animals throughout the kingdom, on all estates, farms, and villages. This is done by the priestesses walking around every field, with supplications to the goddess. In Camden, people may bring their horses and pets to be blessed at her temple, and there is a mass blessing of the horses at Camden Palace. 

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