1st: Day of Sisters and Brothers

This day do sisters and brothers give each other small gifts and spend time together, especially by sharing a meal. There may be teasing and jests, but there must be no quarrels to ruin the day. Brothers and sisters who live a long distance away write letters and post parcels instead.

First Full Moon After the Autumn Equinox: Harvest Festival (sacred to Ceres) PUBLIC HOLIDAY

On the Harvest Festival the Temple of Ceres is decorated with sheaves of wheat as everyone gives thanks for the harvest. If it has been a good one, there is much jubilation. However, a poor harvest means a sober tone to the service, with prayers of thanksgiving replaced with ones asking the goddess for better crops the next year. The worship service includes harvest hymns and a play about Ceres, usually acted out by young people.

In the evening is a feast in celebration of the harvest, presided over by an image of Ceres, the Corn Mother, made from the last sheaf to be reaped. This will be kept for luck until the next harvest. There are dances, games, much ale drunk, many jokes made, and gifts made to all the farm workers. 

The traditional meal is mushroom soup; spiced lamb and apple pie with roast potatoes, carrots and cabbage; buttered griddle bread with cheese; creamy rice pudding with stewed plums;  hazelnuts; and grapes.   

A piece of weather folklore is that if the Harvest Festival is fine and clear, it will be a long winter following. The Harvest Festival is the official last day of the summer holidays. The next Monday will begin the academic year at schools and universities. 

11th: Festival of the Grape Harvest (sacred to Jupiter) PUBLIC HOLIDAY

To celebrate the grape harvest, a holiday is given to support the vineyards by drinking their wines. As it is also the hop harvest and the apple harvest season, some people choose to drink beer or cider instead, but this is not endorsed by the Temple of Jupiter. Many people will go to work the next day nursing sore heads after this holiday, especially those who chose to drink wine, beer and cider all at once. 

12th: Annual Gymnastics Championships

Takes place at the Mercury Gymnasium in the town of Brill, just outside the west wall of the city of Camden. Open to all ages, with no prize money as it is an amateur competition. There are trophies for the major winners.  

13th: Day of Fountains, Wells, and Springs

All fountains, wells and springs in the kingdom are blessed today, and decorated with garlands of flowers and berries. This is reckoned a good day to seek cures from healing springs and wells, to pray for health, and to take the waters.

15th: Royal Poetry Festival

A celebration of all things poetic at Camden Palace, under the auspices of the esteemed Poet Laureate, Sir Robert Black. The culmination of this grand event is a reading by the Poet Laureate himself from his own works. A rare treat. 

17th: Wedding Anniversary of King Bernard and King Philip PUBLIC HOLIDAY

This marks the anniversary of the wedding between King Bernard and his consort, King Philip. There is a renewal of their vows at the Temple of Luna, followed by a banquet and dance at Camden Palace.  

It is considered fortunate for lovers to plight their troth and set a wedding date today, especially for blessed unions between two men. Whether by coincidence or good luck, the weather is nearly always unseasonably warm and pleasant this day, even if October has otherwise been chilly and grim.    

23rd: Festival of the Purification of the Army (sacred to Mars)

This day marks the end of the military year, which began in March. All members of the army, all horses, and all equipment is cleaned and blessed before a final formal parade in the city of Calavon, witnessed by the king. 

25th: Commemoration of the Victory at the Battle of Everwick PUBLIC HOLIDAY

This day marks the victory of King Peter Ironfoot against the forces of King Theodoric of Everwick. The peace following the battle led to marriage between King Peter and Princess Ellen of Everwick and an alliance between the two kingdoms, so that this day is one of celebration of love and friendship. A representative of Everwick will be in attendance for the ceremonies, with the red roses of Lindensea and the white of Everwick intertwined on wreaths.   

31st: Winter's Eve

On this day do country people bring livestock and cattle from the pastures into stables and byres. The veil between the worlds of the living and dead is said to become thin now. Some say that ghosts walk this night, and that has led the mischievous to hide under white sheets in order to frighten the more timid. 

The fire on the hearth must not go out tonight, and many will stay up until morning to ensure its safety. Candles are lit inside turnip lanterns until the house is bright, and after solemn prayers for protection upon the household, a night of feasting, drinking, story telling and games follows to keep everyone awake. Games of divination are popular among the young, especially ones that will reveal the identity of the future spouse. 

Traditional treats to enjoy around the fireplace include potato cakes, doughnuts, fruit bread, hazelnuts, apples, and cider. They are often used in games, such as bobbing for apples, or cracking nuts before the fire to see who will marry first.    

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅