Hi all,
I can't remember if it was ever nailed down as to what seasons correspond to what dates? Do they go from equinox/solstice, or from calendar months?
I know the 4 seasons a year is an abstraction for mechanical reasons, but was wondering if there was anything in cannon about it?
Leon.
Solstices and equinoxes.
I am not aware of any published reference that says when the seasons start, but that doesn't mean that they are not out there.
I've always used the natural seasons, with each one starting on the quarter day that is half way between the solstice and equinox (or equinox and solstice). Thus Spring starts on Candlemas (2 Feb), Summer on May Day (1 May), Autumn on Lammas (1 Aug), and Winter on All Hallow's Day (1 Nov). This places the solstices and equinoctes at the mid points of the seasons. Having the summer season start with midsummer's day and the winter season start with midwinter's day always seems nonsensical to me.
Mark
I've always had the convention i my groups that seasons start on the relevant equinox/solstice day. So spring starts march 21st (or thereabouts), which is - as Mark Shirley puts it - odd since the year formally changes almost 3 months after it should have. But it is easier to remember than "spring season starts 1½ months before spring equinox...which is mid februrary or thereabouts". And we could never get our heads around a system where winter - as the last of the four seasons - ends so spring starts at the new year, in january. When does spring actually start? That's when the snow melts and plants start growing.
However the dates Mark mentions are neatly fit into the start of calendar months.
That being said, it never cause us any difficulties, over the course of several sagas spanning the last 17 real-world years and covering well over half a century game-time. The newer groups I've played in for the last 6 years or so accepted this method of time keeping with no trouble.
We refer to time as both Season and Year
True. I just took it as axiomatic, from reading the Aegis that seasons start on the solstices and equinoxes. It isn't stated anywhere, though.
It is certainly thematic, and reasonable given that all the magi are at least familiar enough with astrological symbols and the heavens that they can determine when the season's start and end, and wouldn't follow a conventional calendar over an astrological calendar.
Bear in mind that throughout most of Europe at this time, the new year started on the Vernal Equinox, or thereabouts (most often the 25th March). So starting the season on the equinoctes and solstices does make time keeping easier --- the year begins at the vernal equinox, with the season of spring. However, when were medieval calenders ever easy?!
It is entirely possible that the Order follows the Roman model and takes Jan 1 as the first day of the new year. However, this was scrapped by the Council of Tours in 567 as being too pagan. Most of Europe uses Mar 25 as the first day of the new year, although some places use Christmas Day, Easter Monday, or Mar 5. William the Conqueror reverted England to Jan 1 since it was also his coronation day, but by the C13 England was in line with the rest of Europe.
Mark
I run it as from Solstice to Equinox. Which, if my research is accurate, was actually around the 12th of the month in the 13th Century. I also start years in Winter, because it just seems proper. It is in that song even. "Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall; All you have to do is call"
:mrgreen:
To the astrologically minded, I would think, when the day starts getting longer again is a good start point.