Holidays Celebrated Everywhere

FIRST DAY (WINTERMARCH; 1ST MONTH)
The traditional start of the year, this holiday involves visits to neighbors and family (in remote areas, this was once an annual check to ensure everyone was alive), as well as a town gathering to commemorate the year past, accompanied by drinking and merriment. Most races and cultures celebrate it in their own ways with their own sets of traditions.

ANDRASTE'S BIRTHDAY (12 GUARDIAN; 2ND MONTH)

VALENTINE'S DAY (14 GUARDIAN)

WINTERSEND (GUARDIAN; 2ND MONTH)
Once called “Urthalis” 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, and, in some areas, the arrangement of marriages. It is celebrated at the beginning of Guardian/Pluitanis and celebrations run throughout the first week.

THE BONFIRE BASH (3 DRAKONIS)
A celebration to ward off the winter from returning. The town gathers and starts a huge bonfire. ls customary to burn things that you hate, or that you have no use for.

SPRING EQUINOX (21 DRAKONIS)

SUMMERDAY (BLOOMINGTIDE; 5TH MONTH)
Once called “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 to the local Chantry, where they are taught the responsibilities of adulthood. Summerday is a particularly holy occasion in Orlais. It is celebrated at the beginning of Bloomingtide/Molioris. This is mostly an Andrastian holiday, though other races and religions may celebrate the beginning of Summer in their own ways.

HERALD'S DAY (JUSTINIAN; 6TH MONTH)
A new holiday made by the Chantry, in celebration of the defeat of Corypheus and the closing of the Breach. In recent years as the Chantry try to claw back power and favor, there seems to have been attempts to water down certain facts. For example, there is little if no mention that the Herald of Andraste was a dalish elf and attempts at separating the identify of the Herald and Inquisitor. This holiday is celebrated with a trip to the local Chantry for sermon and prayer, followed by feasting, usually between family and friends, or some villages might hold a street party.

ALL SOUL'S DAY (AUGUST; 8TH MONTH)
Once called “Funalis” and dedicated to Dumat, the Old God of Silence. However, since Dumat’s rise during the First Blight, Thedosians 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 spent 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 the 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 August/Matrinalis.

AUTUMN EQUINOX (21 KINGSWAY)

HARVEST CLOSE (31 KINGSWAY)
In farming communities this is the biggest event of the year. It's a week long party celebrating the harvest. There's dancing, feasting and drinking from sunrise to sunset

FALL FEAST (1 FIRSTFALL)
To prepare for the coming winter, a feast is thrown together of fall delicacies. The whole town is invited to join and it's customary to bring a dish of your own making

SATINALIA (FIRSTFALL; 11TH MONTH)
Once dedicated to the Old God of Chaos, Zazikel — but now attributed more to the second moon, Satina — this holiday is accompanied by wild celebration, the wearing of masks, and 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 Firstfall/Umbralis.

WINTER SOLSTICE (21 HARING)