Amenite Calendar

The Amenite Calendar is a calendar devised for Amenitism, a constructed religion. The accompanying language and culture are still undeveloped. The calendar is lunar and assumed to be used in a world and year similar to our own. It has twelve months:

Summēna	5 Midwinter, 17 Freeborn, 19-23 Fifthdays
Dovimēna	21 Flocks
Trīmēna	9, 11, 13 Ghosts
Četurmēna	9 Heath
Pinchemēna
Svešamēna	5 Neras, 15 Rose Moon
Septummēna
Aštōmēna
Nevummēna
Dešummēna
Turamēna	Crossover
Pūramēna	Scripture Days

The calendar is metonic, so that in a cycle of 19 years, the years 3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 17, and 19 have 13 months. A leap-year month, second Svešamēna is added to bring the calendar closer to the solar year. The festivals of sixth month occur in the bisextile month in a leap-year. The civic calendar begins on the day of the new moon after 22 June, the southern winter solstice.

Each month consists of two fortnights. The first is the bright fortnight which moves toward the full-moon night. The second is the dark fortnight which moves toward the new-moon night. The first and fifteenth days are known as the 'entry-days', when pious laity join with the priests for special observances. At these times the priests will lead public worship and give scripture talks.

Midwinter Ceremony

(5 Summēna) a thanksgiving addressed to God for the blessings of life, health, and sustenance and the privileges of social life. Amenites celebrate this day as the birthday of the Prophet. The Man chalked on the midwinter log represents an offering made by fire. The occasion is marked with great solemnity and prayers which include ceremonial lights and candles to bring back the sun and light up the night. Everyone sets off fireworks and firecrackers. Many places celebrate with music, dancing and pageantry. Feasts conclude the celebration. The ceremony commemorating the death of the Prophet is also celebrated with great veneration, and worshippers attend temple, reciting prayers in his honour. Holly and ivy are associated with the Midwinter Ceremony. Trees may be planted on this occasion and fruit shared.

Freeborn

(17 Summēna) a fertility festival characterised by masks, phallic symbols, and singing. An icon is escorted into the community in a torchlight procession including priests of the various schools dressed in gold who make offerings and libations. It is a popular occasion for initiation for freeborn children.

Fifth Days

(19-23 Summēna) the first day of this festival commemorates the creation of the goddess. It is proper to wear yellow, and little yellow bouquets are sold at the doors of the temples. Children begin scavenging wood for bonfire night. Acts of penance and offerings are made to the awaking earth to cleanse it of impurities.

The final day marks the goddess's triumph over the demons. The ceremonial trumpets are purified in a festival as the goddess's image is clothed in new robes. The robes are carried on a ship on wheels followed by the people. It is considered a great honour for any girl to be considered worthy of weaving the goddess's robes.

Amenites observe the eve of the last day as vigil. It is believed to be blessing to keep the vigil, even for thieves and hunters active that night.

Flocks

(21 Dovimēna) a festival for the purification of shepherds and flocks. Its ceremonies are conducted by priestesses. The sheep pens are cleaned and decorated. Sulphur is burned on bonfires so the smoke will purify the sheep. Special offering cakes and milk are presented in temples on the 15th of Dovimēna. The cakes are broken and sprinkled on the bonfires. A lamb is paraded and venerated as an offering to the earth, to protect the flocks and keep them fertile. Shepherds wash themselves, drink the milk and leap through the bonfires, followed by a celebration. Gifts of food are given to friends and to the poor.

Ghosts

(9, 11, 13 Trīmēna) the days that wandering spirits haunt the places of the living. On each of these days the household prepares a measure of black beans. As darkness falls he walks barefoot around the house to scatter these at the entrance of the house and in dark corners as food for the ghosts so they do not carry off living members of the household. A wreath is placed over the door of the house to prevent evil spirits from entering.