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Though the Mazes use a '''calendar''' that is very similar to that of the real world, there are still a number of differences, which will be explained in detail in this page.
= Era system =
There have been a number of periods of time throughout the [[History of the Mazes]] where the calendar was symbolically reset to year zero. As of today, the calendar has been reset six times, making the current era '''Era 7''', and the current year is '''Year 704'''. Usually, when referring to a year of the current yearera, all that is needed is to simply say the year number (such as "704" or "year 704"), however if the era number must be specified, such as in historical contexts, it is possible to add the prefix "E" followed by the era number. As such, the extended form of the current year is '''Era 7, Year 704''' or '''E7-704'''.
Calendar resets meant going all the way back to the first day of the first month, in what would then become another year 0. Every time they occurred, regardless of what the day of the week was on the last day of last year, the first day of the first year in a new era is also automatically reset to an Advenday. There is much symbolism in doing so, but generally it is because it is considered lucky (see below for more details).
= Calendar system =
The calendar used in the Mazes possesses is made up of 365 days and 12 months, very similar to but not quite the same as in the real world. However, there is a number of The key differencesare as follows:
* Unique names for each day of the week and each month of the year.
Every day of the week is named after either one of the five classical elements (Wood, fire, earth, metal, and water), or after words synonymous with beginning (Advent) and end (Break).
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:9pt; text-align:center" width="6001000"
|-
| ''x''th day of the week || '''1st''' || '''2nd''' || '''3rd''' || '''4th''' || '''5th''' || '''6th''' || '''7th'''
| Mazes name ([[Languages|Common]]) || '''Advenday''' || '''Woodsday''' || '''Firesday''' || '''Earthsday''' || '''Metalsday''' || '''Watersday''' || '''Breakday'''
|-
| Mazes name ([[Languages|Youkai-go]])<sup>[[Calendar#Notes (Days)|a]]</sup> || '''初曜日''' (''Shoyoubi'') || '''木曜日''' (''Mokuyoubi'') || '''火曜日''' (''Kayoubi'') || '''地曜日''' (''Chiyoubi'') || '''金曜日''' (''Kinyoubi'') || '''水曜日''' (''Suiyoubi'') || '''終曜日''' (''Shuuyoubi'')
|-
| Real world name || '''Monday''' || '''Tuesday''' || '''Wednesday''' || '''Thursday''' || '''Friday''' || '''Saturday''' || '''Sunday'''
* '''Woodsday''' is a lucky day for meetings, discussions, negotiations. It is the day for talking and connecting with others.
** Bars and drinking establishments traditionally use wooden furniture - particularly the bar counter - for this reason. Happy hours are typically thrown on a Woodsday as well.
* '''Firesday''' is a lucky day for physical and martial activities and those who are expecting training (or actual fighting). It is considered to be a good day to train, practice drills, and prepare for combat.** Demonics consider Firesday to be the best day to make a visit to one of their sanctums, as per the Demonic aesthetic of "fire and brimstone", and because they consider sexual activity to be at its most pleasurable on a Firesday.** Certain days of Demonic importance are held on specific Firesdays of the calendar; see [[Calendar#Holidays and special days|this section]] for details.* '''Earthsday''' is a lucky day for making important decisions, for solving problems, and generally speaking planning and committing to changes. It is considered to be the day to put plans and projects in motion, and turn wishes into reality.** Both Angelic and Demonic faith Angelics consider that if you have a wish to make Earthsdays to their respective deitiesbe the most auspicious days for faith practice, you should come to their shrine/sanctum prayers and making wishes.** Certain days of Angelic importance are held on an Earthsdayspecific Earthsdays of the calendar; see [[Calendar#Holidays and special days|this section]] for details.* '''Metalsday''' is a lucky day for trading and doing business, and generally speaking thought of as the "money" day. It is considered auspicious for making important sales and purchases, and it is particularly lucky to be paid on a Metalsday. These are the reasons why Metalsday is assigned the color yellow, as it reminds one of the color of gold.
** In Youkai culture, Metalsday is translated to '''金曜日''' (''kinyoubi''). The kanji '''金''' (''kin'') can mean "metal" in the elemental sense, but it is most commonly translated to "gold". Therefore, ''kinyoubi'' transliterates to "Golden day" or "Day of gold".
* '''Watersday''' is a lucky day for learning, studying, mental and spiritual pursuits of any kind. It is also more generally considered to be a good day to reflect on, and learn from the past.
== Months ==
Months are made up of either 30 or 31 days, with the exception of the second month, ''Duplima'', being made up of 28 yearsdays. This specific combination appears to have been chosen in order to ensure that every single year starts and ends on the same day of the week, therefore creating only seven possible calendar permutations (see '''Years''' below).
In Common, the names for the twelve months of the year are based on [[Languages|Old Tongue]] words for ordinal numbers. The Youkai -go language names ended up being adapted from their own words for numbers followed by their word for month ('''月''', ''gatsu'', which can also mean "moon"), making the general meaning the same.
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:9pt; text-align:center" width="1200"
| Mazes name ([[Languages|Common]]) || '''Prima''' || '''Duplima''' || '''Triema''' || '''Quartema''' || '''Pentema''' || '''Hexema''' || '''Heptima''' || '''Octama''' || '''Nonama''' || '''Decima''' || '''Penultima''' || '''Ultima'''
|-
| Mazes name ([[Languages|Youkai]]) || '''一月''' (''Ichigatsu'') || '''二月''' (''Nigatsu'') || '''三月''' (''Sangatsu'') || '''四月''' (''Shigatsu'') || '''五月''' (''Gogatsu'') || '''六月''' (''Rokugatsu'') || '''七月''' (''Shichigatsu'') || '''八月''' (''Hachigatsu'') || '''九月''' (''Kugatsu'') || '''十月''' (''Juugatsu'') || '''十一月''' (''Juuichigatsu'') || '''十二月''' (''JuuichigatsuJuunigatsu'')
|-
| Amount of days || '''31''' || '''28''' || '''31''' || '''30''' || '''31''' || '''30''' || '''31''' || '''31''' || '''30''' || '''31''' || '''30''' || '''31'''
The world of the Mazes does not significantly change with variations in weather or sunlight in the few areas where the outside can be seen. Therefore, there are no seasons to speak of.<br/>
The term "season" refers to largely symbolic groups of months - usually trimesters. Their signficance varies depending on culture. Angelic faith recognizes four seasons of three months each, based on each one of their deities:* The '''black season''' or '''season of the Black Tortoise'''* The '''blue season''' (sometimes '''azure season''') or '''season of the Azure Dragon'''* The '''red season''' (sometimes '''scarlet season''' or '''vermilion season'''), or '''season of the Vermilion Bird'''* The '''white season''' or '''season of the White Tiger''' Youkai culture re-uses Angelic faith season names, simply translating the Angelic season names and deity names into their language, as follows:* Black season: '''黒季節''' (''kurokisetsu'')* Black Tortoise: '''玄武''' (''Genbu'')* Therefore, Season of the Black Tortoise: '''玄武の季節''' (''Genbu no kisetsu'')
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:9pt; text-align:center" width="800"
| Season name (Common) || '''Black''' || '''Blue/Azure''' || '''Red/Scarlet/Vermilion''' || '''White'''
|-
| Season name (Youkai, color-go) || '''黒季節''' <br/>(''kurokisetsu'') || '''青季節''' <br/>(''aokisetsu'') || '''赤季節''' <br/>(''akakisetsu'') || '''白季節''' <br/>(''shirokisetsu'')
|-
| Season Real world name (Youkai, deity) || '''玄武の季節Winter''' <br/>(''Genbu no kisetsu'') || '''青龍の季節Spring''' <br/>(''Seiryuu no kisetsu'') || '''朱雀の季節Summer''' <br/>(''Suzaku no kisetsu'') || '''白虎の季節''' <br/>('Autumn'Genbu no kisetsu'')
|}
| Year name (Common) || '''Advent year''' || '''Year of Wood''' || '''Year of Fire''' || '''Year of Earth''' || '''Year of Metal''' || '''Year of Water''' || '''Break year'''
|-
| Year number calculation || 0 or divisible Divisible by 7 || Last Advent year +1 || Last Advent year +2 || Last Advent year +3 || Last Advent year +4 || Last Advent year +5 || Last Advent year +6
|}
Symbolism tied to each year goes as follows:
* '''Advent years''' are considered to be the years of beginning. They are seen as the best years to start a new job, get a new assignment, or begin a new and important project. They are generally considered to be the luckiest years, as they are associated to the number 7; all advent year numbers can be divided by 7. People who were born during Advent years are considered to be 'lucky babies', sure to be successful at anything they do, with traits and attributes from any of the five elements.
* '''Years of Wood''' are considered to be years of learning and growing. People who were born during years of Wood are believed to be strong and flexible, outgoing, extraverted, and the most likely to seek growing and improving, but also the least likely to enjoy being alone or to self-reflect.
* '''Years of Fire''' are considered to be the years of passion. People who were born during years of Fire are believed to be dynamic, passionate and persistent. They are the most likely to be warm protectors and skilled lovers, but are the most at risk to feelings of aggression, impatience, and destructive intent.
* '''Years of Earth''' are considered to be years of stability, least likely to bring about meaningful changes. People who were born during years of Earth are believed to be patient, reliable and hard-working, but also most likely to be stubborn, resistant to new ideas, and self-centered.
* '''Years of Metal''' are considered to be years of prosperity, most likely to bring fortune. People who were born during years of Metal are believed to be ambitious, business-oriented, and well-organized, but also the most likely to remain set in their ways, preferring to be self-reliant and reluctant to accept help.
* '''Years of Water''' are considered to be years of change and fluidity. People who were born during years of Water are believed to be most likely to be the wisest and most intelligent, as well as the most adaptable, but they may also be seen as indecisive, unable to commit, or even soft and lazy.
* '''Break years''' are considered to be the years of ending. They are seen as the best years to complete a project, to finish learning and training, or to put an end to a particular situation or endeavor. Though some perceive break years as unlucky or associated with death, others see it as lucky years in its own ways, as break years are always followed by advent years. People born during Break years are seen as unpredictable, capable of both the best and the worst, full untapped potential.
** Taking what is considered to be the Mazes' equivalent of a 'sabbatical' year is best done on a Break year.
= Holidays and special days =
== Black season ==
* '''Prima 1''': Day of the New Year. The second and final part of the Final Day celebrations.
* '''First Earthsday of Duplima''': Divine Prudence Day / Divine Black Day: An Angelic day of observance celebrating prudence, reason and sensible decisions.
* '''Duplima 4''': Military Memorial Day. A day to honor the fallen in combat instituted by the Maze Military. Every year, each military town holds a mourning ceremony (usually held by the mayor of that town, with the Captain of the home base in attendance), during which the names of every [[soldier]] native to that town that was killed in action (or are MIA) since last year.
** Military Memorial Day was first instituted in the year 455, following the aftermath of Operation Needle Poke, which saw the deaths of over 500 [[soldier|soldiers]].
* '''Triema 25''': Love Day or Fertility Day. A celebration of love, romance, sex and sexual relationships, and fertility in general. Hospitals usually hand out free condoms on that day. A popular marriage date.
== Blue season ==
* '''First Firesday of Quartema''': Day of Lust. A Demonic day of observance celebrating lust and its associated Demon Lord, Asmodeus.
* '''Quartema 14''': Remembrance Day for the people that were killed in Neo Khazrun and Citadel Lambeth, during Spectrum's Twin Terror Acts in E7-54.
* '''First Earthsday of Pentema''': Divine Courage Day / Divine Blue Day: An Angelic day of observance celebrating courage, fortitude, and strength.
* '''First Firesday of Hexema''': Day of Wrath. A Demonic day of observance celebrating wrath and its associated Demon Lord, Satan.
* '''Hexema 31''': Graduation Day: The final day of the school year for child students. For those in their final year at school (typically ages 17-18), this is usually the day one officially enters into adulthood. This day represents the very last day of school duties and the first day newly graduated adult humans, halflings and youkai can start looking for a job (or pursue further studies).
== Red season ==
* '''First Firesday of Heptima''': Day of Sloth. A Demonic day of observance celebrating sloth and its associated Demon Lord, Belphegor.
* '''Heptima 7''': Lucky Seven Day or 7 Day. A day of especially good fortune. Casinos and gambling venues typically hold special events on Lucky Seven Day.
** It is considered even luckier if this day falls on an Advenday, which only happens once every 7 years on a Year of Fire. Those are sometimes called ''Triple Seven Day'' or ''777 Day'', though it is not an official holiday.
* '''First Firesday of Octama''': Day of Greed. A Demonic day of observance celebrating greed and its associated Demon Lord, Mammon.
* '''First Earthsday of Octama''': Divine Temperance Day / Divine Red Day: An Angelic day of observance celebrating temperance, moderation, and abstention.
* '''First Firesday of Nonama''': Day of Gluttony. A Demonic day of observance celebrating gluttony and its associated Demon Lord, Beelzebub.
* '''Nonama 1''': School Day. The first day of the school year for child students.
* '''Second week of Nonama''': Trade Festival. Seven days during which nearly every shop, outlet, and business may offer large discounts on their merchandise, which they have in greater quantity than usual. Discounts ranging from 25% to 75% off are common, restaurants typically offer one free meal for every order, bars may offer free drinks or hold multiple happy hours during the week.
== White season ==
* '''First Firesday of Decima''': Day of Envy. A Demonic day of observance celebrating envy and its associated Demon Lord, Leviathan.
* '''First Earthsday of Penultima''': Divine Justice Day / Divine White Day: An Angelic day of observance celebrating justice, fairness, and righteousness.
* '''First Firesday of Ultima''': Day of Pride. A Demonic day of observance celebrating pride and the head of all Demon Lords, Lucifer.
* '''Ultima 31''': Final Day or Ultimate Day. The Mazes' equivalent of New Years' Eve. It is customary to make it a day of feasting and celebrating that lasts all night, and into the next day, the Day of the New Year.
=== Notes ===
* The four Angelic days of observance (the first Earthsdays of Duplima, Pentema, Octama, and Penultima) fall on the second month of each season, and are therefore known as the ''divine mid-season days'', each one celebrating an Angelic virtue.
* The seven Demonic days of observance (the first Firesdays of Quartema, Hexema, Heptima, Octama, Nonama, Decima and Ultima) were selected because when each relevant month is dotted together on the calendar, they roughly form the shape of an "H"; standing for "Hell".
= Further reading =
* The '''[[Seven Calendars]]'''
= Notes =