Midwinter

Midwinter (also known as Deadwinter Day) is a festival to mark the midpoint of winter in the Calendar of Harptos. It occurs on a special day between 30 Hammer and 1 Alturiak. Amongst nobles and monarchs it was known as Midwinter and was traditionally used to make or renew alliances, although the common people called it Deadwinter Day, a reference to the cold and hard times that remained before the spring.

The holiest day of the year for the Church of Shevarash is Midwinter Night, during which the Dark Court Slaughter is remembered. Inductions into the ranks of the clergy occur at this time. Each new cleric screams vows of vengeance into the night air and swears neither to laugh nor smile until the Spider Queen and her followers are no more.

On This Day

• Worshipers of Shevarash observe Midwinter Night in memory of the Dark Court Slaughter in which new members swear not to smile or laugh until the Spider Queen and other dark drow gods and their followers are destroyed.
• Worshipers of Loviatar celebrate the Rite of Pain and Purity by dancing in a circle upon broken glass or other sharp objects.
• Worshipers of Lliira open a holy festival with the Swords Cast Down ritual in which weapons are thrown on the ground with chanting and covered with fresh flowers (conjured by hired druids or wizards or by senior clergy).
• Guardians of Gorm Gulthyn gather for ritual salutes, martial weapons displays, chanted prayers, and the offering of weapons used in a defensive action.
• Worshipers of Berronar Truesilver mark this day with chanted prayers, speeches, reports on the workings of the church, and an underground festival.
• Worshipers of Talos call for storms and lightning.
• Worshipers of the gnomish god Urdlen appease their god with sacrifices in deep caverns on the Night of Blood.