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“For earth... sky. For winter... summer. For darkness... light.” ―Threnodies 5

Mage book 4

Astronomical calendar written in ancient Tevene

There are several calendars in use throughout Thedas.

Calendars of Thedas[]

Chantry calendar[]

See also: Timeline

The most common calendar in Thedas is the Chantry calendar, which is used everywhere outside Tevinter. Its first year honors the appointment of the first head of the Chantry, Divine Justinia I. Anything prior to 1:01 Divine is known as the Ancient Era and denoted using negative numbers. The Chantry calendar is further divided into Ages, each a hundred years long and named by the incumbent Divine in the last year of the preceding age based on predictions of things to come. There have been nine ages since the formation of the Chantry.[1][2]

Note: The "Ages" description in Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 1 page 21, erroneously describes every age starting with year 1 and ending with year 99, claiming the Glory Age took place between 2:1-2:99, the Towers Age between 3:1-3:99 etc. This is directly contradicted in the timeline within the same book, which cites the existence of 3:00 Towers, 4:00 Black, and 9:00 Dragon. Such a system would result in each age lasting ninety-nine years, not one hundred.

However, as lore states anything prior to 1:01 Divine is considered Ancient in the Chantry Timeline, and is the Epoch Year for the Chantry Calendar, the Divine Age is assumed to be the exception and the only age that starts with year 1 and in fact only comprises ninety-nine years.

Tevinter calendar[]

The Tevinter Imperium uses its own calendar, known as either the Tevinter calendar or the Imperial calendar, which predates the Chantry calendar by over a thousand years. It starts at the date the Imperium was founded and the first Archon crowned, marked as 0 TE (-1195 Ancient). Tevinter temporarily switched to using the Chantry calendar shortly after its creation but returned to using its own calendar after the Schism of 3:87 Towers and the separation of the Orlesian and Tevinter Chantry. Anything prior to 0 TE is denoted using negative numbers.[3][2]

Elven calendar[]

The oldest known calendar is the elven calendar, which has gone almost entirely unused outside of scholarly circles after Tevinter enslaved the elven race and banned its use. It begins with the founding of Arlathan, capital of the elven empire, and is marked as 1 FA (-6405 TE or -7600 Ancient), the earliest recorded date in the history of Thedas, though it is only a rough estimate.[3][2]

Calendar conversion[]

Elven calendar Imperial calendar Chantry calendar Major event
1 FA -6405 TE -7600 Ancient Founding of Arlathan
3000 FA -3405 TE -4600 Ancient First contact between Elves and Dwarves
4500 FA -1905 TE -3100 Ancient Humans explore Thedas
6405 FA 0 TE -1195 Ancient Tevinter Imperium founded
7205 FA 800 TE -395 Ancient The First Blight begins
7430 FA 1025 TE -170 Ancient The death of Andraste
7600 FA 1195 TE 1:01 Divine Justinia I is elected the first Divine
7604 FA 1199 TE 1:05 Divine The Second Blight begins
7809 FA 1404 TE 3:10 Towers The Third Blight begins
7886 FA 1481 TE 3:87 Towers The Chantry Schism
8011 FA 1606 TE 5:12 Exalted The Fourth Blight begins
8429 FA 2024 TE 9:30 Dragon The Fifth Blight begins
8440 FA 2035 TE 9:41 Dragon The Breach and War against the Elder One
Note: Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 1 equates 1 FA with -6405 TE and 3000 FA with -3405 TE. That would mean that 3000 years passed in the TE calendar but only 2999 in the FA calendar. The table above represents the data found in The World of Thedas Volume 1, page 23.

List of months and holidays[]

Both the Chantry and Tevinter calendars consist of twelve thirty-day months with an additional five days known as annums which are used to mark the transition between the four seasons and the first day of the year. The annums are major holidays celebrated throughout most of Thedas, from the Tevinter Imperium to Ferelden. The system was developed in the early years of the Tevinter Imperium. Although each month has a name in the language of Ancient Tevinter, commonfolk primarily use the "low" names, whereas courts and scholars use the official "high" names for months. The arrangement of months and primary seasonal holidays remained unchanged in the last two thousand years, except for the addition of Chantry holidays following the Second Blight.[4][5]

BioWare canon
The following information is mentioned only in Dragon Age: Origins: Prima Official Game Guide. Certain portions of this publication, particularly the Traveler's Guide featured in the Collector's Edition, might not reflect currently established lore.

The system was developed with influence from elves.[5]


The Tevinter names are listed first, followed by the more common name for the month.[4][5]

  • 1st month: Verimensis / Wintermarch (Annum: First Day)
  • 2nd month: Pluitanis / Guardian (Annum: Wintersend)
  • 3rd month: Nubulis / Drakonis
  • 4th month: Eluviesta / Cloudreach
  • 5th month: Molioris / Bloomingtide (Annum: Summerday)
  • 6th month: Ferventis / Justinian
  • 7th month: Solis / Solace
  • 8th month: Matrinalis / August (Annum: All Soul's Day)
  • 9th month: Parvulis / Kingsway
  • 10th month: Frumentum / Harvestmere
  • 11th month: Umbralis / Firstfall (Annum: Satinalia)
  • 12th month: Cassus / Haring

The five holidays, or annums, take place at the beginning of the month within which they fall.[4][note]

BioWare canon
The following information is mentioned only in Dragon Age: Origins: Prima Official Game Guide. Certain portions of this publication, particularly the Traveler's Guide featured in the Collector's Edition, might not reflect currently established lore.

The five "annums" exist without a month of their own.[5][note]


Thedosians use the following date format: day, month, year, age name. For example: "13 Justinian, 9:39 Dragon".[6]

Days of the week[]

Most, if not all, weekday names are based on the real-world Gregorian calendar:

Description of holidays[]

First Day[]

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.[4][5][15] In some areas it's customary to eat chicken on First Day.[16]

Wintersend[]

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 Pluitanis.[4][5][15]

Summerday[]

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. Children 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 Molioris.[4][5][15]

All Soul’s Day[]

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 Matrinalis.[4][5][15]

Satinalia[]

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 Umbralis.[4][5][15] Satinalia is also known as "Feastday".[17] Fluffy mackerel pudding is a special dish described as a "unique combination" of mackerel, eggs, onions, and celery. It is strongly associated with Feast Day and considered to be a key component of the holiday, when it is often eaten as "Feast Day Fish".[18] The recipe for this dish found in Arl Eamon's estate lists green pepper, mustard, salt, ground Antivan pepper, ground mace and ground cardamom seed as further ingredients used in Feast Day Fish.

Solstice[]

Various Thedosian cultures observe solstices. In the ancient kingdom of Barindur, winter solstice was celebrated.[19] The Avvar build altars that have a hidden opening, which aligns with the rising sun on the day of winter solstice.[20] The Chantry also celebrates solstices.[21] Commonfolk may decorate their villages for winter solstice festivities.[22] People gather at solstice dinner parties,[23] and create solstice lists, presumably for the purpose of gift-giving.[12]

Codex entries[]

Codex entry: Thedas Calendar Codex entry: Thedas Calendar

Trivia[]

  • There is something called a "name-day" in the dwarven commoner origin,[24] although it's not made clear what this day signifies. "Name-days" are also mentioned in the official cookbook, with Devon commenting that their mother baked chocolate cake for them every time it was their name-day, starting from the tenth one.[25] Further, an event referred to as the "naming day" is referenced elsewhere, and it is presented as an occasion for partying.[26] The term "birthday" is used in every other context including codex entries and conversations in-game.[27]
  • Satinalia is also known as "Feastday".[17] It is likely based on the Roman Saturnalia, also celebrated in the onset of winter and marked with merriment and revelry.
  • The month of August was originally intended to be named after Andraste. This was during a point in early development of Dragon Age: Origins when her name was Augusta.[28]
  • According to Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 1 page 21, a calendar year consists of twelve months, each thirty days long, adding up to 360 days in a year. The five annums are described to be celebrated at the beginning of a given month, presumably counting towards that month's number of days. However, in the Prima Official Guide the five annums were once described as holidays that exist without a month of their own.[29] This would mean they are counted in addition to the regular month days, resulting in a year of 365 days.
  • For the Chantry calendar system, the correct way to write years with a leading zero has varied throughout the series. In Dragon Age: Origins and the first volume of Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, after the first year of an age (i.e 9:00 Dragon), the leading zero is dropped (i.e. 9:1 Dragon). Starting in Dragon Age 2 and in all subsequent entries and media, the leading zero is retained when writing dates (i.e. 9:01 Dragon).
  • According to Gaider, the Ages system utilized by the Chantry features an "interstitial" or transitional year which belongs to neither the preceding or following Age.[30]

External links[]

References[]

  1. Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 19
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Dragon Age: Origins: Prima Official Game Guide Collector's Edition - Traveler's Guide, p. 241
  3. 3.0 3.1 Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 23
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 21
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Dragon Age: Origins: Prima Official Game Guide Collector's Edition - Traveler's Guide, p. 357
  6. Landmarks in the Oasis#Envers Mining Company
  7. Referenced by Alistair when talking to the Warden about the events that transpired at Redcliffe Castle.
  8. Referenced by the aggressive Hawke in conversation with Tallis.
  9. Ambient dialogue in the Exalted Plains: "Gaspard will be the ruin of this country. What's his first decree? Thursdays are for punching bears?"
  10. Referenced by Iron Bull through party banter with Blackwall.
  11. Referenced by Leliana when visiting the Valence Cloister during her personal quest.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Luka's remark.
  13. Note: Tavern Notices
  14. Referenced by Dorian during the cutscene that unlocks The Name of Our Enemy.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 BioWare Blog: Thedosian Holidays
  16. Dragon Age: The Last Court mentions trussed-up First Day chickens in the description of the card Your Bailiff is Attacked.
  17. 17.0 17.1 Official Feastday Pranks and Gifts DLC description
  18. Dragon Age: The Official Cookbook: Tastes of Thedas, p. 23
  19. Codex entry: The Lost City of Barindur
  20. Codex entry: Notes on the Avvar Sky Cult
  21. Codex entry: Chest of Unanswered Invitations (not specified if it's summer or winter solstice)
  22. Codex entry: A Note from the Honnleath Village Council
  23. Banter between Aveline and Isabela.
  24. As mentioned by the Dwarf Commoner to Beraht.
  25. Dragon Age: The Official Cookbook: Tastes of Thedas, p. 141
  26. Codex entry: Chest of Unanswered Invitations
  27. For example in the text of the war table mission A Favor Returned
  28. Tumblr icon David Gaider"So I just got World of Thedas..." . Tumblr.
  29. Dragon Age: Origins: Prima Official Game Guide Collector's Edition - Traveler's Guide, p. 241
  30. Tumblr icon David Gaider (2015). "When writing dates for Dragon Age..." . Tumblr. Retrieved on August 18, 2023.
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