Forgotten Realms Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Forgotten Realms Wiki
Calendar of Harptos
Flamerule
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Midsummer
Shieldmeet
Eleasis
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Eleint
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Midsummer was an annual holiday that customarily occurred between Flamerule 30 and Eleasis 1 on the Calendar of Harptos. Shieldmeet occurred the day after Midsummer on leap years.[1][2][3][4][5] However, some calendars placed Midsummer on the summer solstice (Kythorn 20)[6][7] or on a different day between Kythorn 30 and Flamerule 1.[8][note 1]

Activities[]

Midsummer Night, also called the Long Night, was a festival that saw much feasting, music-making, and frolicking in the forests. It was a time when love blossomed, and often acquaintances became romances and courtships traditionally became betrothals.[1][2][7][4][5] In some lands, unmarried maidens were released in the woods and their would-be suitors then ceremonially 'hunted' them through the night.[1] More sedate folk just enjoyed the fine weather.[5]

Midsummer festivals of one kind or another were observed in just about every civilized settlement in Faerûn, with some variation.[9] In more conservative cultures, families usually only got together to hold big feasts and drink too much, and couples declared their betrothals. In more liberal cultures like Silverymoon, the day was known as the Feast of Love. All shops closed at highsun and thereafter people had private meals, with displays of public decadence evolving through the day. People wandered about, watched others, and joined in, for open doors were seen as invitations, and they wore risqué dress, told bawdy jokes, or made coarse comments they might never do any other time. Moreover, people had various dalliances while priests provided convenient curative spells for free. Lady Alustriel Silverhand herself led a "Hunt of Maidens", a night-time search for a person wearing a certain mask. In large and wealthy houses, there were parties with naughty games and eating desserts from atop others' bodies. Of course, not everyone indulged, usually staying inside with the windows shut and doors closed. Come morning the next day, all was meant to be forgotten.[10]

Festival acrobats were quite popular and did good business on Midsummer and the other festival days.[11]

Beliefs[]

It was said the deities themselves took a hand to ensure good weather for the occasion. If bad weather such as a storm was experienced on this night, it was considered an extremely bad omen,[1][2][7][4][5] usually thought to foretell famine or plague,[1][2] and sometimes as a sign of the gods' disfavor in a romance or marriage.[5] In any case, fortunately, it was quite rare for bad weather to occur.[1][2]

On This Day[]

Appendix[]

Notes[]

  1. In our world, midsummer celebrations are traditionally held around the summer solstice (the longest day of the year), but the Realms's Calendar of Harptos has Midsummer a full month and a half after, owing to its summer solstice being the traditional start of summer. Despite this, many sources have still presumed Midsummer to be on or near the summer solstice, as evidenced by dates, mentions of the solstice, or it being the longest day of the year. Holding the Calendar of Harptos as standard, this wiki assumes these other Midsummers to be local variations. This article will document general Midsummer lore, undated Midsummers, and Midsummers specifically dated to the undated day after Flamerule 30. Other Midsummers will be documented on their respective pages.

See also[]

Appearances[]

Novels
The Glass Prison
Video Games
Neverwinter

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb (August 1987). “Cyclopedia of the Realms”. In Karen S. Martin ed. Forgotten Realms Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 6. ISBN 0-88038-472-7.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Ed Greenwood, Julia Martin, Jeff Grubb (1993). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition (revised), A Grand Tour of the Realms. (TSR, Inc), p. 21. ISBN 1-5607-6617-4.
  3. Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 77. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Rob Heinsoo, Logan Bonner, Robert J. Schwalb (September 2008). Forgotten Realms Player's Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 155. ISBN 978-0-7869-4929-8.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 15. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
  6. Douglas Niles (November 1987). Moonshae. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 22. ISBN 0-88038-494-8.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 76. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  8. Karen Wynn Fonstad (August 1990). The Forgotten Realms Atlas. (TSR, Inc), p. 30. ISBN 978-0880388573.
  9. Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 27. ISBN 0786960345.
  10. Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 29–30. ISBN 0786960345.
  11. Roger E. Moore (January 1999). Demihumans of the Realms. (TSR, Inc.), p. 15. ISBN 0-7869-1316-9.
  12. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 25. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  13. Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 90. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  14. Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 48. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
  15. Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 116. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  16. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 978-0786903849.
  17. Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 92. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  18. Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 145. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
  19. 19.0 19.1 Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 134. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  20. Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 147. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
  21. Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 65. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
  22. Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  23. Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 112. ISBN 978-0786906574.
  24. Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 144. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  25. Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, Travis Stout (February 2005). Lost Empires of Faerûn. Edited by Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 64. ISBN 0-7869-3654-1.
  26. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 91. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  27. Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 244. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  28. Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 38. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  29. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 99. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  30. Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 99. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  31. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 102. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  32. Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 100. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  33. Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 76. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
  34. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 114. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  35. Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 246. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  36. Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 48. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  37. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 117. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  38. Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 102. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  39. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 133. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  40. Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 248. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  41. Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 53. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  42. Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 83. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
  43. Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 122. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  44. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 146. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  45. 45.0 45.1 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 251. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  46. Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 63. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  47. Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 56. ISBN 978-0786906574.
  48. Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 105. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  49. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 150. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  50. Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 66. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  51. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 157. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  52. Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 68. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  53. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 167. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  54. 54.0 54.1 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 253. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  55. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 151. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  56. Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 29. ISBN 0786960345.
  57. Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume I). (TSR, Inc), p. 84. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
  58. Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 23. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  59. Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, Travis Stout (February 2005). Lost Empires of Faerûn. Edited by Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 29. ISBN 0-7869-3654-1.
  60. Steven E. Schend and Kevin Melka (1998). Cormanthyr: Empire of the Elves. (TSR, Inc), p. 32–33. ISBN 0-7069-0761-4.
  61. Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 19. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
  62. Steven E. Schend (October 1998). Calimport. (TSR, Inc), p. 19. ISBN 0-7869-1238-3.
  63. Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 58. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  64. Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 21–22. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
  65. Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 29. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
  66. Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 71. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  67. Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 99. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  68. Steven E. Schend (October 1998). Calimport. (TSR, Inc), p. 22. ISBN 0-7869-1238-3.
  69. Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 109. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  70. Steven E. Schend (October 1998). Calimport. (TSR, Inc), p. 23. ISBN 0-7869-1238-3.
  71. Ed Greenwood and Steven E. Schend (July 1994). “Campaign Guide”. City of Splendors (TSR, Inc), p. 29. ISBN 0-5607-6868-1.
  72. Ed Greenwood and Steven E. Schend (July 1994). “Adventurer's Guide to the City”. City of Splendors (TSR, Inc), p. 26. ISBN 0-5607-6868-1.
  73. Karen Wynn Fonstad (August 1990). The Forgotten Realms Atlas. (TSR, Inc), p. 128. ISBN 978-0880388573.
  74. Steven E. Schend, Sean K. Reynolds and Eric L. Boyd (June 2000). Cloak & Dagger. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 18. ISBN 0-7869-1627-3.
  75. 75.0 75.1 Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 156. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  76. Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (March 2006). Power of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 60. ISBN 0-7869-3910-9.
Advertisement