APPENDIX:
CALENDAR
Today's system of numbering years started with the first year of
Entharion's reign as
king of
Quendor, which
marked the start of recorded history (
GUE).
However, legends and ancient tales lead historians to believe that
highly advanced settlements existed on both sides of the
Great Sea around the
fifth or sixth century Before Entharion (
BE
or
BC), and that humanity
began to make its mark on the land as long as two millennia ago.
A year in the Great Underground Empire always has 365 days. This period
is divided into twelve months. Each month has a specific number of days
in it, except for Frobuary. It is believed that the breakdown of the
year into these months might be, in some vague way, related to the
lunar cycle, but since the size, shape, and position of the moon is so
wildly unpredictable, it is useless to speculate.
The order of the months is like this:
It should be noted, though, that while the month of Arch always has 31
days, in
Antharia, it
begins on the seventh day because of
Antharian
Leap Week.
Frobuary was originally called Fidooshiary until it was purchased by
the
Frobozz
Magic Month Company in 817 GUE.
The average month has a little over four weeks in it. Each week has
seven days, known as:
Despite these names, most dates in the
Empire are
referred to in the standard day number/month/year custom (ex: 14
Mumberbur 883 GUE), but the older style (month/day-number/year;
Mumberbur 14'th, 883 GUE) is still used. Putting a comma between the
month and
the year is optional.
Two of these day names actually have stories behind them:
Frob Day(TR) was purchased by the
Frobozz Magic Day
Company in 817 GUE.
Birthday originally had a different name, but
Dimwit Flathead
changed
it when he took the throne (c. 770 GUE). Any earlier records to a name
before Birthday have been erased. Before the fall of the Empire in 883,
Birthday was the official celebration of Dimwit Flathead's birthday.
Even after his death Dimwit was excessive, still having his birthday
celebrated every week. Dimwit's Birthday is only one of the special
holidays that occurs throughout the year.
(see '
holidays' for more information)
| SOURCE(S): Zork
Zero, Encyclopedia Frobozzica |