[Important dates]

A tour around the year

Waxing
The Lengthening marks the beginning of a new year (and is the culmination of the Shortening).
In Early Days the first solstice of the year is known as Short Sun and celebrated by each tribe on their own Dwelling Ground.
In Ancient Times this is celebrated by the light-up of the Solarara fires.
In the Age of Exploration it is celebrated as part of four grand councils.
Nowadays it also marks the start of the first college solara.

Diei Aurora
Dies Aurora, this two-day holiday celebrates the stirring of nature. This also commonly known as the Aurora days.
In the Early Days the first equinox of the year is the signal to prepare for the first hunt of the year. For those who had come of age it is also their first hunt.
In Ancient Times the Aurora games were held. The first Games of the year.
In the Age of Exploration it is celebrated as part of four grand councils.
Nowadays it also marks the start of the Aurora Break and subsequent the start of the second college solara.

Diei Feralis
Early Days Festival aka Testing Days.
In the Early Days, between Long Sun and Equal Sun the tribes of the region would gather at the Summer Camp. Here they would meet and compete with each other, there were competitions and challenges to show off and prove one's strength, agility and mastery of weapons or skills.
In Ancient Times the emphasis shifted to the competitions and so we got the Feralis Games. This also gave its name to the period of the year which became known as Diei Feralis.
In the Age of Exploration it is celebrated as part of four grand councils.

Nowadays (Modern Times) Diei Feralis is a festival starting at the Apex solstice and ending at the Dies Feralis equinox. During these times groups will perform and competitions be held, still giving the winners bragging rights for another year.
Apex is also the start of the third college solara.
But another thing everyone is looking forward to is the Early Days Parade evoking the Early Days of Terra Feralis. Hence the common name of Early Days Festival. Another thing everyone is looking forward to and especially those who have just turned eighteen is the test to determine one's phenotype and thus determining one's future, at least for a part, but certainly determining one's college options because not all colleges accept all phenotypes. Hence another common name is the Testing Days although this is more a pars pro toto, naming the whole of the festival after the few days necessary to carry out the test.

Waning
Deis Feralis is the national holiday of the Lupus Federation. It has been observed since the dawn of time celebrating the coming of age of the young ones.
In the Early Days the Naming Ceremony was the culmination of the Summer Camp.
In the Ancient Times the feralis junior went to the Lupus temple. In the days after Dies Feralis the augur told them where they henceforth needed to go: Eligerum or Gymnasium.
In the Age of Exploration they chose their guild and started their adult life as junior members.
In Modern Time you have the Phenotest to determine the Phenotype (PO, PH-1, PH-2)

Nowadays the Waning is also the time when the college year starts.
The first quinzara starting at Dies Feralis is to do the phenotest and determine the phenotype and get the result out to everyone.
The next three quinzara are to apply to a college depending on the phenotype and personal preferences. This includes the so-called travel quinzara where freshmen-to-be can visit the college they are applying for. Colleges can be subdivided into three large groups namely those that only accept PO, those that accept PO and PH-1, and those that accept PO, PH-1 and some PH-2. Owl College will accept all phenotypes.
The next two quinzara is an introductory period to get everyone settled in and prepped for the curriculum of the coming college year.

The Shortening is the second most important holiday of the year. Observed during the shortest days of the year culminating in the first solstice of the year to celebrate the return of Sol and the lengthening of the days.
A counterpoint to the Die Feralis festivities.

Quinzara Breaks
Normal business days are from Primeday till Quintosday and from Septerday till Ignisday.

College year schematic using Financial Calendar system (see [Time Keeping])
A college year consists of an introduction period and three college solara
QT - phenotype testing days (full quinzara to have some leeway getting all the results out to everyone)
QU - QW -college application process
QX -QY - introductory days
QA - start college curriculum
QG - Aurora break - midterms
QR - QS - finals