Cregan schedule
This is the timetable used inside Cregans and also the general Temples. It is based around sunrise and sunset so it varies throughout the year.
Timetable
| Vigil | Midwinter | Equinox | Midsummer | Name | Signal | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alba | 07.17 | 06.00 | 04.43 | Sunrise | Minute bell | Chant of the Sunrise (half hour) |
| 07.47 | 06.30 | 05.13 | Breakfast | One ring | Upper castes eat; Bestia serve | |
| 08.17 | 07.00 | 05.43 | Post-breakfast | One ring | Bestia clean and eat | |
| Sol | 10.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | Pre-noon | Five rings | Chants. The Ceremony of the Day |
| 12.00 | 12.00 | 12.00 | Lunch | One ring | Upper castes eat; Bestia eat before. | |
| 13.00 | 13.00 | 13.00 | Post-lunch | One ring | ||
| Ocaso | 14.00 | 14.00 | 14.00 | Afternoon | Ten rings | |
| Sombras | 16.43 | 18.00 | 19.17 | Sunset | Minute bell | Chants. The Ceremony of the Night |
| 17.43 | 19.00 | 20.17 | Dinner | One ring | Upper castes eat; Bestia serve | |
| 18.13 | 19.30 | 20.47 | Post-dinner | One ring | Bestia eat. | |
| Luna | 22.00 | 22.00 | 22.00 | Silence begins | Five (soft) | Period of silence. |
| Estrella | 04.00 | 04.00 | 04.00 | Silence ends | Ten (soft) | |
| Alba | 07.10 | 06.00 | 04.43 | Sunrise | Minute bell |
Times are for the latitude of Alta and Isla Arbojan on Midsummer's Day, both Equinoxes and Midwinter's Day.
For Veridia:
| Vigil | Midwinter | Equinox | Midsummer | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alba | 08.04 | 06.00 | 03.56 | Sunrise |
| Sombras | 15.56 | 18.00 | 20.04 | Sunset |
Details
The Sacred Cycles
The overarching principle of timekeeping is based on Sacred Cycles, reflecting the Priestesses’ spiritual authority and the natural rhythms of their world. These cycles would be both astronomical and religiously significant.
Periods
The Chant (Hour/Period)
Roughly equivalent to an hour. A “Chant” would be the time it takes to recite a significant prayer or perform a specific ritual.
Priestesses: They would set the length of official “Chants” based on the complexity of rituals or the passage of specific celestial bodies.
Handmaidens: Responsible for maintaining large hourglasses filled with sacred sand within the temples and public squares. These hourglasses would be turned at the end of each Chant, often accompanied by the ringing of a small, consecrated bell. In less formal settings, the length of a “Chant” might be marked by the burning of specially prepared incense sticks.
Guardia: Would use these Chant markers for changing shifts and co-ordinating patrols.
The Vigil (Period of Day/Night)
Divides the day and night into significant periods, likely three for daylight and three for darkness, mirroring the “watches” of the Guardia or the stages of daily worship.
Priestesses: Would decree the start and end of each Vigil based on the sun’s position (sunrise, zenith, sunset) and the moon’s highest point at night.
Handmaidens: Would be responsible for observing these celestial markers and signalling the change of Vigil with the ringing of larger temple bells or gongs.
Guardia: Would operate on a “Vigil” system for their duties, with changes of the guard occurring at the beginning of each Vigil. Slaves’ labour cycles would also be structured around these Vigils.
The Moon’s Embrace (Week/Lunar Phase)
Tied directly to the phases of the moon. Perhaps a “Moon’s Embrace” is the time from one new moon to the next quarter moon, or a full cycle from new moon to new moon. This would naturally create periods of approximately 7 or 28 days.
Priestesses: As interpreters of divine will and celestial signs, they would be the ultimate arbiters of the “Moon’s Embrace”. Important religious festivals and agricultural practices would be tied to these lunar phases.
Handmaidens: Would keep detailed charts of the moon’s progress, likely in sacred texts or illuminated manuscripts, and announce the beginning of each “Moon’s Embrace”.
The Sun’s Journey (Month/Solar Cycle)
Based on the sun’s apparent movement through constellations or distinct solar events (solstices, equinoxes). This would likely be closer to a 30-day cycle.
Priestesses: Would be the sole authority in naming and tracking the “Sun’s Journeys”, each potentially named after a significant animal, or a natural phenomenon relevant to the season (e.g., “The Journey of the Golden Wheat”, “The Journey of the Deep Sea”). Public ceremonies and offerings would mark the transitions.
The Sacred Year (Annual Cycle)
Marked by the completion of a full cycle of seasons, beginning and ending with a significant religious festival or agricultural event (e.g., the spring equinox, the summer solstice).
The Arch-Priestess and her Council: Would declare the end of one Sacred Year and the beginning of the next during a grand, community-wide ceremony. This would be a time for renewal, prophecy, and the setting of the next year’s religious calendar. Annual tributes from the population and the management of slave populations might also be reconciled at this time.
Marking
The changes are marked by bells. Sunset, noon and sunrise are marked by a regular tolling for a minute. The first vigil change is marked by five rings. The next by ten rings.
During the night, a softer bell is used.
The Vigilia (Vigils)
The day is split into six Vigils: three for daylight and three for night. Each trio begins and ends at sunrise and sunset so the length varies through the year. (Note: there is no daylight saving time.)
Day
Vigil del Alba (Vigil of the Dawn): This period would mark the very first light of day, from pre-dawn to the two hours before dawn. It signifies awakening, new beginnings, and the first blessings.
Vigil del Sol (Vigil of the Sun): Always the four hours surrounding noon. This is the time of most activity, labour, and the sun’s full power. In high summer, it is often a time for indoor work or rest.
Vigil del Ocaso (Vigil of the Sunset): This period would cover the afternoon and evening as the sun descends, leading up to twilight. It marks the winding down of the day’s work and preparation for the night’s rest and reflection.
Night
Vigil de las Sombras (Vigil of the Shadows): The initial hours of darkness, from twilight to midnight. It’s a time of transition, the first watch of the night, and perhaps the enforcement of curfews. A period for indoor work.
Vigil de la Luna (Vigil of the Moon): The deep hours of the night, from before midnight to deep night. This is the quietest, most contemplative period, often associated with the moon’s highest point and deep spiritual reflection. Always six hours so that people can sleep undisturbed by other noise.
Vigil de la Estrella (Vigil of the Star): The final hours of night, from the early hours of the morning to the first hint of dawn. It’s the watch where the stars are most prominent before fading, a time of quiet anticipation for the new day.