Kasshi Lunisolar Calendar
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The Kasshi have traditionally used a complex lunisolar calendar, whose present form was established by Chinrasta, modifying an older calendar.
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Months
The calendar has 12 ordinary months and 3 extra months. Most years contain all 12 of the ordinary months (though some have only 11), and 1-3 of the extra months. More on the distinction below. Each month contains either 18 or 19 days. The pattern of short and long months varies from year to year. Most of the months contain 18 days.
Quarters
Each month is divided into 4 quarters of uneven length. In 19-day months, the last day is not counted as being part of any quarter, and is considered very unlucky. The first and third quarters are 6 days each, while the second and fourth are three days each. Each day of the quarters have certain functions
- First and Third Quarters
- 1st day (1st and 10th of the month): Markets held
- 2nd day (2nd and 11th of the month): Fasting; funeral services are held on these days
- 3rd day (3rd and 12th of the month): Council of Elders meet, courts held
- 4th day (4th and 13th of the month): Council of Elders meet, courts held
- 5th day (5th and 14th of the month): Feasting; weddings are held on these days
- 6th day (6th and 15th of the month): Unlucky; nothing important should be started on these days, sexual abstinence required; any child born on this day is considered cursed
- Second and Fourth Quarters
- 1st day (7th and 16th of the month): Markets held
- 2nd day (8th and 17th of the month): Religious rituals performed
- 3rd day (9th and 18th of the month): Unlucky; nothing important should be started on these days, sexual abstinence required; any child born on this day is considered cursed
In addition, the entire fourth quarter is considered somewhat unlucky. The 19th day of the month, in those months with 19 days, is considered extremely unlucky and a day for abstaining from most activities, and for fasting.
The quarters developed as a result of the moons sharing a single orbit, with Lhasta being 60 degrees ahead of Sasash. The first quarter was the period during which both moons were waxing, the 2nd quarter was the period during which Lhasta was waning while Sasah was still waxing, the 3rd quarter was the period during which both moons were waning, while the 4th quarter was the period during which Lhasta was waxing and Sasash waning.
In the modern solar calendar, this has evolved into a 9-day week, without the 19th day interruptions (and thus no longer in sync with the moons).
Determining Month Lengths
Month lengths are determined independantly of the year. There is a 17-month cycle, in which 2 months - the 9th and 17th months - are 19 days, the rest being 18 days.
Major and Minor Months
The solar year is divided into 12 "solar periods". If a lunar month contains one of the 12 solar periods, it is considered a "normal" month, and is named according to the solar section. If a month lacks a solar period, it is an "extra" month. The first extra month (and in most years the only one) is known as olkalav. The second extra month, in those months that need two, is called waflukalav. Roughly 3/10 of all years will contain 14 months.
Sometimes, a month will contain two solar periods (this can only happen if the first solar period is one of walenkalel through wamūnalel). In that case, the month is named after the first solar period, and the second solar term is skipped over in naming the months. In such cases, an additional month known as wamlikalav takes the place of the first extra month after the skipped one. The skipped month will invariably occur after an olkalav. A waflukalav may sometimes also be added near the end of the year.
| Month Name | Position of Solar Station (position in orbit relative to winter solstice) |
Length of solar period | Name of season |
| Walītra | 45º | 21 days | Walīja (Spring) |
| Wakunrī | 75º | 19 days | |
| Walenkalel | 105° | 18 days | |
| Wamūtra | 135º | 17 days | Wamūja (Summer) |
| Wakommū | 165° | 17 days | |
| Wamūnalel | 195º | 18 days | |
| Watreshtra | 225º | 19 days | Watrezzha (Autumn) |
| Wakontresh | 255° | 21 days* | |
| Watreshnalel | 285º | 22 days | |
| Wadreftra | 315º | 23 days | Wadrevja (Winter) |
| Wakondref | 345° | 23 days | |
| Wadrefnalel | 15º | 23 days |
*Wakontresh is normally 21 days, but every 9 years, it is shortened to 20 days.
History
Pre-Chinrasta Calendar
In Chinrasta's time, the calendar was primarily lunar. The solar stations still existed, however, they were primarily used for astrological and agricultural purposes. The primary basis of the calendar was the 17-month cycle along with a secondary 26-year cycle (341-month) cycle. Each month of the 17-month cycle was named, and a period of 17 months was known as the "Sacred Year"
The beginning of a year was pronounced by the priestesses, based on observations of natural phenomena, and different villages might differ in their calendars.
Chinrasta's Reforms
Chinrasta instituted two major changes to the calendar. The first reform, in the year 185 BE, was to alter the following 17-month cycle (which began in 183 BE) to return the months into alignment with Sasash (occasional miscounts of the months had caused the months to drift out of alignment with the moons). In 182 BE, she introduced the present system of extra months, to begin in 179 BE.
