My PCs are about to come our Golarion Pathfinder game's first Winter Week. I cannot find a description of what this holiday is celebrating or what it entails anywhere. Can anyone help me out here?
All that is known of "Winter Week" is listed on p. 249 of the Inner Sea World Guide.
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My PCs are about to come our Golarion Pathfinder game's first Winter Week. I cannot find a description of what this holiday is celebrating or what it entails anywhere. Can anyone help me out here?All that is known of "Winter Week" is listed on p. 249 of the Inner Sea World Guide.
I read that, was hoping someone had a little more info.
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I don't think there's anything published about it beyond the reference in ISWG.
I can tell you what I do in my campaign...
The customs of the celebration vary by region, but just about everyone in the Inner Sea Region celebrates Winter Week.
In Varisia (where my campaign is set), the Fireday of Winter Week is called Yule, and it's the actual holiday of Winter Week. It's a gift-exchange holiday and the day of the Winter Feast (traditionally roast goose or turkey.) On the four days of Winter Week prior to Yule, most businesses are closed, and people rest and/or prepare for the Yule Feast.
Yule's Eve is traditionally a night for a smaller family celebration, and traditional foods include fruitcake and eggnog. Children hang stocking by the hearth, and parents tell their children that Desna sends her Star Monarchs to read children's dreams that night and give presents to the good children. (The story is that a cloud of swallowtail butterflies comes down the chimney bearing gifts which they put in the stockings.) Children will put out cups of milk or sweetened tea for the butterflies to sip before they leave. Of course, plenty of children have caught their parents in the act of putting toys or candy in the stockings instead of the butterflies!
The Starday of Winter Week is pretty much Boxing Day: Servants are always given the day off to spend with their families to celebrate Yule. It's also a traditional day to give alms to the poor, and reflect upon your blessings of the past year.