Greetings!

This year, Menmar completes 5 years since I first published it! Since then, I have posted a few chapters online and left the series on a hiatus due to my other real-life job as an assistant pastry cook and due to Brigadier Bits’ production, which was faster and easier to work on. I also produced Aylie(Anthology), Oneiropolos and La Miseràble, and the former is on its way to be completed.

Like I’ve been doing for the past couple of months, I’ll keep using Menmar’s Monthly posts to further explain its universe through the Azorian Calendar, which is the main timeframe measurement on Menmar’s universe.

However, March’s posts are somewhat more special, due to another tradition of mine – they always land on Nowruz, which is the Iranian/Persian New Year with Zoroastrian origins, which is still observed on modern times all around the world. Since Menmar is heavily built on Zoroastrianism, it is only befitting to post this picture in this very same day!

The Month of Deyeroz

The Month of Deyeroz equals to March on our real-life calendar. It is the Third and Last Month of Spring in the world of Roshan, and it is preceded by Abenemat. As a result, it is the last month on Roshani years, its name roughly translated to Yesterday, marking the end of the Azorian Calendar as we know it.

This month brings the end of blooming and it holds the last cooler nights. The temperature begins to rise on Deyeroz and the moonsoons become more frequent along with stronger gusts of wind. On this month, a few farmers may choose to replace their plows with fishing nets, since fishing is more favourable at the end of Spring.

The Last-Day Celebration is the trademark tradition of Deyeroz. It is akin to a New Year’s Eve celebration in real-life, especially Nowruz’s celebrations. The Fire Temples are taken care of, their eternal flames tended to and kept lit as the custom dictates, and the local priests prepare their communal banquets for themselves and the faithful which frequent said temple.

On Azoria, it’s also custom for households to have their holy basins, which are also tended by the family members, who hold their private breakfasts before heading to the Fire Temples. Those that are homeless or live on nomadic tents usually light candles on small boats and burn wishing notes on them, and drop the floating candles on river streams so that the past sails away and brings their hearts’ true desires and hopes.

The Last-Day Celebration is also one of the main public functions performed by the Azorian Royal Family and Noble Ruling Families, which is the opportunity most of the common folk get to see them in the flesh. This celebration is preceded by six special days, each holding a small festival with gift exchanges and hagglings prior to the Last-Day itself.

The Month of Deyeroz has 31 days and it is the second holiest month for Azorians, surpassed only by Meqdez Farhat. It is considered a month of hope for them and births are considered especially auspicious in this time of the Azorian Year.