Where Did Neopia’s Months Get Their Names?
by fjcormier
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NEOPIA CENTRAL - There are many calendars around. They are usually based on the
movements (real or apparent) of some celestial body. Normally they are divided
into months, weeks and days named after religious, mythological, or historical
figures, or based on the seasons. In the Neopian calendar, the months are named
after what goes on during them.
The month of Sleeping
The month of Sleeping is a recovery period after the month of Celebrating.
There aren’t really more celebrations in the last month of the year than in
any other (and fewer than in the month of Awakening, for instance). However,
Neopians traditionally go all out on the Day of Giving. They have a potlatch
spirit - status among Neopians (with a few nasty exceptions) is determined by
what you give away, not by what you have. “Day of Giving” really should be “Week
of Giving,” for festivities can last for several days, tending to run into the
New Year. This means Neopians are pretty much all exhausted, bloated and broke
by the time the month of Sleeping arrives, so they curl up in their Neohomes
and sleep it off.
This means they aren’t terribly interested in the special days held during
the month of Sleeping. The date for “Sloth Appreciation Day” was chosen with
this in mind, to keep celebrations to a minimum while placating Sloth. It’s
hard on pets whose special day comes this month, however. Many Aishas and Buzzes
sleep through their festivals. If they do wake up, they have an awful time awakening
their masters, and tend to miss the parties anyway. Cap’n Threelegs doesn’t
give out too much free training - few are awake enough to profit from it.
The month of Awakening
Even the most bloated Neopets have slept off the effects of the month of Celebrating
by now, so, a little frowzled, they slowly go back to their regular activities.
The week of the 12th to the 18th is especially active, with Lenny Day and Chia
Day, and most of all, Valentine’s Day. The chocolate factory works overtime,
and so does the plushie factory, making gifts for all.
The month of Running
The month of Running is really the month of Realizing. Neopets who napped through
the month of Sleeping and overindulged on Valentine’s Day realize that they
have to get in shape. Gadgadsbogen, the festival of fruit, is the perfect time
to start a healthier diet. By the 22nd, active, athletic Neopians are ready
to enjoy the Chomby Carnival.
The month of Eating
All good things come to an end. This includes good resolutions. Whether because
of indulging in the pleasures of the Chomby Carnival, or through just plain
laziness, most Neopians have given up on healthy pursuits like running by now.
Back they go to normal - back to food, games and fun. Only the few serious Battledome
contenders can resist the main activity of the month of Eating.
The month of Hunting
What do Neopians hunt? Mostly rare objects, ghosts, elusive faeries and whatever
their friends hid from them on April Fool’s Day that still hasn’t turned up.
Do Neopians hunt each other? Perish the thought! Despite all the weapons floating
around, true Neopians contain any violence to the Battledome and only hunt each
other when playing hide and go seek.
Part of the reason for the month of Hunting’s name is to honour Lupes, whose
day it is on the 2nd. These greatest of Neopian hunters set the tone for the
whole month.
The month of Relaxing
Frantic activity never lasts long in Neopia. Having found what they were hunting
for or given up in disgust, most Neopians are quite happy to relax. The weather
is sublime all over the planet, and Neopians kick back and enjoy it.
Some disgruntled faerie-hunters have been known to complain that the whole
idea of the month of Relaxing was invented by Queen Fyora, whose day it is on
the 2nd, to make them stop hunting faeries for a while, but Her Majesty isn’t
telling.
The month of Swimming
Swimming isn’t just for the inhabitants of Mystery Island this month, though
the beaches there are even more crowded than usual. Krawk Island celebrates
a month-long truce with the rest of Neopia, allowing any and all to swim in
the waters around the island without being bothered by pirates. Swimming/diving
tours of Maraqua are organized. Even the rink in Happy Valley has been known
to thaw enough for polar dips near the end of the month.
It is very appropriate that Flotsam Day and Peophin Day are both this month.
The month of Hiding
Things are back to normal in Neopian waters this month, and don’t you forget
it. Krawk Island pirates are back to being the scourge of the seas. Maraquans,
annoyed by all the messy, noisy tourists the month before, suddenly enforce
all their anti-littering, anti-treasure-hunting laws to the fullest again. So
at this time of year we have the pirates and raiders hiding from each other
and from everyone else, and everyone else hiding from the pirates and raiders.
Those not on or under the seas are hiding, too - hiding from the heat that
strikes most of Neopia at this season, hiding from the minions of anyone who
decides to use the good weather as cover for another takeover attempt, hiding
from the relentless cuteness of the Annual Usuki Doll Convention.
The month of Gathering
The month of Gathering is devoted to gathering together. Festivity-loving Neopians
gather for the Annual Chocolate Ball. They dance, they sing, they eat chocolate,
they give chocolate away. One little-known Neopian custom is for younger Neopets
(anyone who isn’t actually a baby can’t get away with this) to hide in the bushes
near where the ball is being held and leap out to smear chocolate on unsuspecting
revelers.
Barely have Neopians recovered from the ball and washed the chocolate out of
their fur when it’s time for the Poogle Parade, another excuse for taking to
the streets in merriment. This is followed the next day by the Faerie Festival,
when generous faeries celebrate by helping all those who ask in humbleness of
heart.
Some of those who ask for the faeries’ aid are probably looking for help with
the Annual Gormball Championships scheduled for a few days later. Speed, agility,
strength, cunning - all are in greater demand, as Neopians of all species vie
for the Gormball title.
The month of Collecting
Packrats, avatar hunters, stamp collectors, book lovers and gourmets love the
month of Collecting. It is totally devoted to them, and their love of stuff.
There’s a peculiar passion in having all the possible shapes of sand sculpture
or all the colours of Mynci plushie. Then there’s the even more peculiar passion
that draws someone to collect piles of dung, but let’s not go there. Some things
are better left unexamined, and the average pile of dung fits nicely in that
category.
The month of Storing
After spending a month collecting, most Neopians need to spend at least another
month organizing their new possessions. The furniture stores quickly sell out
of wardrobes, shelves, desks, bookshelves and boxes. Stamps are stuck in albums.
Lucky Neopets who have received loads of new books crawl into quiet corners
to read them. Safety deposit boxes are emptied, shaken out and refilled. The
auction and the trading post are especially busy. Anyone looking for presents
to give in the month of Celebrating can find bargains galore.
The month of Celebrating
The month of Celebrating almost doesn’t need an explanation. This is when Neopia
comes into its own. Almost all Neopians are born generous and caring (with a
very few nasty exceptions, whom we will not name here), and now they show it.
Neopians celebrate almost everything, as you can see from the number of holidays
in their calendar, but now they go all out. That’s why they need so much rest
and recuperation in the month of Sleeping, when the cycle begins all over again.
Is any of this true? Well, calendars tend to have mythical or fantasy elements,
and the Neopian calendar is no exception.
