The widely used Imperial Calendar is based primarily on the Dwarf Calendar. The only differences are the year in which the calendars begin and the fact that Dwarfs do not separate the days of the week from one another. Since there are no Khazalid names for the days, Dwarfs refer to them by their Imperial names in their dealings with Humans.[1a]
The Dwarf calendar counts its years from the establishment of Karaz-a-Karak as capital of the Karaz Ankor. The Imperial Calendar marks its first year with the crowning of Sigmar Heldenhammer as Emperor. The difference between the two is 3000 years. The Dwarf Calendar names and their Imperial counterparts are as in the table shown.[1a]
| No. of Days | Imperial | Dwarf |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hexenstag | Hekesdeg |
| 32 | Nachexen | Adderhekes |
| 33 | Jahrdrung | Verzet |
| 1 | Mitterfruhl | Materfran |
| 33 | Plugzeit | Durgzet |
| 33 | Sigmarzeit | Kazakzet |
| 33 | Sommerzeit | Zhomerzet |
| 1 | Sonnstille | Zhomerstikul |
| 33 | Vorgeheim | Fornskrak |
| No. of Days | Imperial | Dwarf |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geheimnistag | Skraksdeg |
| 32 | Nachgeheim | Adderskrak |
| 33 | Erntezeit | Egrizet |
| 1 | Mittherbst | Materhazt |
| 33 | Brauzeit | Valdazet |
| 33 | Kaldezeit | Kulkelzet |
| 33 | Ulriczeit | Wyrzet |
| 1 | Mondstille | Wyrstikul |
| 33 | Vorhexen | Fornhekes |
As in the Empire the Dwarfs regard both Hekesdrazh (Hexensnacht) and Skrakzdrazh (Geheimnisnacht) with apprehension. Strange things occur during those nights, especially when both Gormlhune (Mannslieb) and Mornalhune (Morrslieb) are full.[1a]
The major feast days common to all Dwarfholds and settlements are Materfran (Mitterfruhl), 33 Durgzet (Pflugzeit), Zhomerstikul (Sonnstill), 33 Fornskrak (Vorgeheim), Materhazt (Mittherbst), 33 Valdazet (Brauzeit), Wyrstikul (Mondstille), and 33 Fornhekes (Vorhexen). All of the major feast days on the Dwarf Calendar are those dedicated to the Ancestor Gods with one exception.[1a]
The Day of Remembrance (Zagazdeg) involves the entire Dwarfhold and nearby settlements. All the clans gather in the Great Hall to feast and share stories detailing the deeds of their clan ancestors, grudges satisfied, and other important news.[1a]
Each Dwarfhold observes its Day of Remembrance on a date that corresponds to a significant event in its history. For example, Karaz-a-Karak observes its Day of Remembrance on 24 Verzet, which is the day in the Dwarf year 2985 (-15 IC) that Sigmar rescued High King Kurgan Ironbeard from an Orc warband. At Karak Eight Peaks the 25 Zhomerzet is the Day of Remembrance, the day in 5473 (2473 IC) when King Belegar recaptured parts of the ruined Dwarf citadel.[1a][1b]
Canon-conflict
Since the printing of 1st edition, it is unclear if the official Dwarf term for Geheimnistag is Ar-Uzkul (instead of Skrakzdrazh), or if both terms are accepted as different expressions of the same thing.