I have to admit, I’m excited!  Yes, this is my first blog post on Calimacil’s websites, but that isn’t where my excitement comes from.  Once you have posted to the blogosphere it’s pretty much old news.  But this … this isn’t old news at all!
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Unfortunate circumstance or practice for a festival? Zach Long | SeventhKingdomIGE.com

Many LARPs celebrate various holidays and seasons within their LARPs.

There is a bit of a debate regarding whether this adds to or detracts from the overall experience and atmosphere of the LARP.

A weekend LARP in the United States, for example, might feel a bit odd if it didn’t include Halloween or references to the holiday, especially if the event takes place over a weekend including October 31st. This can be tricky for the LARP organizers and players–while many players feel the need to celebrate the holiday in-game, having a straight-up Halloween festival in a fantasy world not inclusive of Halloween can be a problem, especially for those enjoying the in-game experience of the game world.

There is also the matter of religion. Players don’t always celebrate the same holidays and festivals associated with real world religions, and they shouldn’t be expected to. Forcing a holiday in-game might make them feel a bit uncomfortable.

Solutions

Celebrate seasons. Try using seasonal themes to reflect the real-life need for celebrations in game. Players will notice these changes month to month anyway if they are LARPing outdoors; innkeepers in some games also contribute to this feeling by promoting the holiday spirit with themed dishes and decor.

Enhance the fantasy world with its own holidays. Just like the real world, fantasy worlds and cultures often celebrate holidays as well. Try creating unique and purposeful holidays for the LARP. This can also add to the summer months which include few real-life holidays.

How do your favorite LARPs relate to  holidays and seasonal changes?