Ick

The Discworld month roughly analogous to Roundworld's January. While most months follow the standard pattern of having four eight-day weeks and thirty-two days, Ick only has 16 days and two weeks. It follows on in the calendar from Offle.

However, the ancient Aztec/Mayan calendar of Central America had twelve thirty-day months. It disposed of the problem of what to do with the five spare days left over by calling them the Days of the Dead, right at the end of the year, where general Tezuman-like gloom reigned, penance was made, souls were cleansed, gods importuned, no fires or hot food were permitted, and generally speaking was like a Sunday in West Wales or the Scottish Islands. This also aptly describes the days in between Christmas and New Year for most of us....