Pimedate

Pimedate is a term used in speculative fiction and world-building to denote a defined period of prolonged darkness, lasting from several days to multiple weeks, during which daylight is diminished or absent. The causes may be astronomical, magical, or environmental, and the period is often embedded in the cultural or political calendar of the setting.

Etymology and usage of the term vary by work. The name appears to draw on roots related to darkness found in several languages, with “pime” reminiscent of the Estonian word for dark, and the suffix “-date” implying a span of time. Because it is a constructed concept in fictional worlds, spellings, pronunciations, and specific triggers for Pimedate differ from one text or game to another.

Cultural and practical effects common to depictions of Pimedate include a reliance on artificial illumination, altered work and travel schedules, and the emergence of nocturnal economies. Navigation, agriculture, and religious or cultural rituals may center on luminescent artifacts, celestial cycles, or ritual preparations designed to endure the lack of natural light. Societal responses range from curfews and resource rationing to heightened communal rituals aimed at maintaining morale and cohesion.

In fiction, Pimedate serves as a narrative device to explore resilience, adaptation, and social change under persistent darkness. It appears across novels, role-playing games, films, and other media as a recurring cycle or as a singular historical event within a broader mythos.