Fistmas

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Necromunda

Fistmas is an Imperial religious holiday local to the planet of Necromunda. During the winter season, the denizens of Necromunda from the lowliest dregs at the bottom of the underhive to the nobles living in the peaks of the spire, gather and sing festive songs, share gifts, and celebrate a time of goodwill across the hive.^[1]

History

Imperial historical accounts record that during the Great Crusade, Rogal Dorn led an army of Imperial Fists to liberate the planet from Orks that had overrun the world and the Ash Wastes. After the Orks had been driven from the planet and their fleet routed and destroyed in space, the holiday Imperial Fistmas (often abbreviated to Fistmas) was created to commemorate the valiant actions of the Primarch and his Legion.^[1] This may very well be an account of some initial liberation of Necromunda from Orks by the Imperial Fists in M30, formerly known as Araneus Prime^[3], which would result in it being one of two known Imperial Fist recruiting worlds.^[2][4]

The holiday is also associated with the legend of the mutant creature known as Phanta Claws. While Imperial scholars purport and general public believe the creature to have been little more than myth, in reality, the mutant from the legend existed and has spawned many descendants. While most are hostile to underhive gangs, some will occasionally work for them as hired guns, though only ever one at a time.^[1a]

Trivia

The following information is not to be regarded as officially sanctioned and/ or is not written from an in-universe point of view. A detailed explanation of the term "Trivia" as used in the Lexicanum can be found here.

• The holiday is a parody of Christmas, likewise Phanta Claws is an parody of Santa Claus.
• It is feasible that Fistmas is celebrated alongside Sanguinala on Necromunda. Notably there is at least one recorded instance of a Blood Angel Captain bearing the word 'Necromunda' upon their pauldron, defending himself from Scavvies. Whether he hails from Necromunda is unknown.^[5]

Sources

This article or article section is based on information from a Fanatic Press publication such as Fanatic Magazine or one of its predecessors (e.g. The Citadel Journal, Necromunda Magazine, etc.). These publications regularly featured articles submitted by hobbyists, and as such, their content may or may not be in contradiction to established background lore.

This article includes background material from a Black Library publication re-released under the Heretic Tomes banner which, per the Heretic Tomes Publication Disclaimer, contain parts which are considered outdated and in contradiction of established background lore.

• 1: Fanatic Online Issue 44 - The Legend of Phanta Claws ^{Fanatic Press}
  • 1a: Recruiting Phanta Claws
• 2: Index Astartes II, pg. 13 — Emperor's Fist
• 3: Necromunda Rulebook (2018), pg. 43
• 4: Space Marine (Novel), Chapter Two ^{Heretic Tomes}
• 5: White Dwarf 137 (UK), Front Cover