Warding the Field
"Warding the field" is the term used for an archaic practice performed by the followers of Hesjing, the Founder of Water, and sometimes by the followers of Edar, the Founder of Earth, as the results of this burial method support the beliefs of both sects, allowing the deceased to watch over the living, while also returning them to the earth.
The term refers to the entombment of a deceased family member in an actively farmed field. This, in theory, should allow the deceased to bless the field, and thus their kin, by staving off disease, pests, and robbers, while also providing a boost to the productivity of the crop.
Execution
The deceased would often be entombed within a simple wooden casket buried under soil, but when funds and time allowed, a small, often wooden, tomb structure would be created. This structure could resemble a toolshed or even an outhouse to an outsider, but was used to pray and present offerings to the deceased.
One major distinction between Hesjingite and Edarite interpretations of this ritual is the continued farming on top of the burial site. Hesjingites will farm around the entombed area, while Edarites will continue to sow crops on top of the burial site.
Participants
When the working members of a farming family expired, this burial method was often employed as an alternative to the costly entombment and preservation of the deceased's bodies in the local necropolis, as the financial burden of losing a breadwinner was already difficult to sustain. Especially for those who lived further from a necropolis, this method allowed them to perform the appropriate atonement and preservation rituals in order to receive the blessings of the deceased far more consistently.
Observance
While burial is difficult in winter, this burial ritual was most often performed out of desperation to ensure a good harvest for the next season. It was also done to avoid the burden of having to transport, or pay to transport, the body of the deceased during harsh weather.
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