Sorrowseed
Overview
Despite the name the Sorrowseed ritual is not so much about sorrow itself. It is to pray to the gods, to the Eternal Life, to the very earth itself, that the newly sowed seeds are welcome and enriched with vitality, so that the next harvest may be a joyful one. And yes, it is also used to avoid sorrow for when the harvest fails or is a lean one.
So, in short, the Sorrowseed is executed to avoid any kind of sorrow related to seeds and harvest. It is commonly executed by Humans, but there are a few elven farmers who adopted this ritual to their own needs.
History
In terms of history it is not quite clear where the Sorrowseed has its origin. Oral tellings tell the historians about Hulwar, others whisper of sacrifices in life and blood of the Northern Realms, and entire different voices mumble about the mesmerizing beauty of the women of Vraitha who enacted this ritual with their men.
Despite having problems with pin-pointing the origin of this ritual, scholars and historians are amazed about the fact that this ritual spawned around the continent nearly at the same time with the same intention and the same execution, only varies in some details.
This ritual is one of the older ones. It is small, it has not much power, but it soothes the spirits of the farmers, helps from time to time and is a fun time in general. In most parts of Koria it means that there is a feast going on, either at the duration or at the end of the ritual. This can contain food, alcohol, singing, dancing, and - especially in Vraitha - a well-organised wave of bedding in the field.
Execution
General Execution
The general execution, as far as historians can tell, is pretty simple and straightforward. A farming person prepares a small bag of seeds, preferably the seeds you want to plant. You can also use different seeds for when you want to plant a small border so everyone can see where the field begins or ends.
Once you determined when you want to have the ritual - it is often declared by the farmer or the village/town - you prepare food, drinks, and the bag of seeds. At the earliest morning, at the first light of day, you stand on one of the corners of your field, plant the first seed(s). You say your prayer (freeform rules!) to the god of your choice, the earth, the Eternal Life, then you move to the next corner of the field, plant the seed(s), say the prayer, rinse and repeat.
In the best case your field is square-shaped, so you cross your field with diagonal lines. Normally people move without shoes to feel the earth, even when it is cold. The goal is to mark the corners of your field with the seeds so the gods "know" that it is your field and bless it or at least the next harvest to avoid sorrow. Hence the name of the ritual.
After you've finished, there are food and drinks for replenishing energy. At the next day the sowing begins.
Northern Realms
The Northern Realms use the same method as the general execution demands it, but instead sowing seeds at the corners of their fields, they sacrifice an animal. It doesn't matter if it is a pig, a goat, a chicken, one of their precious geese, or a horse. The important part is the blood which is sprayed out at the corners and, if it is enough blood, during the crossing of the field.
People tend to put on some markings with coal over their arms and faces, sometimes with blood or liquified flower seeds.
Middle of Koria
In the middle of Koria, especially east and west of Pisocenia, it is more of a larger harvest festival, concluded over a couple of days. People tend to come together, do the ritual together, cheer one up, share drinks and stories. Nothing bloody or magical, just an extended, often more joyful, version of the Sorrowseed.
Vraitha
The people of Vraitha perform the ritual in a unique way. Since men perform the hard tasks like sowing, ploughing, repairs and such, the women have the power over the entire household. Vraitha is a matriarchal nation after all.
Since the women are the head of the farm, they also perform the ritual. Once the snow starts to vanish and the earth is made free of ice and ready for sowing, they prepare the food, the drinks, and themselves. They have the responsibility after all.
After the preparations are finished and everything sits beside the field, fires are lit. The woman in question undresses herself completely, covered in markings and runes for the Mother of Ravens and the Father of Crows, day and night, life and death.
The ritual starts around midday, at the equinox of the day. Then the ritual commences in the normal way, from corner to corner, seeds planted, prayers said or sung. It is started around this time so everyone can witness her glory and her holy responsibility. The guests are allowed to leave if they want, but they won't. It is a holy ritual.
Once the ritual has ended, her man - if she has one - meets her in the middle of the field, naked. He embraces her, where everyone can witness it, in the hope of new life in the earth and in the body. To spark joy for the harvest, one or the other.
Planting seeds, you know?
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