Maidens' Blessing Banned
We ain't never gonna listen to some stupid law made by some high-born who ain't never had an empty belly in his life.
History
According to the ruling establishment, this ritual originated in the Islands as part of their fertility rights. This seems doubtful for two reasons. First, the Grand Lake peoples eat maize, which they plant at the start of the growing season not just before the cold like Dowager wheat. Second, while priests bless the fields, Islanders don't burry any offerings as part of their fertility rituals. The confusion is likely due to the Weeldfolk's proximity to the Islands.
The written record is silent other than a few mentions of farmers planting in blessed fields written before the fourth century YST. In talking to the Weeldfolk, I am told that "other people's mothers and grandmothers" have participated in the maiden's blessing since memory began. It is likely the tradition is linked to the ancient forest people of these parts. Despite the ruling establishment trying to stamp out this unorthodox rite, it persists due to its strong link with a good harvest.
Execution
I never done the maiden's blessin' but my friend did. What ya' do is ......
After dark during the season of Dowager, all the village's maidens gather in a common field. I'm not sure if it is the same one every year or how it is chosen. There they light a bonfire with willow branches. On to this, they toss dried blossoms. Flowers given as gifts from suitors are considered especially appropriate for this ritual.
After the blossoms are added, the girls drink, sing, dance and play games. The most popular songs are those about love and courtship. In the same vein, the games are those aimed at predicting a girl's future husband. The night gets rowdier and rowdier as more beer or better yet bierschnaps is drank.
Sometime before dawn, the fire will have died out. The ashes are then buried where the fire burned. In a few villages, girls take individual bundles of ashes, which they burry in their family's field. This is most common where fields are wildly spaced.
Observance
This ritual is carried out at the dark of the twelfth moon of the year. The next day, farmers begin sowing Dowager wheat. The very specific few days should mean that it is easy for imperial shire-reeves to apprehend those breaking the emperor's edict. Despite this, I can't find a record of a single girl being put in the stocks for breaking it.
Of course I try to enforse the Emperor's edit. It's just those girls are much whilier than you might think.
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