The Honey Offering
The Honey Offering or the "Honung Gift" is one of a handful of common ongoing rituals undertaken in celebration of the harvest. There are variations on the Honey Offering all over Tordronnen but near enough every household will keep this particular ritual each year. The use of honey symbolises and gives thanks to the god Odhran whose sacred animal is the humble honey bee. The returning of the honey to the earth is a sign of thanks for Odhrans part in the bounty of the harvest just gathered in, and a prayer that it will last for the winter until the spring returns.
History
Records and evidence of forms of the Honey Offering date back to even before the Time of the Tome as one of the key rituals of harvest and giving of thanks to Odhran, the God of nature, the harvest and agriculture.
Execution
In a rural settings the Honey Offering will take place alongside other rituals of harvest celebration and is not undertaken until the last of all the crops have been gathered in.
For example, at the end of the final day of harvesting crops such as wheat, participants will gather each with a stalk of the crop from the final sheaf. A jar of honey is then passed around each person, who dips the end of the plant into the honey before passing the jar to the next person. That stalk is then replanted into the earth.
Variations of this include the dipping and burying of fruits or whatever the significant final item of the harvest was.
Even in an urban city setting where there is no definitive harvest to speak of, people will still find ways to give thanks to Odhran in the autumn. Whether this be to visit a temple or other altar site and leave offerings to to set up a small altar within their own home. These offerings will consist of sweetened items such as dried fruits caramelised in honey, pieces of honeycomb, or ceramic jars of honey mead.
Components and tools
The bare minimum needed for this ritual is honey or a honeyed item and a sample of the last crop harvested. Alters set for Odhran will include items woven into hexagonal shapes, stones such as moss agate or moonstone, and the use of bright golden yellows or vibrant greens. All to symbolise or garner the attentions and blessings of Odhran.
Participants
The participants of the Honey Offering in the rural setting are those who have been involved in the harvest, but can extend to the population of the whole village in some cases. An elder or significant land owner will often take the place as the first person to start with the honey which is then passed on. A tradition in some parts is for the final piece to be placed by the youngest person present.
Observance
There is no set date for the Honey Offering to take place as it may vary from place to place depending on when they finish their harvest, however the Honey Offering cannot be given after the rising quartermoon of Naimune. To do so after would risk not gaining the favour of Odhran for forgetting to thank him sooner.
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