Weaving the Dolls

Cruel shadows passed over the lands of Trel as the First Vampire rode into their lands, darkening the Gates of the Imperial Palace with the abominable stench of undeath. Fear overtook the land, and parents hid their children from their gaze, wishing to shield them within ignorance. As messengers rode from village to village, calling out warnings of their unholy arrival, parents drew their children indoors, offering presents to distract them from the outside world.

With the passing of generations, this ritual no longer carried the foreboding of the Vampires. Today, the ritual emphasizes the importance of community and the thriving of the new generation.

This ritual comes with four parts, each equally important. The crops must be harvested for this ritual to commence, and the able-bodied toiling long hours to care for the village. The stalks are sorted, dried, and woven into small dolls by the elders of each community. Every doll is made uniquely, painted to show additional character. Members of the community, generally mothers and those passing through childhood into the responsibilities of being an adult, will wrap these dolls with papers, each written with a simple, though heartfelt blessing. Finally, once the work has been completed, children five and older are given these dolls, tasked with ensuring that every child receives one, oftentimes trying to match the dolls with the child they best resemble.

Rice, corn, and various other stalks are, once harvested, transformed into the small toys that children regularly look forward to after the harvest. Paints, made from safe flowers, are sporadically used to help these dolls stand out from one another. It also helps to distinguish which child's gift, helping to reduce theft and jealousy at a later time.

Once the harvest has finished, several stalks from differing vegetables and grains are gathered together and, though the hands of those no longer able to toil the fields, are turned into toys that those too young to work can play with. These dolls are small, compact, and harmless to children. The distraction that these toys have among the children offers enough time for a moment's rest for the adults, allowing for some much-needed rest before further celebrations.