Religion in Halfling Heaven - by HH - Halfling Heaven

Barry_1066

Posted July 20, 2018

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Posted July 20, 2018

There is only one temple in Halfling Heaven. The villagers all 'worship' the same deity.

Saint Marcus - The Halfling God of Food & Indulgence.
Holy Symbol - a reclining pig set against a large yellow sun.

Clerics that follow Marcus tend to love the frequent 'food festivals' that the temple holds. Food festivals are held weekly and at every given opportunity such as Birthdays, Full moons, Sunny Days and Weddings.
The temple believes that good food, fun and community spirit are the most important things in life.

Saint Marcus is, as yet, unheard of in mainland Annakol. However, through the efforts of one cleric by the name of Peony Miller, this could be set to change.

The Festival of Life

There are many reasons for festivals and feasts in the village. This is one of the main events and tends to have some unique traditions incorporated into it.

1) The Tree of Life. - All villagers (and visitors) are expected to tie a gift or offering to the tree of life. This is said to symbolise that they are prepared to give, not just recieve throughout the coming year. Theses gifts or offerings can be anything, but tend to be made by the person making the offering. A cake or cookie, maybe a small figurine made from clay.

2) Egg Wishing - This tradition involves painting a wish upon an egg and burying it somewhere secret. The important thing to note about this tradition is that it is said to allow the painted wish to come true over the next year, but if the egg is found or seen whilst being buried by anyone other than the wisher, then the wish is lost.

3) Beating the Bounds - A tradition that involves a long and tedious, although necessary, perimeter check of property. Halflings from the village walk the perimeter of the land and fix any broken boundary markers that are discovered. It is said to strengthen the village physically and also seal the community spirit within.

4) The Crop Run - Another tedious but necessary task has been made into a competition. Each entrant is given a field to plough and some seeds to sow in it. The winner is the person to create a neatly ploughed and sown field within the allotted time. Usually, only males tend to enter this tradition.

5) The Queen of the Festival - All the females that wish to be the festival queen put on their finest dresses. They hope that they will be singled out from the crowds and chosen to lead the feast and open the festival. The Queen is usually chosen the day before the festival and she remains the queen from dawn to dawn the folowing day. In that time, no-one is allowed to refuse her a dance if she requests it. The queen of the festival is usually offered flowers by all visitors and villagers also.
Previous Queens have included Berri Pye, Ma Gardener and last years winner was Missus Brewer who has now won the title twice. (Incidentally, both her children were born within the following year of her having each title.)

Yule-Fest.

Well, it doesn't take a genius to work out that halflings would jump at the opportunity for a celebration, so this festival is as popular as the others. Though regional traditions vary, Halfling Heaven village tends to stick to some rigid guidelines for this festival.

1) (a week before the festival) The Tree of Life is decorated with brightly coloured spherical pieces of pottery called 'Ball-balls'. It was once suggested that the name should be simplified to something like 'Baubles' or 'Twinklies', but being a traditional village.... they dubbed the fellow who had this idea as the 'Yule Fool.', and a new tradition was born. The base of the tree is surrounded by wrapped gifts for the entire village ready for the first day of the festival.

2) (the day before the festival to the last day of the festival) The Yule-Fool is nominated in secret by the entire village via a secret ballot system. (No Fool can be nominated twice in succession.) The fools role in the festival is to entertain the 'guests' with song, dance, juggling and jokes. It should be noted at this point that the festival actually lasts for an entire fourteen days and nights, but the fool is only required to 'perform' during meals.

3) (a childrens traditional game) Blind-Hobbits Bluff is another tradition associated with this seasonal festival. Traditionally played by the children, one hobbit is blindfolded and spun until dizzy. The other children run whilst the 'blind hobbit' counts to ten. Upon ten, the fleeing hobbits must stand still and are not allowed to move until they are touched by the Blind Halfling, whom now searches for them whist stll blindfolded. This game usually ends in arguments, but so arguments and Yule-Fest are famously paired anyway.

4) Gifts - On the first day of the festival, the gifts are distributed to all the villagers. It is treated as a community event where the entire village turns up at dawn and open their gifts to the first rays of sun, shortly before announcing the first festival Breakfast.

5) Traditional Food - Turkey with wild chestnut & sage stuffing, Cranberry & Barleywine sauce, Nut Roasts, Figbread pudding, Glacier Cake (a dessert made from meringue, various fruits and frosting), Jellied Shark, Brandy Butter and, of course, Chocolate coins. These are just a small selection of the variety of foods that have become known as traditional for this festival.

6a) Boys Night Out - It is uncertain how this tradition came about, but nonetheless.... it is expected for all males to go to the local tavern, which for the night is designated as a male only area, and drink more than is probably wise. What goes on at these events remains a mystery, as no male who has ever attended has EVER uttered word of its 'fascinations' to a female. It has become so secretive throughout the years, that the date of the event constantly changes and is only discussed in privacy.

6b) Girls Night In - It is fairly obvious how this tradition came about. In the males absence, the females gather together and do female things. Knitting, Washing Up and swapping fashion tips.... alledgedly. Wink

7) Ice Skating - If the local fishing pond freezes, the halflings go ice-skating on it. It is traditionally thought of as a romantic event between lovers and married couples. If the pond does not freeze, it has been known for couples to be escorted to the mountains so they can skate there instead.