According to Hontualieu myth, when night falls upon this day, vindictive creatures known as
toue oytzikliz— literally meaning
earth thieves— set out to take back what belongs to nature. Typically, this means stealing food, animals, and crops from the
humans, who they believe stole them away in the first place. Of course, not knowing that the crops, the animals, and everything else had been willingly given to the humans— according to Qetqep belief— they are simply a nuisance for all parties involved.
To protect their food, believers set up traps for the toue oytzikliz, from simple snares to complex systems of ropes and pulleys— depending on the individual. Most are set by children, or by collaborative efforts with their loved ones. In reality, few adults actually believe in the existence of the creatures— rather, the holiday is meant to instill in children a greater respect for their food, alongside a duty to protect it. Overnight, parents or appointed individuals in the community will quietly place earthen figures resembling the creatures in as many traps as they can find.
These are often prepared a few days beforehand, and hidden away from young eyes. The fist-sized figures are conical, with three bright white stones set in their surface as eyes, and four sticks in their sides as arms. Upon sunrise, children are encouraged to break open the earthen figures to find treats or knickknacks "stolen" by the toue oytzikliz.
Accidental catches
As traps are often set in places where vermin or
monsters may tread— every year a few real thieves are caught.
On a few rarer occasions, humans are caught as well— most typically those tasked with placing the figures, but sometimes including extraordinarily foolish thieves.
Listen, brother— they're expecting food to go missing— it's the perfect day to fill our bowls!— Thief
Genius!
High praise, thank you!