Bow to the Harvest

A Celebration of Life, Death, Mercy and the Land

"The Bow to the Harvest festival is part of a larger cultural metamorphosis of Morvathia. In casting off the Galdoric Empire's yoke, we created a void, a canvas barren of identity. Into this void, the Morvathian people welcomed a myriad of influences, embracing even the obscure traditions of the kobuck tribes, that once were overlooked and belittled by the empire. As for me? Attending the festival is a guilty pleasure, not least for the Blackberry Fool they serve there. It's a delightful indulgence. One even I can't resist. Believe me, I tried."

— From: "A Comprehensive Guide to Morvathia's Mysteries" by Salama the Dragonwitch

The 'Bow to the Harvest' festival marks the end of summer in Morvathia on the 27th of Wyndvahl. This tradition predates the Galdoric Empire and the Witchrealm, as it originaly was celebrated by the many kobuck tribes in the northern regions of Vespero. After Morvathia's liberation and the establishment of the Witchrealm, the kobuck's traditions, including the Bow to the Harvest, gradually integrated into the wider culture of the realm.
The festival is a two-day event, each different in its meaning and way of celebration. On the first day, people don colorful traditional attire adorned with flowers and decorations, expressing their gratitude for the harvest through songs and dances that resonate with the earth's bounty.
The second day, marking the 1st of Arnōt, shifts in tone. Daytime is reserved for rest and reflection, a quiet acknowledgment of the year's changes. As night falls, the mood transforms into one of vibrant festivities once more. Costumes inspired by nocturnal creatures and adorned with bones and skulls replace the floral garments of the day before, symbolizing the cycle of life and the intertwining of joy and solemnity. Together, these days encapsulate the spirit of gratitude, reflection, and unity that the "Bow to the Harvest" brings to Morvathia each year.

A Tradition Born from Mercy

This annual celebration is not the product of a single kobuck tribe's culture but rather an amalgamation of various harvest festivals that were prevalent among the kobucks inhabiting the land that is now known as Morvathia. These traditions predate the dominion of both the Galdoric Empire and the Witchrealm, harking back to a time when the land was a patchwork of tribal territories, each with its own customs and stories.

Origin in Folklore

Kobuck folklore offers an insight into the festival's significance and symbolism. They regard themselves as the children of the 'Horned Father', a deity of growth and decay from the Pantheon of the New Gods. Following the desolation of the Age of Silence, when the continent of Vespero lay barren and lifeless, the kobucks were brought forth as temporary stewards of the land. Their divine mission was to cultivate life in the desolate expanse, nurturing the earth back to fecundity before accepting their destined extinction to make way for new life. However, moved by the diligence, beauty, and spirit of his creations, the Horned Father bestowed upon the Kobucks the gift of continued life, extending their presence beyond their original purpose.

Symbol of Horned Father

This act of divine affection and mercy is believed to be the heart of the Bow to the Harvest celebration. It is a time when the Kobucks come together to demonstrate the success of their divine charge – the transformation of a lifeless land into a bounteous haven. The first day's celebrations are an offering of gratitude, showing the Horned Father the fruits of their labor. As the second night descends, their attires of bones and dark cloths symbolize the death that was once their fate, a reminder of their mortality and the subsequent reprieve granted by their deity's mercy.

Adaption into the Witchrealm

As the tides of history turned, Morvathia came under the dominion of the Galdoric Empire, ushering in an era of change that saw the marginalization of kobuck tribes and their ancient ways. The empire's indifference to Kobuck culture led to the erosion of many tribal traditions, with the relentless expansion of cities and towns introducing new customs centered around the Divine Parents. Amidst this cultural upheaval, only those kobuck tribes that remained in isolation continued their ancestral practices, safeguarding the Bow to the Harvest from the maelstrom of change.
It wasn't until Morvathia's liberation and emergence as an independent nation that the disparate societies of kobucks and humans began to intertwine more closely. As the two communities started to intermingle, especially in the rural regions, the Bow to the Harvest festival found new soil to root in and flourish. The festival began to resonate beyond its original keepers, spreading into the wider cultural landscape as farming communities, both kobuck and human, embraced the shared joy and gratitude of the harvest season.

Evolution of Meaning and Symbolism

With the broader adoption of the "Bow to the Harvest" among Morvathians, the festival's significance evolved, particularly for those without the deep ancestral ties to the Horned Father. For many, the festival has come to represent a more universal celebration of achievement and prosperity. The "fruits of labor" are no longer just the literal harvest but encompass any form of personal or communal success. Students, for example, might use the occasion to celebrate their academic accomplishments, while artisans and merchants reflect on the prosperity of their trades.
The second day, traditionally a time of introspection and night-time revelry in dark, spooky costumes, has taken on a broader meaning as well. It serves as a reminder of the impermanence of success and the ever-present possibility of failure or loss. This part of the festival prompts participants to cherish their achievements and the present moment, understanding that all things, like the cycle of seasons, are transient.
Despite these shifts in interpretation and practice, the heart of the celebration remains unchanged. Kobucks continue to perform the rituals and festivities as an expression of love and gratitude towards their divine creator. Simultaneously, others join in, extending their thanks to various facets of their lives, creating a shared celebration that marks the end of each summer.
However, this cultural diffusion is not without its dissenters. Some isolated kobuck communities view the widespread adoption of the festival as a dilution of its sacred origins, preferring to keep the traditions pure and unshared. In contrast, those kobuck groups that have integrated more closely with the broader Morvathian society revel in the recognition and celebration of their cultural heritage, proud to see their ancient customs become a cornerstone of national festivity.

Two Days of Festivity

The Bow to the Harvest festival is celebrated with a rich array of rituals, each region adding its own flavor to the tradition. Notably, the oldest kobuck tribes in the icy north of Galdorsmynd have distinctly unique practices, which differ greatly from the traditions popularized in Morvathia. However, a specific set of rituals is still common to almost all forms of this festival.

The First Day

On the first day, the festival's attire is a dominated by collection of vibrant colors, adorned with flowers and symbols representing the abundance of the harvest. This includes representations of fruits, vegetables, and herbs – anything that signifies growth and life. Communities come together in communal spaces such as public squares, fields, and forests, with larger cities hosting gatherings in marketplaces and sometimes even in temples that open their doors for the festivities. Food stalls, serving a variety of street foods that have become synonymous with the festival, are a common and welcome sight.
The centerpiece of the celebration is the 'Circle of Bloom', a ritual that captures the essence of the festival. In the heart of the gathering space stands a large, intricately carved wooden totem, its surface a narrative of ancient Kobuck folklore, depicted through figures and creatures stacked atop each other. At the base of this totem, participants place the freshest produce of the harvest – pumpkins, apples, root vegetables – as offerings to express their gratitude. Surrounding this symbolic center, people dance to the rhythmic beats of drums, rattles, tambourines, and the melodious tunes of fiddles, flutes, and lyres, creating an atmosphere of communal joy and celebration.
In urban and less rural areas, where the connection to the land might be less direct, the 'Circle of Bloom' is often replaced by a 'Table of Harvest'. Here, instead of agricultural produce, guests bring various handcrafted items like carved pendants, small figurines, or examples of their artisanal skills. These items serve as personal offerings, representing the fruits of their labor in a more metaphorical sense.
As the evening approaches, the offerings around the Circle of Bloom transform into the ingredients for communal cooking. This often turns into a friendly competition among families, each vying to prepare the most delicious communal dishes like stews, soups, hand pies, or grilled vegetables. This communal feast fosters a sense of unity and shared accomplishment among the participants.
For celebrations featuring the Table of Gifts, the items are redistributed among the festival attendees at the event's conclusion. Each person is encouraged to take a gift, with the emphasis on anonymity in the giving and receiving process. This practice underscores the festival's themes of gratitude and communal sharing, where the bond of giving connects everyone irrespective of their personal identities or social standing.

The Second Day

As the 1st of Arnōt dawns, the Bow to the Harvest festival ushers in its second day, marked by a stark contrast from the previous day's exuberance. This day is characterized by a solemn quietude and introspection, a collective pause that blankets the realm. It is a time for individuals to reflect deeply on the cycles of nature, the fleetingness of life, and the personal journey of their own existence.
In keeping with the day's contemplative nature, it is customary across Morvathia for all work to cease. Shops close their doors, business transactions are paused, and the usual hustle of daily life comes to a standstill. In certain regions, this day is also observed as a fast, with no food consumed until the evening or the following day. While some choose to spend this time in the comfort of family, others opt for solitude, turning inward to their thoughts and emotions.
As evening descends, the community reconvenes around the Circle of Bloom or the Table of Harvest once more, now transformed for the night's festivities. A large, horned goat skull, nestled amidst a cloak of autumn leaves, crowns either the totem or a large straw puppet on the table, symbolizing the watchful presence of the Horned Father.
The attire for the evening is dramatically different from the first day. Participants wear costumes representing nocturnal creatures and entities of the dark. Cloaks of pitch black with skull-like masks, and outfits festooned with bones and symbols of decay are commonplace. In certain areas, costumes even take on the visage of demons from the Netherhells, an addition that is more specific to the fears of Morvathian witches.
As night fully envelops the land, fires ignite, casting a warm, flickering glow that pierces the darkness. The dance of this evening is an altogether different affair—more frenetic and wild, with booming drums and percussive instruments setting a haunting rhythm. Costumes equipped with rattles and bells add to the collective cacophony, every movement contributing to the night's frenzied melody.
Amidst the dancing, the night is also alive with storytelling, as participants share tales that explore the darker facets of existence. Narratives of horror, dread, and death are spoken and enacted around the fires, captivating the audience with their chilling themes.
The festival reaches its zenith with the eldest member of the community reciting a poem to the Horned Father beneath the glow of the two moons. This poem, spoken in the ancient dialects of Bleatongue, varies slightly from community to community but always retains its core essence—a homage to the divine protector. In urban communities, where the connection to the Horned Father might be less pronounced, the poem serves as a unifying element, culminating in a communal song that envelops the gathering in a slow, haunting melody. This collective singing, performed by the assembly of shadowy figures, creates an atmospheric climax that beautifully concludes the two-day festival. As the last notes linger in the air, the "Bow to the Harvest" draws to a close, leaving behind a profound sense of unity and reflection on the delicate balance of life and death.

Related Location: The Witchrealm of Morvathia, Northern Galdorsmynd

Related Ethnicities: Kobuck tribes of North-Vespero and the Morvathian people

Time of Year: 27th of Wyndvahl, 1st of Arnōt

Themes: Gratitude, Mercy, Death, Life, Harvest, Accomplishment and Failure

Related Traditions: Circle of Bloom, Table of Harvest, Dance and Song, Communal Cooking, Anonymous Gifts, Storytelling around the Fireplace, Poem and Song under the Moons

Popular Street Foods During Bow to the Harvest

Candied Nuts: Assorted nuts coated in a crunchy, sweet glaze with a hint of sea salt. They're typically served in paper cones, making them an easy and delicious snack to munch on while enjoying the festivities.
Grilled Root Skewers: A variety of hearty root vegetables such as carrots, beets, and turnips, marinated in herbs and grilled over an open flame. These skewers are a favorite for their earthy flavors and are often served wrapped in fresh, leafy greens.
Spiced Corn on the Cob: Fresh corn grilled and rubbed with a blend of spices and butter. It's a simple yet beloved treat that epitomizes the spirit of the harvest.
Blackberry Fool: A light, creamy dessert made with fresh blackberries, sweet custard, and a touch of rose water, layered and served in cups.
Hearthcorn Cakes: A savory treat made from freshly harvested corn, these griddle-cooked cakes are mixed with herbs and spices.
Spiced Pumpkin Soup: Served in hollowed-out mini pumpkins, this creamy and spiced pumpkin soup warms the soul and is a perfect representation of the harvest season.
Cider-Braised Sausages: Locally made sausages braised in apple cider and served with a dollop of mustard or a tangy apple chutney.