Dendrolatry
Dendrolatry or tree worship is the common name for one of the religions that make up most mainstream elven faiths, along with Arctolatry (bear worship) and Pyrolatry (fire worship). It has a number of denominations, each centered on the worship of at least one tree species, the vast majority of which belong to one of two main branches of the faith, namely Deciduous Dendrolatry and Evergreen Dendrolatry. Dendrolatrist societies tend to favour collectivism compared to pyrolatrist and especially arctolatrist ones, and most incorporate meditation and the worship of tree spirits to some extent as well.
It's currently the most widespread elven religion in Borgalor along with pyrolatry, mostly practiced in the countries of Erenúm and New Þamta1, with smaller dendrolatrist and syncretic communities found in Agg-Ahlún, Fjún, Jolþ, Númra and Æjala.
Common religious symbols carried by dendrolatrists are amulets in the shape of one or more stylized leaves, branches or fruit of the tree which that particular denomination is associated with or, more rarely, lacquered leaves from said trees.
These traditions usually place a great emphasis on the role of the family, as well as charity and how to adapt to the constant cycle of life, death and rebirth, much like how a forest provides food and shelter to all, and survives the changing seasons.
Monasticism does exist within this tradition, however, in the form of orders that protect sacred groves and shrines from intruders, offer religious services and ritual paraphernalia to the community in exchange for food and materials needed to fulfill their duties. Such societies are considered a special category of family and their members treat each others as such.
While evergreen arctolatrists share many of the same values as followers of the deciduous tradition, one of the main differences is that the former adhere to a more linear worldview, reflecting how evergreen trees stay mostly the same throughout the year. There's often a greater emphasis on conformity as well, much like how coniferous forests tend to be more uniform than deciduous ones.
It's currently the most widespread elven religion in Borgalor along with pyrolatry, mostly practiced in the countries of Erenúm and New Þamta1, with smaller dendrolatrist and syncretic communities found in Agg-Ahlún, Fjún, Jolþ, Númra and Æjala.
Common religious symbols carried by dendrolatrists are amulets in the shape of one or more stylized leaves, branches or fruit of the tree which that particular denomination is associated with or, more rarely, lacquered leaves from said trees.
Main Tradition
Deciduous Dendrolatry
The majority of dendrolatrist denominations are derived from this tradition, with commonly venerated tree species including birch, cherry, chestnut, oak and walnut, while some such as apple- and pear trees are rarely venerated except as a form of syncretism with certain human faiths.These traditions usually place a great emphasis on the role of the family, as well as charity and how to adapt to the constant cycle of life, death and rebirth, much like how a forest provides food and shelter to all, and survives the changing seasons.
Monasticism does exist within this tradition, however, in the form of orders that protect sacred groves and shrines from intruders, offer religious services and ritual paraphernalia to the community in exchange for food and materials needed to fulfill their duties. Such societies are considered a special category of family and their members treat each others as such.
Evergreen Dendrolatry
This branch was once commonly referred to as Coniferous Dendrolatry, but that term has since fallen out of favour among religious scholars to include sects centered around the worship of tree-like plants like palms and tree-ferns along with more common juniper, larch, pine and spruce.While evergreen arctolatrists share many of the same values as followers of the deciduous tradition, one of the main differences is that the former adhere to a more linear worldview, reflecting how evergreen trees stay mostly the same throughout the year. There's often a greater emphasis on conformity as well, much like how coniferous forests tend to be more uniform than deciduous ones.
1Specifically the autonomous region of Þidírar to the east and Íhin Island to the northwest.
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