Whenumu

The crowd gathered around in the late afternoon sun. It was almost time for the feast. But this feast was not like any I'd seen back home in the Golden Eyrie, and I'd be lying if I said I was not intrigued. Throughout the day, attendants had checked the soil, and I'd seen small puffs of steam escape the ground oven, but I had no real idea what to expect. Once the ground covering was removed, and the leafy parcels of food were removed from the pit, more and more steam billow upwards and with it, the smell of fatty pork and cooked vegetables filled the air. Children ran from the pit to the long tables, ready to dig in, and to be honest I was right there behind them. I may have even let slip a slight chirp. How embarrassing. But I was not disappointed.

-Hager the traveler, Aarakocran scout

History

The traditional Whenumu traces it's roots back to the early days of Kohoruna, when the Mana Atua still lived among their followers in Tapukūrae, the City in the Waves. Cooking with fire was used most often, generally to cook smaller meals for individuals or small families, but when it came to cooking a feast for the masses it just wasn't reasonable. It wasn't uncommon for the ocean breeze to put out smaller fires, and the process of cooking took too much time and attention. For larger feasts, the land itself would be used, with the Toa'ana and Tortle gathering rocks and digging pits to create a land oven. The process was time consuming, but for large amounts of food it often required less individual preparation per item of food. It was possible to leave vegetables and meats to cook for hours at a time, allowing tribesfolk to carry on with their day once the initial digging had finished.
To this day, the process remains remarkably similar to the days of it's origin, though increased trade with the people of Alshams Al'ard gave them access to high quality silks which would eventually replace the large leaves that were used to protect the food from the burning hot stones at the base of the pit. Meanwhile, non native meats and vegetables have slowly been introduced into the process as more travelers from the islands venture out into the world, and vice versa.

Execution

For larger feasts roaring fires would be constructed, in which rocks gathered from inland rivers were heated, while the most physically able Toa'ana and Tortles dig out a pit to be used as an oven, known as an Umu. By the time the pit is cleared the stones would have enough time to heat sufficiently, and they are pushed into the base of the pit. Soaked leaves are draped over the stones, and wrapped around the food to be cooked, before the food is laid into the pit, and the ground is re-sealed on top of it. The feast is left for several hours, while shamans offer prayer to Honu, the Monumental of Patience, and Tuhinga the Monumental of Fortune, on top of the heated ground.
When no more steam arises from any broken soil, it is time to raise the feast. Wrapped food items are taken to a communal table and cut open, and after a short prayer to Mateo, the Monumental of Life, and Morana, the Monumental of the Sea, fellow tribesfolk are invited to eat.

Components and tools

Typical food to be cooked in a Whenumu includes potato, sweet potato, pumpkin, carrot, pork, beef, chicken and occasionally even uncooked bread dough, or a unique pudding mixture. In terms of tools for the process, it requires river stones and large leaves for the actual cooking, as well as shovels to dig the pit itself.

Participants

The pit is usually cleared out by the most physically able Toa'ana and Tortle, while those too young to hunt, or too frail to dig prepare the food, wrapping it in large soaked leaves to protect it all from the heat of the stones. Tribal shamans often perform prayers on top of the mound after it's been filled in, usually attended by the Chief for a time.

Observance

These Whenumu are generally observed for larger than average feasts, and thus, tend to occur most often on days of celebration. Funerals, marriages and changes in leadership are all worthy causes for celebration, though the arrival of travelers, or the first tattooing of a young tribe member can be considered equally significant.