Thanking the earth

The most widespread ritual in Hálfrfold is touching the ground with your hand(s) before bed, and thanking the earth for its gifts and the sanctuary it provides.

Some cultures have made this into a nightly prayer ritual and their houses and dwellings are constructed in such a way that there is access to the ground. This space is used for prayer.

Other cultures “step out” before bed, i.e. go outside of their home and touch the ground or some other feature of nature such as a tree etc., inhale deeply, and go to bed.

Travellers who do not wish to exit their lodgings or tent at night (for safety reasons) tend to carry a vial or small bottle of earth with them that they carefully tip Into their hands instead. Market villages or places with a lot of travellers sell local soil (or manure, depending on the vendor) to outsiders.

The particularly lazy or rich inhabitants of Hálfrfold merely touch their bedroom floor, if they follow this ritual at all. They do not thank the earth for its gifts but instead congratulate themselves on their good fortune.