There are many minor rituals that people perform as part of their daily lives that trace their origins to attempting to avoid drawing the attention of the
Fair Folk, or worse, becoming
Indebted to them. These traditions can broadly be classified as methods of warding oneself from their spying, open invitations to avoid and common courtesies.
Wards against Spying
The fair folk are believed to be obsessed with observing mortal affairs, and seek out those who lead particularly joyous lives in hopes of manufacturing an excuse to deliver misery to their doors. In hopes of avoiding such attention, people have devised a number of rituals in hopes of disrupting their vision. One of the most pervasive of these ideas is that one should never stand between two mirrors that face each other. It is said that the point at which the repeated images becomes impossible to discern is an open invitation for the fair folk to peek through, despite any defenses the household might be employing.
The exact nature of the defenses employed in a household varies widely from place to place. For example, in human communities throughout
Kinilan it is customary for people to sprinkle a line of salt across the doorways into their home every morning after sweeping away the salt from the previous morning. Wealthier households commonly prefer to change the salt in decorative vials positioned near the floor on either side of the doorway. Conversely, in Chelestra, small threshold barriers some 3 to 5 inches high are believed to serve the same purpose - a tradition that has embarassed many an unwary foreigner who expects the doorway to be clear. Meanwhile, dwarven communities typically work a whetstone into the doorframe - often incorporating it in the top middle of the frame, or simply throwing a whetstone up onto the roof for standalone buildings rather than those hewn from solid stone.
Inviting Trouble
Those who truly fear to invite the wrath of the fair folk have a long list of behaviours that should be avoided. Some of these are widely discounted as attributing blame to something other than one's own foolishness, like the assertion that a person walking backwards invites the fair folk to curse them with clumsiness. Others, like the prohibition against travelling at night on a full moon are regarded as common sense: predators and bandits often hunt at night, and the light of the full moon makes one an easily visible target.
One set of these traditions that is particularly widespread is the belief that the fair folk have a fondness for birds - particularly birds of prey and carrion fowl. One who injures or kills such a bird risks angering the fair folk, and a house with a wild bird stuck inside is believed to be fair game for any mischief the fair folk might offer until such a time as the bird is freed. In some cultures, this cautious treatment even goes so far to being careful to handle farm birds delicately - very few believe that killing chickens for their meat will invite unwanted attention, but the belief that unnecessary cruelty while raising them will do so is far more commonplace.
Common Courtesy
Several rules of common courtesy have arisen from the fact that the fair folk can disguise themselves as ordinary mortals. The most widespread of these is the tradition of exchanging gifts rather than giving them freely, particularly when the gift giver is not well known by the intended recipient. This is to avoid the possibility of becoming
Indebted by accepting what the fey folk would consider a favour by ensuring recompense is always given: a gift for a gift. It is widely believed that the relative value of the gifts does not play a major role, after all, if both people accept the gift, then they have agreed upon the exchange.
Another widespread belief is that celebrations should always have some form of music; more specifically, that anyone who attends a celebration that doesn't have music is considered fair game for the fair folk to harass as they will. In some cultures, outfits worn to celebrations often have small bells sewn into them, making every step carry its own subtle music. Other cultures simply place a high value on musical performances and ensure that a suitable musical performance is scheduled as part of the festivities.
One other belief is very widespread, and it is so oddly specific that scholars are widely inclined to consider it valid. When two friends or lovers speak the same word at the same time, that moment provides an opportunity for the fair folk to bring a curse upon that relationship. This can be prevented by either party invoking the protection of the gods. Most cultures have a simple hand sign incorporated into their beliefs that is most commonly used - a minor blessing that is just enough to cleanse that vulnerability. More devout individuals may opt for more extravagant rituals, though this broadly considered excessive - indeed, some people consider it a sign of being overly demanding of one's god, while the proper use of the minor blessing is a mark of humility, asking for no more than what is needed.
Comments