Havelins

Havelins are most of all communal creatures, who look after one another and their wider communites, without ever asking if they ought, but only how best to. They've always been that way.  They aren't hierarchichal, expcet that they do recognise that someone has to be the one to get up and speak, sometimes, otherwise there is a tangle of voices and no-one at all can be heard. So mostly they govern themselves by consensus, in their burrows, and when in groups too large to do that, they  manage some other way or break off into smaller groups and form a coalition. They will not accept any larger rule, however, nor any sort of opression, nor any violation of their burrows. They have never, not in anyone's memory, sought to go to war with anyone, but have defended themselves from attack with ferocity and violence that let their attackers shattered and trembling. They know their lands, and they fight with nothing at all to lose and everythign to protect - and they fight cleverly.  Those that have thought to put down a group of havelins have been sorry for it. There's a reason the City lured and seduced its havelins through the use of good beer and good bread: it could never have conquered them. 


Halflings do marry, or at least, they have something that those outsidde their burrows recognise as something analogous to the arrangement. Elder Havelins watch their young folks go off and group up, make their own Burrows, start lives together in pairs or groups, as suits them. Though Burrow Marriages aren't like others in the city, they're still recognised, haphazardly, though a patchwork collection of whatever contracts will serve purpose. 
The Hearth, that's the important thing. Piling up their kitchen things, sharing a hearthfire, making and taking meals together, that's what makes a family. Having children, pooling money, starting businesses and working toeher, sharing beds and professing love, fidelity of any sort or promises therof, all of these thigns Havelins may do, but it's the hearth, the fire and the kitchen, that's really the important thing. All the rest is secondary. So.
 Havelins might have children. they might start a business and pool their money, and of corse they do form bonds of deep feeling, and recognise them too, as is their wont, they might even enter into legal contracts to maintain it as suits them - though it's rare any Havelin will tolerate an agreement more formal than spitting on the floor, to the lawmasters' chagrin - but none is as important as the Hearthfire, the joining of kitchens. That's at the centre of the Burrow Marriage, the core of it all.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

I or ee names tend to be common, or O names. Vowels, and round jolly sounds. Ouenli and Sunli, Sunni and Bonni and Wanna and Jemma.

Masculine names

Consonant names, or names with more sqare sounds - though in general Havelin names are roounder. Bruno, Janno, Marun, Baju, Bajul, Jem, ,

Unisex names

Mostly all of them are, in the end.  There arnet't any names that can't be interchangeable.

Family names

Names of natural features are the most common, or names of things in the world that are pleasant. Names describing sun or water or scent or the feeling of wind or rain or sunlight. Herbs or snowfall or or the movement of birds. In the city, this changes a bit. Sometimes popular features of archiecture show up, or the words for thigns in building or carpentry. Sometimes, even, common everyday objects. But almost always it's the things one sees, thigns that are pleasant and mark the years, and the comings and goings and ways to mark where one is in the world.  
Wee-pond, Sunninghill, Aldergrove, Morreltree, Crows-feast, Fishfull, Flood

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

To be fine and fat and cheerful, and strong and sturdy, hale and whole and hearty. 
They like a nice hearty head of hair.  They like pretty red cheeks and lips, for it indicates good health. They like a round plump arse. Hips that can be grabbed and squeezed are nice. They like most of all a lovely round pot belly, and pinchable chins and cheeks, for any gender, at any age.

Gender Ideals

Femme folks are wanted to be  hearty of passion,  quick-witted and clever,  sharp of mind and sharp of tongue. They are meant to be  strong of mind and stomach,  and to know the way of knowing one's mind great bargainers, and thrifty.  
Homme folks are wanted to be  hearty of warmth,  patient and thoughtful,  warm of heart and warm in manner,  and to know the ways of knowing one'd heart slow to anger and slow to forget,  careful pantry-minders, and never wasteful   Universal values good at keeping accounts, good at keeping track of the home and what they have, what they don't. Good at managing a house. firce defending. connected to others. takes care of others. self-aware.  communicates well. 

the young must keep the fire alive. be passionate and curious. learn to fight and defend. Learn the ways of other lands. connect with others. kiss a lot of folks. Know many many songs.  Be a good musician and singer. Be attractive and charming. Keep a tidy account-book. 
The middle-aged watch the river and the birds and the winds. They learn the deeper ways of other lands. Learn to mend and save. Keep a tidy account-book. 
the old are meant to grow in patience and fortitude, Learn to mend and save. Teach the young all they know. Learn the deeper wisdom of seasons, that goes beyond what can be seen or heard to what is only felt.  learn the ways of death and rotting, too.

Courtship Ideals

Usually the young ones just get together as suits them, and then talk to their parents about it. If the parents agree, then they put a house together. If their parents don't agree, then arguments are had, and sometimes a trial period. Sometimes a house is put together, but not a proper burrow, so that falling apart puts less strait and fuss on the community. ometimes, the parents get to talking, about how well the young ones would put together a house. Sometimes they bring the matter to the young ones openly, but sometimes, they are Strategems instead. Whether this works better, or is just more of an amusement for the older folks is still a mystery. Either way, they're usually right, and usually after a carefully planned encounter late after a festival, or perhaps a helpful carry home, after drinking a bit much, thigns just work out as they ought. 
On the sad occasion that a burrow must break apart, or someone loses a partner, the community gets together to talk over what ought be done. No-one is allowed to be alone, of course. Companions move in, or the lonely soul is moved into someone else's home until they find a new companion, or for always.  It always works out. Folk aren't meant to dwell alone, Havelins believe, so they don't.

Relationship Ideals

Balance, good communication, laughter and music, delight and playfulness.  Good chemistry when playing music together. Moving harmoniously together when in the kitchen, cooking together, is considered the most dependable indication of compatibility.