Bericia, warrior's broth
Now that you've come of age and drunk this soup of warriors of very ancient recipee, you're now part of the community and when you go to war you will drink it with your comrades the same soup that Davidion drunk during the siege of Dorstulon, and his sons, and his grandsons and their descendants from which we came to be. Rise young man!, clean your mouth and speak your first words as a man!.
Origins
The consumption of Bericia is a very old tradition among Ikarians and Oronai, it was lost Seria ,but the word "Purshin" in seris meaning "military rations" might have the same root or could be related to the drinking of this broth during proto-davidovian times. It was first attested in the writings of the elf geographer Ispahyn in the 8th century BP. He said that both Ikarians and Oronai drunk a soup made of water, cabbages and beans during their military campaign and also it was drunk when a boy came of age, symbolizing his future role as a warrior defending his home and his realm. In early times this broth was considered the standard military rations for every Ikarian legionary and also Oronai hoplites consumed it during the early centuries of the Oronai kingdom. And these tradition has survived into nowadays in these societies. Now it had not also become the common food for soldiers but also for farmers as it provides a lot of calories and energy but also help them fight the cold temperatures of Winter. The recipee and ingredients used varies from region to region, but all these varieties of Bericia have some basic ingredients common to all of them, and also the way it is prepared and its meaning for the comming of age rite is the same.Ingredients
- Water
- Beans
- Cabagges
- Meat (usually pork or veal)
- Potatoes
Preparation
First things first, we place the beans on a casserole, and then we add the meat. Usually the meat was from a pig or veal killed by the boy that cames of age (symbolizing the first blood they're going to shed), Following this, we let the meet cook for 12 minutes and meanwhile we peel the potatoes and then cut them in dices or sheets. Finally we remove the meat from the pot and we add the potatoes and the cabagges into the water for 20 minutes and finally we throw again the meat into the pot and we add a bit of salt.Ritual and importance
The preparation of this soup is made by the parents while the ingredients, specially meat are provided by the young boy. Then he drinks the broth alongside his closests relatives and friends, and then the words said at the ceremony of comming of age can be said by the father of the boy or the local priest if he is invited to the ceremony. After he drinks the Bericia he is considered a full grown adult and also ready to be call into military service by his king ( in the case of the Oronai) or can enlist into the legions and hold political offices ( in the case of the Ikarians/Blatians). Special importance is placed in get the boy prepared to drink these kind of broth because it can be a bit strong the first time you consume it. Oronai and Ikarians do not recommend consuming Bericia before going to sleep but they do recommend it at lunch or even as breakfast. This is the rations that Ikarian legionaries and Oronai soldiers will get in early times, specially in cold climates like North-East Ikaria or Oronia itself.
Related Organizations
Related Ethnicities
Its ideal for the bravery, skills and military prospects of the young boy that he himself should kill the animals in order to prepare this dish. By killing them he would not tremble while stabing an enemy and he will became used to see blood. This might sound radical or cruel, but its the only way to raised brave men since adolescence. Also, sharing this communal meal with his family will be the the prelude to the meals that he will share with his comrades-in-arms.
A Bericia? For dinner? Are you mad, lad?, Do you want to spend the rest of the night at the latrine?, surely your stomach is not used to this kind of food, we Oronai have been eating this thing since we were teens!!, and in the case of us soldiers, we have subsisted on this broth for many years during multiple campaigns!.
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