Stone Soup Ritual
"And they all came out one by one, each carrying something in its hand. Corn from the hens, apples and pumpkins from the dogs, fish from the cats... It is quite curious, what these sprites and talking animals do. It is very much like the old folktale of the stone soup."
The Stone Soup Ritual, as it's called, is a common practice amongst faeries in rural areas, notably in the Nursery Rhyme District. It was given this name by Professor James Harmony, alluding to the classic folktale. This ritual not only serves to stretch out food resources, it is effective at building community.
History
The Stone Soup Ritual was first named by Professor James Harmony when he was exploring Altairus and happened upon the Nursery Rhyme District. It is likely that this ritual has been going on since the Nursery Rhyme District was founded.
Execution
The Stone Soup Ritual is one that involves the entire community. Farmers from all around lend a portion of their crops, each providing a small part of what will be a massive feast. Everyone takes part in providing the food and cooking it, and at the end, a huge feast is held where everyone is allowed to attend. Typically this is not just soup; multiple dishes are made for the feast.
Participants
Everyone who is able to provide their assistance participates in the preparation of the feast. Those who cannot participate in the preparation due to disability or some other reason are not prohibited from taking part in the feast; everyone is allowed to participate, regardless of whether or not they participated in the preparation. This is not really an issue, since most faeries happily provide their assistance even if they are not sure if they can make it to the feast.
Observance
The Stone Soup Ritual can be observed at any time of the year, but it is much more common in the fall and winter. In the Nursery Rhyme District, the ritual is an indispensable part of both Autumnal Equinox and Winter Solstice observances.
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