Strix Marriage
similar to the feathers on belts being a statement of belief someone is capable at a certain kind of work, a strix trying to propose to another will go to the friends and family of the person they want to marry and ask for their support, making a necklace of those given feathers tied on with white string and asking for a dance. The dance itself is not set in stone, however there must be both parts where they dance together and parts where the strix proposing shows off and dances alone. It is considered bad form to have a proposal dance without dipping or lifting the person you're proposing to at least once.
While engaged, the person who was asked is to wear the necklace, amended with a final feather from the one who asked, while the one who proposed is to wear a necklace with a feather of the person they are going to marry. Marriage is full of food, music, and dancing, which culminates in a ceremony where each of the family-friends feathers are taken off one at a time, and both to be wed make a promise to each of these people (usually along the lines of promising to care for the other), then handing the feather back to its original owner. After this, they each untie their own feather from the necklace of the other and make a final promise to their fiance, before again holding their own feathers.
At this point the elder leading the ceremony lights a bowl of oil on fire, which each of the guests who were given promises come up one at a time and set fire to their feather, sticking the quill in the ground so it stands up aflame. Finally, the two to be wed set their own feathers on fire together, hand in hand holding the burning feathers until the elder leading the ceremony decides they have shown enough care for the relationship by letting the fire heat their hands that he puts out the flame with a special dust.
After this, there's a lot of drinking, dancing, and general revelry and hooliganery late into the night. Whoever goes home first is certain to get a playful earful about it. The entire shebang is very much a social gathering, and often most of the village is invited.
The pair, once wed, continue to wear the bare necklaces until death or leaving each other. If the latter, it is custom to burn the necklace.
While engaged, the person who was asked is to wear the necklace, amended with a final feather from the one who asked, while the one who proposed is to wear a necklace with a feather of the person they are going to marry. Marriage is full of food, music, and dancing, which culminates in a ceremony where each of the family-friends feathers are taken off one at a time, and both to be wed make a promise to each of these people (usually along the lines of promising to care for the other), then handing the feather back to its original owner. After this, they each untie their own feather from the necklace of the other and make a final promise to their fiance, before again holding their own feathers.
At this point the elder leading the ceremony lights a bowl of oil on fire, which each of the guests who were given promises come up one at a time and set fire to their feather, sticking the quill in the ground so it stands up aflame. Finally, the two to be wed set their own feathers on fire together, hand in hand holding the burning feathers until the elder leading the ceremony decides they have shown enough care for the relationship by letting the fire heat their hands that he puts out the flame with a special dust.
After this, there's a lot of drinking, dancing, and general revelry and hooliganery late into the night. Whoever goes home first is certain to get a playful earful about it. The entire shebang is very much a social gathering, and often most of the village is invited.
The pair, once wed, continue to wear the bare necklaces until death or leaving each other. If the latter, it is custom to burn the necklace.
Participants
For those who were close enough to be a feather of approval, to not set their feather on fire is considered a very serious thing to do, and a hit against the wedding altogether. If one of those asked do not live to the ceremony itself their feather will be placed in a small wooden holder and set on fire by the elder in charge.
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