Farin Customs

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Engagement

The Farin engagement process is regarded as a business transaction between the two families involved, and the terms of the marriage often take months to negotiate. The intended husband is expected to present the bride's family with a gift, usually gold or treasures, as a display of his ability to care for her and as a repayment for taking one of the family's precious daughters. The daughter has no say in the decision; if her father agrees, she must marry the man or run away and risk being disowned. Numerous songs tell of pretty peasant girls who save their families from destitution by marrying a wealthy Knight, or of wild-spirited girls who run away from a particularly cruel suitor.

Wedding Ceremonies

The Farin wedding ceremony is an ancient ritual that was adopted by Farin Davites, and therefore it is unique in comparison to the other marriage customs in the Kingdom. Unlike most masses, weddings are conducted outdoors, usually at the most lush garden that can be located in the area. The bride is traditionally dressed in blue (or at least some blue elements, if the dye for an entire outfit cannot be afforded) and the groom in pure white. The audience is separated into the two sections, one for the bride's family and one for the groom's, with a wide aisle in between. The groom waits by the altar with the presiding priest while the elder of the bride's family walks her down the aisle, then hands her to the groom. They hold hands while they give their vows (usually written themselves), then the priest places one flower crown on the bride's head and an identical one on the groom's, murmuring a fertility blessing. Then the couple are paraded in a circle around the altar five times (some whisper that this is to represent the blessings from the ancient gods, but most simply explain it as "old tradition" connected to the joining of a couple for the creation of life) before they finally kiss and the ceremony is over. A public feast usually follows, then the couple departs for their new home at the groom's family house. In North Farin, some couples exchange wedding rings at the same time that they are crowned with flowers, but this is adopted from the Lithmorran ceremony rather than tradition.

Dancing

Music and dancing are present at just about every public occasion in Farin. Unless one is missing a leg, one does not avoid dancing. It would result in public ridicule. Children learn to dance at a young age, if not from formal lessons then simply from attending festivals. Dancing is not considered "girly" unless that particular song is meant to be danced to only by women; even the gruffest soldier will get up and dance when the music is appropriate (to admit that he cannot dance would be embarrassing and emasculating). Farin dances are typically done in circles or spirals, with the lead of the line performing fancy moves like kicks or flips for a few moments before moving to the end of the line to allow the next lead to take his spot. Some male-only dances even involve the juggling or swinging of knives and swords. Outsiders have remarked on Farin dances, "It is amazing to witness, that people who have suffered so much over the centuries yet retain such a zest for life, such bursting joy."