nasu

The Harvest Offering Ceremony

Added 2024-09-27 11:00:00 +0000 UTC

In an ancient village deep in the mountains was the harvest season nearing its begin, this ancient village performs every start of autumn a special ceremony, offering one of their most pure girl for a season with bearing trees and crops.

The entire village would gather to hold a ceremonial offering to thank the gods for a bearing crop. A special miko – a young maiden carefully chosen by the whole village was selected to have the honor of offering her innocence at this ritual. She would undergo a purification bath and be dressed in traditional ceremonial attire.

When the ceremony began, the miko would be laid upon the altar, her hands and feet bound in a solemn manner. A designated man, entrusted with the weighty responsibility, would approach, holding a sharp razor. With precision, he would shave off her hair, letting each strand fall into a small bowl, which was then offered to the gods as a sacred gift.

Following this, the villagers would start chanting, slowly moving closer to the miko. This marked the moment they sowed "seeds" into her, allowing them to flow out, filling the prepared bowl – a symbol of the prosperity and vitality they hoped would be bestowed upon the coming harvest, the miko's innocence erased and a perfect harvest secured.

( Thank you, Bones, for helping me write this short novel )