Kaninfolk Pairing Ceremony

Upon reaching adulthood (their 12th birthday), kaninfolk are recognized and allowed to (expected to) participate in the midsummer pairing festival. During this festival, all eligible adults participate in an elaborate set of rituals involving music, singing, dance and crafts. Each eligible female is expected to select one male partner for the next 3 years and take up residence at the female's home. After the three year period, both members of a couple rejoin the pairing festival. An individual may have up to 9 different partners over the course of their adult life. In colonies with close ties to other cultures, kaninfolk who do not find a partner in the pairing ritual are expected to leave the village to seek a partner from another colony or culture. Kaninfolk, humans, and most humanoid cultures can interbreed -- so mixed species pairings, while uncommon, are not unheard of in far northern villages. Most often these are kaninfolk men and women who have left the village after an unsuccessful pairing ritual. There are rumors of villages where men and women of other humanoid cultures have been allowed to participate, but these have never been substantiated.

History

The pairing ceremony is an ancient tradition within the Kaninfolk culture. According to legend, early Kaninfolk colonies had no concept of partners. Adults were free to mate with whomever they pleased, resulting in overpopulation and toxic levels of competition amongst young males for mates. Eventually a group of female elders proposed the ceremony, rotating partners and codifying the male responsibility for child raising as a means of reducing the mortality rate amongst young males, and placing a natural limit on reproductive activity -- the ability of the male parent to care for new young. According to legend the 3 year cycle was added later in a tacit acknowledgement that lifetime monogomy amongst kaninfolk is somewhat counter to natural instinct. Anedotally the practice of honor killings and the adult mortality rate dropped significantly with the introduction of the 3 year cycle. Over the course of kaninfolk history, the ceremony has evolved. New activities (or "ranking factors", as they are known amongst the female participants) have been added over time, and others retired. The introduction and elimination of activities is controlled by the council of elders, and reflects the current view on what traits and capabilities are important for the colony. These criteria are especially important in kaninfolk society as the men are responsible for the raising and education of the young.

Execution

The ceremony begins by recognizing all of the new adults in the colony. These new adults will be participants in the ceremony. After the new adults are recognized, the colony celebrates those adults who have completed their three year parings. These couples, who were the result of a pairing ceremony three years ago will be participating in ceremony as well. Once the participants have been identified, they are separated into male and female cohorts. The females will act in the role of the audience (or judges) of the male performances. The males on the other hand will be called upon to show their skill at a wide variety of activities. The most common activities demonstrated across colonies include:

Playing a musical instrument
Singing
Reciting teaching ballads
Crafting

Once the performances are complete the women, from youngest to oldest, select their top three candidates. The candidates, in order, accept or reject the female's offer of pairing. In the event all three reject the female, she will go without a pair until the next ceremony or choose to leave the village. In the case they accept, the two are recognized as a pair for the next three years. Once all of the women have been given the opportunity to form a pair, the couples are announced to those not participating and the final celebration begins. This generally is in the form of singing, dancing, drinking and eating. For three days following the festival, Kaninfolk generally remain in the home familiarizing themselves with their new partner. The risk of being rejected by all three male candidates, or in not being chosen has led to a veritable industry of pairing advisors. These are often elders who have multiple ceremonies worth of experience, or highly desireable men/women who can make a bit of money on the side by providing advice.

Participants

All new adults (those who have achieved 12 years of age and successfully completed their education to the elder's satisfaction) and any couples who have completed three years of their current pairing participate in the pairing ceremony.