Poceranie

Poceranie is a traditional communal cooking and exchange ritual described in the folklore of the fictional Veridian highlands. The practice is presented as a seasonal event during harvest or early winter, bringing together families, neighbors, and visiting guests in a shared meal and social labor.

Etymology and origins are debated within the lore. The name is commonly said to derive from Proto-Slavic roots meaning “to gather” or “to mix,” though there is no single authoritative account. Accounts vary by village, reflecting regional dialects and oral traditions.

During Poceranie, participants gather around a public oven or communal hearth. They mix and knead dough, bake bread and pastries, and distribute prepared foods according to a rotating schedule. The event includes singing, storytelling, and the exchange of seeds or produce for use in the next season, reinforcing networks of reciprocity and mutual aid.

In modern representations, Poceranie is treated as a symbol of communal resilience and intergenerational knowledge. Some regional groups host annual festivals and workshops to preserve techniques and songs, while urban communities adapt the ritual to community kitchens and cultural heritage programs.