Teadusharuga

Teadusharuga is a term used in speculative ethnography and fiction to describe a ritual practice centered on tea as a social instrument. In its fictional usage, teadusharuga denotes a communal ceremony intended to strengthen social bonds, transmit cultural knowledge, and provide a framework for reconciliation. The term is a portmanteau that merges "tea" with a constructed suffix meant to evoke ritual cadence.

Ritual features typically include gathering in a circle, preparing a pot of tea, and passing a shared cup among participants. Each person may take a turn speaking or reciting memories, proverbs, or intentions for the gathering. A simple token or object is often exchanged to symbolize commitments or resolved grievances. The pace is deliberate, with an emphasis on listening and equal voice, and leadership rotates to prevent dominance. The setting can be private or public, formal or informal, and may align with seasonal or communal milestones.

Functions and interpretation frame teadusharuga as fostering trust, mutual learning, and resilience in communities facing stress or change. It presents tea as a medium for social negotiation and collective memory, linking present actions to past experiences. In fiction and speculative discourse, the ritual is used to explore how hospitality, storytelling, and ritualized practice shape social cohesion and intergenerational transmission.

See also: tea ceremony, ritual, social cohesion, memory, reconciliation.