Zenéig

Zenéig is a traditional system of land stewardship and associated ritual practice developed by the fictional Zenéi people in the highland region of Valoria. It combines ecological farming methods with communal ceremonies to guide planting, irrigation, and soil renewal; central to Zenéig is the principle of balancing human labor with natural cycles.

The term derives from the Zenéi language, with elements interpreted as earth and balance. Earliest references appear in village chronicles dating to the late medieval period, though oral tradition traces the idea further back to ancestral caretakers who tied harvests to seasonal prayers and communal responsibility for the land.

Practices in the Zenéig system include crop rotation, intercropping, and shared labor pools, along with seed exchange among households and terraced field management to reduce erosion. A key social component is the Solstice of Seeds festival, during which households present offerings, recount histories, and renew the vow to protect soil and water. Water management and soil conservation are emphasized as ongoing communal obligations.

Geographically, Zenéig is observed in the eastern highlands of Valoria by the Zenéi, a small agrarian community numbering several thousand and speaking the Zenéi language alongside Valorian. Communities typically organize joint plots around central granaries and shared irrigation dikes, reinforcing social ties through common stewardship.

Modern status places Zenéig as a living tradition, studied by anthropologists and protected in local policies as intangible cultural heritage. It faces challenges from migration and climate pressures, with revival programs aimed at youth engagement and agroecological education.