kahje

In speculative worldbuilding, kahje is a traditional communal ceremony among the fictional Kaji people of the archipelago of Varin. The event spans several days and centers on reciprocity, shared labor, and cultural memory. The gathering is held at the end of the harvest season, though local calendars may shift it.

Etymology: The term comes from the Kaji language; scholars note dialectal variation, with some translations rendering kahje as "together work" and others as "gathering of hands."

Rituals: A sequence begins with a public pledge of support to contributors and to households in need, followed by a feast, shared cooking, exchange of crafted goods, and a storytelling circle where elders recount ancestral stories. Music and dance accompany the ceremonies, and a rotating host house coordinates logistics.

Social and economic role: Kahje acts as a social insurance mechanism, redistributing surplus and reinforcing inter-household ties. It provides a venue for skill transfer, marriage alliances, and the transfer of ceremonial knowledge. While the specifics vary by locality, most kahje emphasize inclusivity and consensus decision-making.

Variant and reception: Different communities maintain distinct regional forms, including more formalized ritual codes in some areas and looser practices in others. In comparative studies, kahje is often compared to real-world potlatch and similar reciprocal exchange ceremonies.

See also: potlatch, reciprocity, communal labor.