smásala

Smásala is a traditional communal ritual of the Aelori, a fictional highland people in the valley of Lythar. The term derives from sma meaning together and sala meaning song. Held at harvest and midwinter celebrations, smaller versions occur at other gatherings. It serves to transmit histories, genealogies, and communal values through performance. In ethnographic accounts within this setting, Smásala is a central element of Aeloric identity.

Participants form a circle around a central stage or drum called the smóra. A lead storyteller, the smilar, recites tales tied to origins while others respond with refrains. Instruments include wooden rattles, hand claps, and a wind instrument named the kor, creating a layered rhythm. The ceremony typically lasts several hours and ends with a shared meal and token exchange. Roles often alternate by generation to preserve continuity.

Historically, Smásala appears in marginal notes from the early medieval period and spread through the highlands. It declined in the 19th and 20th centuries due to migration and modernization, then revived from the late 20th century onward. Variants exist among valleys and coastal settlements; some communities adopt modern instruments while retaining core storytelling. In the fictional scholarly framework, Smásala is cited as intangible cultural heritage and the subject of ongoing study.