tejitalokra

Tejitalokra is a fictional cultural concept used in worldbuilding and speculative fiction to describe a dairy-centered ritual economy. It denotes a set of practices around milk production, exchange, and symbolic meaning in a hypothetical agrarian community. The term does not refer to a real-world tradition.

Etymology within fiction: The word Tejitalokra is a constructed compound, drawing on imagined linguistic roots intended to evoke pastoral regions. Because it is fictional, there is no single authoritative etymology, and sources may differ by author.

Practices and social structure: In depictions, communities organize around seasonal milking cycles, communal caching of surplus, and markets where dairy products are traded with social credits rather than currency. Rituals may accompany milking, with songs, dances, and talismans. Authority often rests with a council of elders or milk-keepers who oversee rituals and dispute resolution.

Cultural significance and uses: Tejitalokra serves as a narrative tool to explore themes of reciprocity, food security, and the role of ritual in sustaining social ties. It has been used in several unrelated works, often with varying details, as a flexible template for dairy-centered cultures.

See also: fictional cultures; worldbuilding; dairy rituals; exchange economies.