Kabyle's equivalent of Valentine's is the first week of spring , and it called amenzu n tefsut.
It is a pagan fertility celebration where couples make love in the fields before the grass grows tall to attain the blessings and the energy of the fertile land.
With the spread of Islam, these customs were suppressed by religious laws, but the tradition persists in some communities and in different ways.
Some couples roll in the grass instead shouting 'Azedhubh imekmaren!', which is sort of chant meaning "my body wake up from winter slumber".
People also gather deriess plants, which are believed to enhance fertility and libido, and some of which are hallucinogenic.
They ,then ,use them in making seksu d uderyis , a type of couscous dish assorted in a way that symbolizes the splendor and the colors of spring, with all sorts of veggies.
While making the couscous, women sing folklore songs they memorized throughout generations.
As a rule, people cannot drink any liquids with those dishes or the herbs' residues become toxic.
I never have/had this dish, because I don't really want to experience vivid dreams nor get hallucinations. I was also born with a heart defect and I don't mess around with herbs I don't understand. I have though made the dishes before with women.
Some of the herbs are used in making drugs to treat certain types of cancer. Having them as food isn't the same because, obviously ,you're not consuming a single isolated active ingredient with a correct dosage. You are consuming everything including the toxic part.
I own fruit farms. And yes, I feel more soothed and peaceful outdoors. And there are lot of nature activities I like doing. I have hundreds of propagated plant cuttings and trees and I like spending time both planting and watering and admiring them. In the forest there is no irrigation system. So when there is no rain, some need to be manually watered and taken care of.
In the 90s, lot of these areas were turned to deserts during drones. It was up to the natives and military to plant and take care of nature afterwards.
It is safe. Sometimes I take my pillow and carpet. Sometimes I don't take the carpet, just the pillow lol. You're right though, I should be more mindful. I am getting older and need to take care better.
