Bulul Statues

History and Legends
A bulul differs from other ancestor spirits in that they are not required to take on reptilian skin to manifest in the world. Instead, their living relatives form their likeness on wood or volcanic rock. The limbs and other body parts are typically exaggerated, but the face must be recognizable. A newly-formed bulul can only house the spirit of a particular ancestor when they are presented to the eldest man of the family, and only if the carved likeness reminds him of the ancestor strongly enough to be able to call them by name.

Relationship with People of the Island
Since a bulul is part of the family, they have a vested interest in the well-being of their descendants. Indeed, it is difficult to keep them from interfering: What can be a doting benefactor can just as easily be an overbearing grandparent. They also tend to act according to their whims like any other spirit, and are not above bringing misfortune upon their own families when displeased.

Bulul are thus cared for at every stage: their forms are carefully crafted from the start, endowed with flattering proportions and clothed in their favorite fashions. Family members frequently clean their visages and leave food offerings to them, setting aside a place at the dining table of their home.

And it is in food that a bulul’s primary purpose lies. They are used as guardians of the fields, placed along the perimeter, facing inwards, to ward off insects and chickens that will otherwise prey on the crops. Meals are family affairs, and by tying food to the spirits of the family, eating becomes an act of worship.

Important Festivals
The bulul are brought out when the planting season occurs, guarding the granaries after harvest. For those stationed in the rice storehouses, this is a year-long affair, as rice is a luxury crop that takes a long time to grow, yet a short time to consume. Festivals to the bulul of rice are celebrated when the monsoons come, and planting begins.

On the other hand, more distant ancestors are placed as guardians of root crops, which are easier to plant. And while some bulul may chafe in indignity as taro is less glamorous, they also find themselves a more frequent staple in a family household.