Editing Old gods (section)

==Practices==
Various actions, such as [[incest]],{{Ref|ACOK|33}} [[slavery]],{{Ref|aSoS|24}} and [[kinslaying]]{{Ref|ACOK|52}} are considered offensive to the old gods, although, as regards kinslaying, the degree of kin and circumstance of killing one's kin (e.g., in war) hold significant influence.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1162/ Kinslaying In Westeros], May 22, 2001</ref> The [[guest right|laws of hospitality]] are considered to be sacred.{{Ref|aSoS|57}} It is believed that the old gods can detect when men lie to heart trees.{{ref|ACOK|13}}

===Worship===
[[File:Honorbound by robotdelespacio dcl2jv1-pre.jpg|thumb|Honor Bound by Josu Hernaiz ©]]
Worshippers visit [[godswood]]s, groves contained within castles throughout the [[Seven Kingdoms]], where a [[heart tree]] can be found. These trees, which have faces carved into them, are considered to be sacred. The heart trees are usually weirwoods, and godswoods are often the only places where living weirwoods still remain{{Ref|AGOT|2}} until one goes north of the [[Wall]].{{ref|AGOT|48}} Once all noble houses had a godswood with a heart tree in its center; However, the [[First Men]], in their wars against the children of the forest, cut down many of the trees, as did the [[Andals]] later on, replacing the old gods with their own in the southern kingdoms.{{Ref|AGOT|66}} Although godswoods can still be found in the south, they now serve as secular gardens.{{ref|AGOT|2}}

Prayer{{Ref|AGOT|47}} and marriages{{Ref|ADWD|37}} are done in front of a heart tree. The weirwoods and the places they stand are considered to be sacred. They are not to be defiled by bringing animals such as horses into them.{{Ref|AGOT|48}}

There are no priests, no holy texts, no songs of worship, and practically no rites that go with the worship of the old gods.{{ref|AGOT|70}}{{ref|ASOS|53}} It is a folk religion, passed from generation to generation. Worshipers believe the old gods watch through the trees,{{ref|AGOT|48}}{{ref|AGOT|53}} and prayers are done in silence.{{Ref|asos|53}}

[[Blood sacrifice]] was performed in the past.{{ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Dawn Age}}{{ref|ADWD|29}} For example, the entrails and bodies of criminals and traitors could be hung from the branches of weirwoods after their executions.{{ref|TWOIAF|The North}}

===Marriage customs===
A [[marriage]] ceremony takes place in front of a [[heart tree]].{{Ref|ACOK|34}} The bride's father, or the person standing in his place (usually kin or whoever else is closest to living kin), will escort the bride to her future husband and those presiding over the marriage.{{Ref|ADWD|37}} Thus far, all the wedding gowns that have thus far been described for a follower of the old gods have been a shade of white.<ref group="N">Though her ceremony is done following the customs of the Seven, [[Sansa Stark]], a worshipper of both the old gods and the new, wears a gown of ivory [[samite]] when she weds [[Tyrion Lannister]] in ''[[A Storm of Swords]]'', [[A Storm of Swords-Chapter 28|Sansa III]]. [[Jeyne Poole]], during her ceremony following the customs of the old gods, wears white lambs-wool when she weds [[Ramsay Snow|Ramsay Bolton]] in ''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'', [[A Dance with Dragons-Chapter 37|The Prince of Winterfell]].</ref>

Marriage ceremonies are rather short and contain no priests. The bride is escorted to her groom, who awaits her in front of the [[weirwood]] tree in the [[godswood]], and a ceremonial conversation follows, where the identity of the bride, of the groom, and of the person giving the bride away are established. The bride is asked to accept her husband, and upon her agreement (''"I take this man"'') bride and groom join hands, kneel before the heart tree, and bow their heads in token of submission. When they rise following a moment of silent prayer, the groom removes the maiden's cloak, and places the bride's cloak around her shoulders, after which he will carry her to the feast in his arms.{{Ref|ADWD|37}} The wedding ceremony is followed by a feast, which in turn is followed by the [[bedding]].{{Ref|ADWD|37}}{{Ref|ADWD|49}} 

Marriage vows said at swordpoint are not held to be valid, but even if the marriage occurred under force, a lord might claim the marriage to be legal if e.g. lands are at stake.{{Ref|ACOK|35}}

Lords in Westeros once had the right to the [[first night]], the custom of bedding newly-wed women before their husbands. Queen [[Alysanne Targaryen|Alysanne]] convinced King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys I]] to abolish it,{{Ref|TSS}}{{Ref|ADWD|43}} but it is still practiced illegally in some parts of the [[north]], as ''"where the old gods rule, old customs linger"''.{{Ref|ADWD|32}}

===Funeral customs===
Specific funeral customs are not known. However, nobles houses appear to bury deceased family members in crypts beneath their castles. The [[House Stark|Starks]] of [[Winterfell]], traditionally worshippers of the old gods,{{Ref|AGOT|53}}{{Ref|AGOT|57}}{{Ref|AGOT|70}}{{Ref|ACOK|43}} buries deceased family members in the [[crypt of Winterfell|crypts below Winterfell]].{{Ref|ACOK|69}}{{Ref|AGOT|50}} According to [[Roose Bolton]], another worshipper of the old gods, the bones of his deceased son [[Domeric Bolton|Domeric]] “lie beneath the [[Dreadfort]] with the bones of his brothers”,{{Ref|ADWD|32}} suggesting it to be a custom (at least of the nobility).