Few things are as important for an honorable Amikan as his mane is. From the day of Postryżyny until the day of your death you must never cut it, lest your soul escape your body and only a husk shall remain – how then, will our family lay you to rest so your spirit may join our ancestors?
This is what every Amikan child hears from their elders from the day the can walk, and for good reason. The habit of keeping one’s hair long is noteworthy is because it may be one of the few Amikan habits which are actually of Aurikan (local) origin. It is well known that the first Amikans (the ones who first came to this land) kept their hair short, but let it grow long ever since they settled in the Blykste mountain. Some say the Amikans embraced this tradition upon encountering the local tribes who cut their manes only when they are defeated in battle. As the mighty Amikans armed with thunder and clad in armor infused with lightning were (almost) never defeated in battle, they never cut their hair and let it grow indefinitely. In Aurikan culture the longer one’s hair is, the more dread he inspires and so the Amikan tradition was born – a convenient way to ingratiate themselves with the people they now ruled over.
Whatever the origins of this tradition are, it is now one of the most recognizable aspects of Amikans’ appearance. When a child survives his first True Winter his hair is cut for the first and (hopefully!) last time in his life. The honor of cutting the hair and offering it to his ancestors usually falls upon the child’s parent’s sibling, but can be done by any adult. From this day forth he is formally acknowledged as a real Amikan and is given a name.
Upon entering adulthood and sipping from the grail an Amikan becomes a knight. He not only gains a voice in the nation’s matters in the Diet, but also gains the right to tie his hair in a ponytail. It is mostly a symbolic gesture, but an Amikan fighting with his hair loose is a very rare sight for obvious reasons.
Of course, over the course of one’s life a lock of hair may be accidentaly cut, but it is considered only a sign of ancestors being very displeased with the unfortunate one, and can easily be amended with an appropriate offering. Should an Amikan lose his hair entirely it is considered a great calamity, for the Firstborn Amikans having never been defeated lived their lives without ever cutting their hair. How then, can they accept a hairless dishonored descendant into their heavenly ranks upon death? The answer to this question varies greatly, and is most often found in deep prayer.

Chapter II - 1

More lore for my primer :3