i took a lot of symbolic inspiration from the slavic end of winter tradition — burning or drowning of the winter goddess morana -> giving up a girl at the end of winter to dragon to hopefully start spring nicely without any casualties (the dragon attacking their sheeps) so it was seen as necessary to start the year without any casualties . um haha,, bad omen if it didn't happen accordingly.

the village is isolated from the rest of the world by mountains and deep forests, they consider themselves one big family. they live off sheep, fish, cold hardy crops like turnips, etc. wild berries - you get the point lol. they are pagan, believe in many old gods like perun, veles, morana, mokosh, etc. their style of living is . just medieval ? nothing special i guess. men travel far by boat for items they can't create or grow themselves but they are more or less very independent village.

the maiden to sacrifice would be chosen by a black ram with bells on its horns released into a crowd and tugging the chosen girl by her skirt !! the village elders and important people such as the shaman wear a lot of bells too (it is believed the bells drive away evil spirits or even scare winter away).

the children are used to seeing the dragon lightly - since he has not attacked in many years and not even many people in their 30s have actually seen him. the boys dress up as a dragon and scare girls who are usually more mature about the matter. some little girls are confident about the fact that they hope to be picked but throw fit once they do - there are too many scenarios i can think of :')

fmtn related

femi had long accepted her death by the dragon and was extremely confused as to why he had not done so. she wanted to return back to the village, but . decided not to and the dragon wouldn't let her leave anyway. for many days she lived in fear (her expectations didn't go according to plan so now she lives in even Bigger fear yk . u get me) and wouldn't sleep but later realised the dragon simply wished to keep her and not necessarily hurt her (she didn't piss him off yet lol).

their first 'friendly' interactions would be dragontano bringing fish for her to eat and almost burning them to crisp on accident. she ate them anyways. he would sometimes just watch her do simple things like washing her linen dress in the freezing water or watching her bathe in the lake too AND BEFORE U SAY ANYTHING hes just looking . keeping watch even. ok lol. and when he saw her shiver in the cavern afterwards he lit fire to the damp wood she brought (which she tried to make fire with rocks before and failed) to keep her warm.