Video, UN: Justcaws

[foolishjustice]

[Those who have seen Goro since the return from the mansion shouldn't be surprised by the slightly softer features when she appears on screen, though the less observant might not even notice.]

Just in case anyone from a version of Earth hasn't worked out how to convert the date here, it's getting close to Halloween. I wouldn't really know the first thing about organizing a costume party, but I did find a seasonal movie in the media room earlier.

[She holds her device slightly away to show a DVD case.]

If anyone's interested, maybe we could set it up in the theater this weekend and watch it together.

Comments

[foolishjustice]

Ah, you saw my discussion with Marisia-san? I don't think there would be any problem with Pokemon being allowed, as long as they're kept under control. After all, the main themes of a Halloween party would be costumes, spooky creatures, and the supernatural.

[blessedprotector_rising]

I believe so. I can't claim to know everyone's names yet.

[She's more than a bit unhappy with herself, but. Details.

There's a small smile but it doesn't quite reach her eyes.] The ones I would bring would be completely under control. It can be no other way. Yet, if it's supernatural... Hmm. What sort of festival is it?

[foolishjustice]

It started out a festival in the North to honor the dead. They believed that on that day, the barrier between the living and spirit worlds was thin, and ghosts could return to affect the world of the living. The local mystics would also dress in animal costumes and try telling fortunes.

It's changed a lot over the years, with a lot of different influences. Somewhere along the way, someone introduced the idea of putting up scary looking decorations in order to ward off malicious spirits, and costumes took on a similar theme. These days, it's softened to a general spooky theme, and costumes can be just about anything. Westerners also have a tradition of letting kids go around in costume and collect candy from their neighbors, but we don't really do that in my home country.

[blessedprotector_rising]

That sounds like urabon'e almost, though many of what's hung is to scare pokemon off and protect human spirits. [Completely straight-faced, by the way.] How long does it last?

[foolishjustice]

We don't have any wildlife in my world that could pose a threat to spirits, so the tradition is focused more on keeping spirits from causing trouble for the living.

It's only one day, and the festivities are mostly after dark.

[blessedprotector_rising]

That seems a rather short period of time to devote to the human dead. How does one pay proper respect?

[foolishjustice]

Most celebrations of the dead I know of are only one day. Generally speaking, if someone wants to make the benign dead feel welcome, they leave out an extra plate of food for each ghost they're inviting. That's actually common across multiple cultures, and is genuinely helpful. Even the dead need to eat.

[blessedprotector_rising]

It's much the same. Though our plates are communal, and how large a plate is varied; in many old clans across Jōto, it's not uncommon to see platters up to a metre across with four bowls of rice. These are then left to the spirits for three days and on the dawn of the forth, taken either to shrines, temples, or the grave.

It's then ritually burned; it's considered bad luck if it's not.