Video; un: echo [forward dated to May 30]

[individualized]

[A new face to these network posts comes on the screen. She appears to be in her mid-teens, and while the Omni isn't that far away from her, it's easy to spot one of the yellow blankets that have been appearing to those under Baus' patronage in her arm. Occasionally, ears that clearly belong to a young bear pop up at the bottom of the screen in the vicinity of said blanket.

The girl's brow is furrowed slightly and her mouth has a small, contemplative frown. When she speaks, her voice is comparatively on the monotonous side and doesn't quite hold the same emotion as her expression does.]

I am Echo. I thought it would be best to ask as many people as possible of this.

What is the true significance of a festival?

[She pauses for a moment or two.]

Is it the reasoning behind it, no matter how dubious the story may be? Is it to promote business and vendors in the area, particularly in places where they can sharply raise their prices to take advantage people's convivial response to the activities? Is it the different offerings in which to partake, which despite the various rationales behind the events remain surprisingly similar in the broadscale? Or...

[A tiny bit of color comes to her cheeks as she hesitates.]

is there some other reason it may be considered important?

[The top of the cub's head has been lingering on the screen longer than it had been during this last part, and Echo turns her attention toward it. Despite the focal shift, her tone of voice is very similar.]

Do not chew on it.

[ooc: Those of the Pandora Hearts world or who have been overly informed about it may choose to note that I arbitrarily made this St. Bridget's Day.]

Comments

video; un: aeaea

[terraphile]

[ While the girl's voice might be monotonous, Sersi's is far from it. On video, she smiles brightly and offers a small wave of hello. ]

It's lovely to meet you, Echo. I'm Sersi.

[ She pauses a moment as she contemplates the question- knowing her answer, but trying to find just the right way to word it. ]

I believe, personally, that festivals are important for people to feel a sense of community. Everything you mentioned is nice and certainly adds to the atmosphere... but it should bring people together most importantly.

[individualized]

[Echo bows in response to her introduction. A little weird over video, but force of habit.]

True, they do seem to attract many people.

[She also pauses, but in her case she's thinking of something she finds unclear.]

Would merely being present and observing goings-on be sufficient, or do you believe some level of participation matters?

[terraphile]

I think that's the beauty of festivals- you only have to participate as much or little as you want... You still feel that connection to the community.

[ Back home, Ikaris never really participated in festivals, but she could tell that him being there seemed to help him feel that connection more.

Meanwhile, Sersi herself loved being as involved as possible. ]

Video | UN: ClickClickBloom

[onekindsoul]

Honestly?

I think it can be for all those reasons and a little more. I didn't exactly give a whole lot of thought to the ones back at home when I was younger. I loved the stories behind some of them but I guess not all of them seemed well... As real as you might think.

I guess I got a reality check at some point and I have a bit more respect for the history behind hem these days.

But I do think they're a great way to bring people together and create new bonds.

It's a little romantic in it's own way.

[individualized]

[Wow, did you just pick the exact wrong word for it! I mean, all that's happened is her cheeks have gone horribly pink and she cringed slightly for a second, but that's still a bit much in her book.]

Y-Yes. The stories I have heard have never seemed likely. They seem to involve figures of questionable existence or implausible happenings.

But those are both fair points. Do you think the tradition is of more significance, or... the interactions?

Video; un: asogi

[truerevival]

[Oh that's a question he's never considered and, despite the request to not chew on it, he gives it some serious thought.]

I believe it is wholly dependent on the festival in question. Some are to celebrate the seasons, others a change of year, and still others simple heads of state or other occassions.

Ultimately, where I am from, it is taken as an opportunity to spend time with others. And yes, shops will take advantage of it for profit, but ultimately that's something that will come with most any holiday.

[individualized]

[Actually that comment was to— nevermind.]

Oh. I did forget the potential governmental reasons to organize such a celebration. That seems similar to the reasons behind salespeoples' participation, though.

I see. Would "spending time" include interacting with others, or is it merely to be in the presence of many other people?

[truerevival]

[What is reading comprehension. I don't know her. Kazuma takes everything so seriously, it's practically his MO at this point.]

I suppose, on the surface, they could appear rather similar. Some governmental celebrations are now a point of tradition though.

Ah, it would depend on you for that. Some wish to spend time with loved ones, others just enjoy being part of the crowd.

[grandtrashking]

Hello Echo, I'm Tooru.

The significance and point of them? There's many different reasons for festivals. A lot of it has to do with tradition, as well as culture.

[He's gotta think of just how many Japan has he participated in growing up, which is A Lot. Tanabata, Sendai's Aoba festival, and others.]

Where I grew up, there's a lot of cultural reasons behind them and it's become traditional. Though some people just use them as an excuse to party where I lived before showing up here.

[individualized]

[Have a slight bow at that greeting.]

So you mean the reason they continue to be held is because they have done so many times already? A successful and profitable experience would encourage that, yes...

But if it the participants only to find trivial amusement, I am unsure why it might be considered very important to someone.

[grandtrashking]

You could say that, yeah. It also brings people together in the community to set things up. My old high school held cultural festivals and it had us all working together in our clubs to set things up and run smoothly.

So I guess some festivals serve to get people to work together, too, and that's why it's important to them.

action

[swornto]

[Oz caught Echo's message and he was very happy to hear her using the network. She's long overdue a chance to socialize freely. He's resolved to let her make some new friends and hear new opinions, rather than having to put up with his excitable chatting all of the time. The more friends she has, the happier Oz will be... So really, his silence is an act of personal selfishness.

After giving her some time, he'll come to visit her room. Housemate privileges!]

E~ko-chan? Are you in there?

[individualized]

[She will train this bear to attack you every time you say that. If she didn't like it. Shut up.

Also the "gathering data" approach miiight not be the best way to makes friends. It remains to be seen, though. She still needs a lot of help.]

It is Echo!

[...Yes, she's there.]

un: daughter-sea, voice

[seaboard]

Well met, Echo.

[ She presses her lips together. ]

In my lands, it is for people to come together and partake in joyful things together, and share their feelings, freely. They have no coin, particularly, rather everything is gathered up and given to each person fairly, and with it, they drink and do merry things together.

It is about the community sharing their happiness, as much as their sorrows. For the old ones to tell young one's stories. The young ones to learn about their own people. Perhaps if you all live very far apart and cannot send word often to one another, it can be a time for Aunts and Uncles to meet their new nieces and nephews. Grandparents to know their grandchildren. Perhaps lovers to meet. Or old friends to embrace again.

Most especially, it marks the turning of the year. You may know from which festival day, how many more nights you have until the harvest comes, or the winter ends.

Lastly, it is a time when we honor our forebearers, remember them, give words to praise their deeds, and pay holy gifts to our Spirit and Benefactor. So they may go on to bless us, with each new dawn.

[individualized]

Hello.

So they serve a wide variety of functions simultaneously. Interesting. I had not considered the date itself having any particular significance, though that does not explain if something about today matters.

Then the initial reason for the gathering is of a spiritual or faith related nature. Do you feel that is the primary reason for participation?

[seaboard]

No, you would need to know who the people are, that they keep such a day, and what matters to them the most.

I know of as many festivals that do as do not. So I would not say it is always the primary reason, but still common nonetheless.

video | un: furuderika

[miiraculous]

[The significance of a festival, huh..? With June fast approaching, Rika has considered this quite often.]

A festival can be many things. Where I am from, we hold a festival every year to give thanks to our deity! Once it was simply a day to return old futons to the earth and thank them for watching over us all winter, but now life is different. We play games, eat food, and enjoy each other's company.

Do you have a particular festival that you are thinking of?

[individualized]

[I can't believe I just had to Google when futons came to the west...]

It is no longer believed that the deity sends these "futons" to observe you? Which do you feel is the most important of those?

Uh, yes. The one I experienced before coming here. There were many different parts to it, and I was not sure why it might be considered important here.

[miiraculous]

Cotton drifting was always about giving thanks for the blessings in our lives. The futons were things to be grateful for... But friends are to be valued as well. Being able to play together, eat together, laugh and smile together-- Those are also gifts that we are grateful for.

Was the festival you attend back home very much fun?

video; un: ushiromiya

[entreats]

It's usually definitely for economical reasons.

[ Hey, Echo. This girl has a tone that could almost match your own - though there's a bit more cynicism in it compared to Echo's more emotionless tone. Ange's instead seems to angle more in the direction of deadpan, but it's still close enough between that tone and Ange's pokerface. ]

It's just a convenient way to attract tourists and sell people useless crap they don't need.

[ ...

A small pause, and then Ange adds: ]

Though if you're talking about this place, then there could also be a more nefarious side to it.

[individualized]

That was a very noticeable aspect, yes. [Her eyes drift away from the Omni for the next sentence and she frowns just slightly.] Though... "useless" does not necessarily mean "worthless"... [ANYWAY back to normal!] Still, it is strangely not a factor here.

[Echo tilts her head. Doesn't seem worried at all, just curious.]

In what way?

[chenqing_player]

Festivals can be for a variety of reasons. Usually is is for a celebration of some sort. It can be the start of a new season, or kicking off a special event, celebration of a good crop...And depending why the festival is happening the activities might vary.

[individualized]

Then why is it important to arrange them? All of these things will be regardless of a celebration.

text; catsandmagic

[occultfan]

I think it depends on what the festival is about. Not all are the same.

Like St. Bridget's Day is all about allowing Bridget to blend in so she could see her love. So that festival can for the most part have that romantic aspect behind it.

[individualized]

[...Thanks for being limited to text, Ada, you don't have to see the blushy mess of a frown that is her face. Or hear how much she'd trip over her words.]

Of course.

[A notable pause.]

But that is not necessarily why it might be significant, right? There surely would be other ways in which it might matter.