sixth evocation ✧ cybele

[complementing]

[This time instead of a text wall, the post is a brief video, also seen on the ReVA Facebook page if you follow that. Minako is featured front and center, wearing a yukata and her hair done up-- the perfect image of Japanese summer. She waves cheerily into the camera.]

Hi everyone! Minako here from ReVA to wish you a happy Tanabata! For those who don't know, Tanabata is a Japanese festival celebrating the folk story of Princess Orihime and the cowherd Hikoboshi. The two lovers were separated by Orihime's father, and were only able to meet on the seventh day of the seventh month, after Orihime wished for a way to be able to see Hikoboshi again. A flock of magpies answered her call and carried her to him, allowing them to meet once a year on that same day from then on. The festival is a time for people to send their dearest wishes to the deities and ask them to be granted, so--!

[She steps to the side, and the camera follows her to show a magnificent bamboo plant set up right in the entrance of the ReVA community center.]

Come by the community center and write down your wish! If you tie it to the bamboo plant, it will surely be received by the gods and be granted. [She points to a little red piece of paper already tied there.] This one is mine. No peeking though, or else the wish won't be fulfilled!

One last thing: there are yukatas like this one available for rental here at the community center. Come try some traditional Japanese summer wear, take some pictures, and eat some shaved ice with us!

[She smiles sweetly and playfully salutes the camera in farewell.]

Thanks for watching, hope to see you soon!

[An extra message for her fellow Retrospeccers has been added below the video.]

it doesn't matter if you believe in the gods or you don't

sometimes writing out a wish is emotionally powerful enough to spur you into working towards it, or for fate to nudge you in the right direction

so, for example, if you need help filling out the bingo tile to "grant a friend a wish", I can help arrange for that here! (✩´꒳`✩)

or if you don't want to make the trek but you okay with posting your wish here so it can potentially be fulfilled, that's fine too

Tanabata is closely tied to Obon, the festival honoring ancestors and lost loved ones, so you guys might see something else from me when that comes up too

Comments

[goen]

[ ............. hm. ]

How long is that wish tree gonna be around for?

[complementing]

probably for a while, even if the other Tanabata decorations go down!

why? ( ・◇・)

[goen]

I wanna see it!
But I'm a little tied up at the moment so I can't go today is all
Don't burn it or whatever it is people do with Tanabata trees until I come by ok??

[complementing]

ohh if that's the case then sure, take your time, I'll make sure it stays up until you get to see it!

is Tanabata your favorite holiday?

[me_matey]

if i dont show up, 99% sure the old ladies that are always there at the community center will curse me.

[complementing]

ahaha they're not that cruel

I'm sure it's more like 80% instead

[me_matey]

i just go in there for a cup of coffee and its all 'WHY ARENT YOU MARRIED YET' or 'I'VE GOT A NEPHEW YOUR AGE, YOU SHOULD DATE HIM' and shit like that

[trappingheart]

i always thought that story was pretty cheesy
and orihime gets a pretty bum deal
she's a grown woman yknow she shouldn't be basically grounded 364 days a year you get me
at least give her sundays off

that said my family's probably gonna end up swinging by later we all do the tanabata thing
haven't decided what i'm gonna wish for yet though

[complementing]

ahaha folk tales always have a bit of cheesiness in them, but I think that's why most people are fond of them

(agreed about Orihime though, if she was the daughter of a deity you'd think she'd have some kind of magical power she could use to her advantage to get her man)

oh awesome, I'll have to keep an eye out for you guys then! It's rare for a whole family to come out since it's such a lovers associated day

[trappingheart]

and then when it rains she gets screwed over for the whole year? like she doesn't even get a raincheck
honestly her dad is a real piece of work if i were her i'd make that tapestry hella vulgar
just weave a giant swear word in there

my parents and my sisters all kind of make a day of it though
we write our wishes out eat our shaved ice get some takoyaki and thats that

[elevelvetor]

hm...
about Tanabata's story.
does the princess's father know about the magpies? if not, how does she keep it secret?

[ #TheImportantQuestions ]

[complementing]

oh I shortened the story a little bit for the video, but basically she was miserable without her husband, and her father was worried he'd lose her, so after the magpies help her, he agrees to let her ride the magpies to see Hikoboshi so long as it's only once a year

[elevelvetor]

oh! well, that's certainly very nice of him.
is she truly happy only seeing Hikoboshi once a year, however?

[destiny_key]

oh wow!!!
i havent celebrated tanabata since i was little!!!

i can come down in a little while if thats okay???
id have to rent a yukata though
my last one is from when i was like eight lol

[complementing]

good thing you have me around to remind you of the festivals~ ♪

of course it's okay!

I'll set aside a nice one for you

[Because Auntie will want pictures, obviously.]

Wanna switch to action?

[destiny_key]

lol thanks!!!

yeah i think grandpa and grandma took us that last year
i remember bro crying because he dropped his ice cream or something lol

ill see you in a bit!!!

[truedetective]

My grandparents used to celebrate this holiday every year when I was living with them.
I suppose immigrants still appreciate keeping ties to their homeland.

[complementing]

oh yes, it's a great excuse as any to reconnect with your roots and feel nostalgic!

that's part of the reason why I love working with the volunteer association, I get to bring all of these kinds of festivals and events and activities back to people who are missing them

[truedetective]

You're Japanese, so I imagine you have a particular connection to this one.
Have you been doing any other interesting cultural festivals?

[invocate]

The Double Seventh Festival is one of my favorites! Though they are not going to celebrate it back home until the end of August.

[complementing]

oh! It's so great to find someone who celebrates it at the other time, I might have to interview you next year so we can get another perspective on the festival

where did you/your family live, if I may ask?

[invocate]

I am from Hong Kong. So the story we tell is a little different from the one told in Japan.

[gnasher]

this sounds like fun. i'll definitely drop by after training.

i always felt like the no-peeking rule was pretty unfair, though.

[complementing]

looking forward to seeing you, Rin!

ahaha if you want to see people's wishes you could just look at the ema at a shrine instead, those are free to read through

but most of these are LOVERS' wishes, so they have to be kept safe~ ♪

[gnasher]

what's with saying it like that... you're not embarrassing me

[yes she is]