Those who are curious about the origins of this holiday would do well to visit the open-air stage, where the famous Kimono Girls will be giving two performances (one early in the afternoon, and one later in the evening) where they will bring to life the story that gave rise to this festival.
And it goes a bit like this.
A long time ago, back before Johto and Kanto even existed, there were two young lovers -- a beautiful and smart girl from a rich, well-off family, and a kind but poor Mareep shepherd from a neighbouring village. The two had met by accident (or was it fate) and immediately love had blossomed between them.
However, despite the love that clearly existed between them, their families did not approve. The girl's family believe this shepherd boy to be too poor for their daughter, while the boy's family worried that this girl could never be hardworking enough to adjust to a shepherd's wife's life.
At first, their families tried to forbid the young lovers from meeting, however, meet they did -- in the fields and in the forest, near to the streams and in the shadow of the mountains, everywhere did the young lovers find happiness together. This angered their families until finally, they separated them, and both families moved far away, believing that distance would put an end to their silly love.
But love is not so easily ended.
The girl, desperate to see her beloved shepherd once more, saddled her Stantler and rode out into the night, with only her heart to guide her to her beloved. At the same time, the shepherd boy left behind his flock of Mareep, and accompanied only by his trusty old Herdier, he too tried to find the missing half of his heart. Both travelled for many days and nights, guided only by the stars until finally, the twinkling of a bright star guided them back together.
Almost back together!
For one last barrier laid between them -- a large gorge separated the two lovers, too broad to be leapt across by any pokemon, while vicious winds ensured that even the strongest of birds would not be able to help them across. They had come so far, and come so close, but now it seemed that this most final of obstacles would keep them apart forever.
Unable to do much more, separated and each trapped on a side, the young lovers could do no more than wish upon those bright stars that had brought them together. For seven days and seven nights, they wished and hoped for something that could bring them together.
And on the seventh night, something answered their wishes.
The bright star that had shone in the sky grew brighter and brighter, larger and larger, until it was no longer a star but instead the pokemon Jirachi! And from its bed in the sky, it had heard their wishes, and it knew it had to help.
Floating down, Jirachi appeared before the two lovers, and with a gesture of its paw, it called forth hundreds of nearby bird pokemon, who beat their wings in unison until they could quell the howling winds. Then with another gesture, the earth beneath their feet started to rumble as hundreds and hundreds of Diglet came to Jirachi's aid, working together to fill the gorge, so the two lovers could finally embrace. And with their wishes fulfilled, Jirachi disappeared again to find other people and pokemon in need of its help.
And this is why we hold this festival, to honor Jirachi who helps fulfil wishes where it can, and to hope that maybe one day, our own wish might be fulfilled.
Theatre Performance
And it goes a bit like this.
A long time ago, back before Johto and Kanto even existed, there were two young lovers -- a beautiful and smart girl from a rich, well-off family, and a kind but poor Mareep shepherd from a neighbouring village. The two had met by accident (or was it fate) and immediately love had blossomed between them.
However, despite the love that clearly existed between them, their families did not approve. The girl's family believe this shepherd boy to be too poor for their daughter, while the boy's family worried that this girl could never be hardworking enough to adjust to a shepherd's wife's life.
At first, their families tried to forbid the young lovers from meeting, however, meet they did -- in the fields and in the forest, near to the streams and in the shadow of the mountains, everywhere did the young lovers find happiness together. This angered their families until finally, they separated them, and both families moved far away, believing that distance would put an end to their silly love.
But love is not so easily ended.
The girl, desperate to see her beloved shepherd once more, saddled her Stantler and rode out into the night, with only her heart to guide her to her beloved. At the same time, the shepherd boy left behind his flock of Mareep, and accompanied only by his trusty old Herdier, he too tried to find the missing half of his heart. Both travelled for many days and nights, guided only by the stars until finally, the twinkling of a bright star guided them back together.
Almost back together!
For one last barrier laid between them -- a large gorge separated the two lovers, too broad to be leapt across by any pokemon, while vicious winds ensured that even the strongest of birds would not be able to help them across. They had come so far, and come so close, but now it seemed that this most final of obstacles would keep them apart forever.
Unable to do much more, separated and each trapped on a side, the young lovers could do no more than wish upon those bright stars that had brought them together. For seven days and seven nights, they wished and hoped for something that could bring them together.
And on the seventh night, something answered their wishes.
The bright star that had shone in the sky grew brighter and brighter, larger and larger, until it was no longer a star but instead the pokemon Jirachi! And from its bed in the sky, it had heard their wishes, and it knew it had to help.
Floating down, Jirachi appeared before the two lovers, and with a gesture of its paw, it called forth hundreds of nearby bird pokemon, who beat their wings in unison until they could quell the howling winds. Then with another gesture, the earth beneath their feet started to rumble as hundreds and hundreds of Diglet came to Jirachi's aid, working together to fill the gorge, so the two lovers could finally embrace. And with their wishes fulfilled, Jirachi disappeared again to find other people and pokemon in need of its help.
And this is why we hold this festival, to honor Jirachi who helps fulfil wishes where it can, and to hope that maybe one day, our own wish might be fulfilled.