audio; un: alucard

[reposing]

It's a bit interesting to learn about the more recent traditions of humans. To think that Saint Valentine is associated with romantic love is a bit... peculiar to me considering his history, but I suppose I can see how it may have evolved.

Regardless, the people of Wallachia would celebrate Dragobete on February 24th. There's obviously less interest within the vampire community, but I am aware of its traditions and it appears to be similar to your Valentine's Day for its purposes. Dragobete was the son of Baba Dochia, who herself is essentially the personification of the end of a difficult winter and the start of spring, which in itself is often associated with fertility. Due to this, the day is also known as "the day when the birds are betrothed." Dragobete himself is a character of immense kindness and was chosen as the Guardian of Love.

I suppose in perspective, this will be my first time celebrating either. I would also like to ask if your culture has their own way to celebrate love, or fertility as it can be seen as.

My other question: I would like to know if there is anyone ordained here. I am looking for holy water to be made.

Comments

[reposing]

Such is the way of many things. Perhaps that's the way to look at human lives. Appreciate them while they're there, until they are gone.

Star Festival... I'm not familiar with that one. But if you have more to tell, I'd listen.

[doreimi]

Oh, it was my favorite for a long time. Though I guess it wound up being my favorite for kind of personal reasons, haha...

Okay, so the story goes that there's these two lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi. Orihime was a weaver and made beautiful cloth, and Hikoboshi was a cowherder. So, the story begins with Orihime weaving cloth by the river of the Milky Way, and she made all these beautiful things, but eventually she grew sad because weaving took up all of her time, and she thought she would never get married. So her father, who was one of the gods, arranged for her to meet Hikoboshi — oh, um, he lived on the other side of the Milky Way as her, I forgot that part — and they fell in love.

So much in love, actually, that they both completely forgot about their jobs! Orihime stopped weaving because she wanted to spend all of her time with Hikoboshi, and Hikoboshi neglected his herds and let them run all over Heaven! So Orihime's father got upset and forbade them to see each other, and made them go back to opposite sides of the river.

But Orihime got really upset, because she loved Hikoboshi so much, and so her father said they could meet on one day each year, so long as Orihime promised to go back to her weaving. So she waited and waited, and finally when the day came, she ran to the edge of the river where Hikoboshi was waiting on the other side, and a flock of magpies made a bridge for them so that they could cross and be with each other.

I dunno. The part about Orihime's dad sounds pretty bad, I guess, when you really think about it, but...I empathized with her a lot. The waiting and waiting. And hoping.

[reposing]

It's a beautiful story, truly. I could see why you would enjoy it so much. Waiting for something that one day won't be out of reach.

It is a Japanese tale?

[doreimi]

Yup, it is! And the festival is called Tanabata. Like I said, it's in the summer, but that's definitely one I would think of when talking about holidays associated with love.

Um...so why is it weird that St. Valentine is associated with love? Don't they go together?

[reposing]

Saint Valentine was a man who became a martyr after he died sheltering Christians. I don't think there was much in the way of romance involved.

[doreimi]

No, it...really doesn't sound like that at all. That's definitely a long way from chocolates and confessions!

Actually, that's a good reminder! I'd better pick up some chocolate-making stuff before it gets too close to the 14th. I guess that's something else you might call a "celebration of love", giving chocolates to the people you care about!

[reposing]

Hm. Something I will have to consider. Chocolates are a popular choice?

[doreimi]

Yup! It's traditional. And there's two kinds, there's giri choco and then there's honmei choco. The first kind is the kind of chocolate that you give to friends and acquaintances and stuff, it actually means "obligation chocolate" but I think that sort of loses something in the translation, you know? It's usually pretty inexpensive or store-bought and it's...well, I guess it's sort of like recognition chocolate. Like you're aware it's a holiday so you should give your friends something!

But honmei choco is for people you like romantically. That's the kind that you put a lot of your feelings into, either by buying something of really good quality, or of making it yourself.

[reposing]

I'm afraid I'm no master at making chocolates. I suppose I'll have to go looking for something of a high quality in this place, then.

Thank you for your information. You've been exceedingly helpful.