Here is some entires from our friend Paradise, whovisited several diffent towns over the years for thier spring festivals.
Spring festival series- introduction
Hello eveyone, Paradise here! For the First of My Ponyland culture series, I'll be tackling the Spring festival for the next six entries. For each entry, I'll be taking a look at this wonderful holiday which ponies of the confederacy use to mark the passage of winter to spring- to mark the rebirth of the warm weather, awakening from the figid slumber of the ice and snow. Once called winter wrap-up, this was a time we ponies were the stewards of nature, and brought about the changes in the seasons. But now, though we no longer assist nature by creating the weather, we ponies celebrate that we are a part of nature, and are greatful for the blessings it gives Ponyland, just as it blessed our foremothers in the days of Equestria.
But you must understand, that customs are diffrent in each and every one of the kingdoms across Ponyland- we each have our own unique way of passing the Spring festival that is unique to our own commuity. These diffrences, although bound together by a common belief in the meanings and theme of the day- are all like seperate choruses in a great song, enriching the whole in with thier deversity. For how boring of a dish would would it be if we all sang in the same bland tone and timber, intead of each brining our own unique flavor to the table? For that is what makes the confederacy so stong- we each add our own uniqueness to the great salad, instead of everything bleeing together in a yucky soup in a big, assimilating melting pot.
Oh, there is sooo much to choose from- which do you whish to hear about first? The kabuki and Bunraku performances of Hoofkaido uder the falling cheery blossom petals? Or maybe the tragodia performed in the ampetheatres of Fort Rainbow Dash, where the toga-clad earth pony chorus sings dithyrambs in praise of the beauty of a new spring? Or perhaps you wish to hear of the clanking of cider filled tankards and ponies dancing to the polka in Misty Mountian, where the bardic skalds sing of the start of a new growing season? Please, tell this little white Pegasus what which you'd like to about first, and I'll be happy to oblige!
Entry 1- Hoofkaido
This time of year are always pleasant in this place, with the cherry blossoms coming off the trees, and spiraling down upon ponies like a gentle rain of lace. Nature puts on just as much of a shadow as the ponies do here, and the perfect hybrid of civilization and nature entertains the senses, and makes this festival a wondrous experience for all of the spectators present. For the city of Hoofkaido, this holiday is a time of renewal of the earth. And I can honestly say I have never felt as renewed as I did attending this remarkable event.
Having been given an invitation by the shogun of Hoofkaido, had invited me to attend the celebrations a few years past. Upon my arrival, I was quickly escorted away by two servants, who in a black kimono with a lovely gold floral pattern adorning the cloth, and put my mane up in two buns. Stepping out through the Torii gate that stretched over the entrance to Rarity park, I was greeted by Riri, a pink earth mare with a purple mane, who was all dressed up in an elegant white kimono all her own.
"Greetings, most honorable Lady Paradise." She bowed low before me, as I responded in kind. "I have been requested to guide you around the Hanami matsuri (their word for this festival) today. Please, follow me."
And what a matsuri it was! Stalls with colorful banners lined the park, with the vendors trading for delicious bento boxes filled with the yummiest of sweet noodle and rice dishes! There were delicious rice dumplings and takoyaki to sample (Riri told me it was some kind of dough cooked with octopus- I think), We were also treated to a long parade with elaborate, flower themed floats- I think every Daimyo in Hoofkaido sponsored one, there were so many. Many stallion poets, dressed in colorful yukatas, read beautiful haiku they had written in honor of the cherry blossoms, comparing their fragility to the delicate nature of life itself. And in a pagoda tower overhead we heard a Pegasus stallion beating his wings against a large sideways drum- a practice, Riri tells me, to scare away the rain spirits so we may have a sunny festival.
Hoofkaido's population is greatly descended from oriental pony immigrant, who moved in and assimilated most of Balitamare's Equestrian population in the waning days of the old kingdom. They did not destroy the society that was here. Rather, they have enriched it with their own unique cultural traditions. That's what makes this successor holiday to winter wrap-up all the more special!
As the day drifts on into the afternoon, most of the ponies present gather for the grand Kabuki performance for this year's Spring festival. The plays are normally chosen at random from forty different prescribed plays, and my hostess tells me I am in for quite a treat this year. It's a classic piece, entitled "Lady Rarity vanquishes the cold and frigid winter". It's a fantasy piece, telling how the legendary harmony bearer Rarity, with the help of her dear Ponyville friends, helped bring a warm spring again to a village cursed by the windigoes. I loved the pale with makeup and colorful costumes worn by the mares and stallions performing, and having the characters strike a still pose to introduce them to the audience was a nice touch. Riri explained to me the types and colors of makeup indicated a character's personality, so I was confused why Rarity's actress had such odd red makeup with crazy lines.
The second performance was a puppet play, which my guide informed we was called Bunraku. I thought it was really interesting how these unicorn stagehands, dressed all in black, levitated these big and complex pony puppets that could trot, gallop, swish their tails, and even cry. I was enthralled as I listened to the narrator tell the tragedy, as the pony beside her played an odd- looking guitar (again, Riri informs me it is called a shamisen It was a very sad love story, one that told of Princess Luna and a student she had taken on, long before Celestia's first pupil. This young unicorn bonded very closely with Luna, and she even developed some measure of pride for her student, and her sister Celestia developed a great affection for Sombra- and he for her. But his pride got the better of this Sombra, and he turned the magic to tyrannical ends as he fell to evil. The puppet performance tragically ends with Luna and her sister having to seal the betrayer away beneath the northern ice. I don't know if this tragic tales is true, but I can tell you my eyes were red with weeping after seeing the look of betrayal on puppet Sombra's face as the sisters froze him away in the cold.
As the festival drew on towards evening, I am shown the final interesting tradition of this magical event. As we all gathered near lake Baltimare, all the ponies present lit small paper lanterns, and set them adrift in tiny paper boats. These are wishes they have for the coming year, Riri tells me, dreams they have that they hope to fulfill before the next day celebrating the rebirth of the year. Writing my own personal hope on a small scroll of paper, I set it adrift in the waters, watching it drift out into the beautifully lit sea of stars before us- all the other boats carrying the desires of the ponies of hoofkaido floating all around it. And as this wonderful night comes to a close, I can only hope my wish for the reborn year will also come true.
Entry 2- Rainbow Falls, and the Wonderbolts
While I will be making commentary on the Spring Festival in all of the communities of Ponyland, I will often pause, and refect of some of the minor but wonderful locations here in Ponyland. I had the oppournity to view one of the most beautiful, the year following my visit to Hoofkaido. While I was on my way to the spring celebrations in Fort Rainbow Dash by train, I happenstanced to stop off at a little place called Rainbow Falls. This senic spot is on the rail line between Fort Dash and Dream Valley, and it seemed like a nice place to stop off and get lunch. Little did I know how chaming I would find this little hamlet.
Nestled on a plateau in the Misty Mountians, Rainbow Falls is a small isolated community high above most of the concerns and cares of Ponyland. Situated right beneath the great rainbow that streaches across the confederact and serves as the gateway to earth, Rainbow falls has the blessing of all the waterfalls and rain that cascade down from the heavens are all rainbow colored. These colorful waters, having fitlered through the great rainbow on thier descent, feed into several rivers and lakes all over the confederacy, including Dream Valley's own Fluttershy falls and Rainbow River. This miraculous display attacts ponies from all over the known kingdoms, and beyond!
having been spared the ravages of the Grogar wars due to his high altitude and regular unimportance, little has chaged on this high peak since the days of the harmony bearers. Tiny chalets and homes are still clustered together, some of them historic sights, dating from the time of Equestria itself. The ponies who live up here are of a particularly friendly bent, untouched by the concerns of the rest of our violent land. It is here the Rainbow Monks established thier monistary after the fall of the old kingdom, and it now serves as a retreat for both those who come here to relax and contemplate, or those seeking to admire the beauty of this timeless, unhanging place.
"My word! Paradise, is that you?!" A Mare with a flowing rainbow mane called out to me, galloping up to greet me with a smile. "It's so wonderful to see you again!"
Getting of the train, I happened to run into Parasol, one of the rainbow monks whom I had befriended when she visited Dream Valley. We talked plestanly for a few minutes before she offered to take me back to the monestary for a bite to eat. I always admired these deeply spiritual ponies, with thier colorful hair that moves like a flowing river. I often wonder if the alicorn Princesses hadn't spent some time with this sisterhood, and earned thier own flowing manes through enlightenment as the rainbow monks did. I myself would never have the patience for the meditation and prayers to B'zekre that these mares devote thier lives to, so I have nothing but total respect for that.
As we trot inside the moestary's walls, I notice the beautifully kepts gardens and rows of trees the monks tend to and cultivate. Boh the monks and the native ponies up here have a deep respect for nature, and it is through thier tender and loving care that they have preseved this bastion of the world our ancestors knew. She soons guides me into the dining hall, whre I am treated to a meal of slated pretzels, various cheeses, and three tankards of non-fermented apple cider, all grown or hoof- prepared by the mares of the order.
"Wow, this is all so amazing!" I tell her, as I watch several of the monks meditate under the banyon grove. "f I wen't due in Fort Dash for the holiday, I'd love to spend my Spring Festival here!"
"You're not the only one who enjoys our peace," Parasol tells me poninting a hoof over at several Pegusai exercising over in an open field. "Look who else decided to come here for a little R&R."
As I look over to where she is pointing, I see several mares wearing farmiliar blue and yellow uniforms and goggles. My eyes go wide, as I realize just what group I am looking at.
"The Wonderbolts?!What the heck are they doing here? " I ask in disbelief, my jaw hitting the floor at the sight of them. "The 'bolts are supposed to be peforming for the festival tomorrow!"
The Wonderbolts.. the proud fliers of Forst Dash, who are supposed to represent the best flying mares in all of Ponyland. while this is the thrid incarnation of the team, but thier proud heritage extends all the way back to the sealing of nightmare moon. I've seen them performing in flying competitions in Dream Valley a few times, as they are fierce rivals of our own team, the Lightning Bolts. It is then that Twinkler, the translucent purple crystal pony who is the team's captian, notices me standing off to the side.
"Why, Lady Paradise!" She greets me, trotting up to where Parasol and I are. "I heard you were coming to the ceremoines tomorrow. I guess you wanted to see a real team of Fliers soar, intead of Dream Valley's little group of wannabe posers, huh?"
"Oh, I am really looking forward to your performace tomorrow." I tell her with an eager smile. "Firefly has told me all about-"
"Firefly? You mean that Fort Dash turncoat who refused to join our team?" The mare snorted indignantly. "I can't believe our best flyer ran out on her home citadel, to say nothing that she's named after the very founder of our team, and descended from our greatest flier!"
"Ohhh-kaaaay..." I reply, smiling nervously, and taking a step back. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to go relax in the monestary's hot spring's now..."
As Parasol led me away, I realized I had forgotten just how intense team rivalries and competitions can get. Later, as I was relaxing in the warm and bubbling hot pool set abve a hot geyser, I wondered just what awaited me at Fort Dash tomorrow...
Entry 3- Fort Rainbow Dashยท 3:44pm
Following my relaxing dip in the hot springs, I passed a pleasant night in one of the monastery's hostel rooms, before I was again on my way towards Fort Dash. As our train approached the great city, I gazed upon the great Doric and ionic columns of the city with awe. As I step off the train, I am greeted by the sight of a complex and orderly metropolis. There is so much white marble everywhere, that I have to shield my eyes with my wings to block the brightness in the glistening sun.
As if on cue, a trio of mares march straight up to me, and salute. They are all clad in artistically designed suits of armor, each uniquely suited to the temperament and build of the pony wearing them.
"Greetings lady Paradise. We are honored by your presence." The purple mare greeted me professionally. "I am lieutenant Sunny Bunch, and her Excellency the Margrave has asked us to escort you on your visit through Fort Rainbow Dash."
"I thank the Margrave for her thoughtfulness; and you, for your diligent service." I reply respectfully, inclining my head. These are the merry-go-round guard, the elite all-mare team that serve as the city's special forces. Their armor may look pretty and girly with all those ribbons and tassels, but that beauty hides their deadly potency. There are few foes of Ponykind that can withstand their Carousel formation attack.
As I follow the three guards through the forum, we pass many Pegasus, unicorns, and earth ponies, all clad in chitons (robes I personally think look like shower curtains, heh heh), and going about their business in orderly and timely manner. Fort Dash is a military city of order and structure, the only place for spontaneity and chaos is the battlefield. Today is a day to celebrate the orderly change of the seasons from winter to spring, a festival of continuation of the passage of time hat ensures stability and order in Ponyland.
Making our way to the great amphitheatre just below the acropolis I am spectator to the great sporting events that are used to commemorate the arrival of spring- racing, strength, and jumping events for the earth ponies. Contests of magical prowess and skill for the unicorns, and swimming events for the local sea pony teams. Each type of pony was given the opportunity to compete and shine in their particular way, and the gathered audience watched and cheered them on with much excitement! It is really a treat to watch all these athletic and talented ponies perform!
Of particular interest to me, was the flying obstacle courses and aerial races for the Pegasus. I watch the boastful Wonderbolts zoom and soar across the skies, performing double loops and sonic rainbooms, and wowing the crowds by filling the skies with a tapestry of colors. I will admit the show is a sight to behold, and is matched only b the display put on by our Dream Valley lighting bolts, who follow them with their own spectacular show. Using their weather tricks to conjure up black clouds and shoot lightning across the sky, the visiting team earns a respectful applause from the crowds around me, but nothing like the acclaim they had given the Wonderbolts. When the judges declare the home team the victor, I am surprised when captain Lofty and captain Twinkler shake hooves, showing that while there may be team rivalries, friendly competition is still the way of Ponyland sports.
We all let out of the amphitheatre, and I go to the vendors in the agora to sample the finest of Fort Dash's foods. I then stuff myself with Pita pockets filled with salads and feta cheese, Dream Valley-style Gyros filled with lamb meat (they figured a lot of us would be here, to cheer our team on for the spring games), and honey-flavored thiples rolls. I cannot begin to proclaim how simply wonderful thier cooking was! I will say these Fort Dashian chefs sure know their way around a flaming hot grill! The carousel guard had to practically DRAG me away for the food stalls for the next event!
As the evening followed on, a grand military parade followed, with the citadel's proud stallion hoplites and gladiators, shining in their bright armor as they twirled their shining gladiuses. Mighty soldiers in Fort Dash's war machine, the deadliest fighting force in all of Ponyland, who protects the confederacy from all external threats. Just thinking of those shapely stallion flanks, those rippling muscles, those, those... ohhhhhh *pant pant pant pant pant* Merely watching these stallion warriors go by, and this mare needs to fan herself to cool down!
*AHEM* Anyway... the parade was followed by smaller events- dramatic performances as the smaller neighborhood theatres, one of which I was invited to attend. It was a comedia based on the friendship of harmony bearers Rainbow dash and Applejack. The chorus sang a dithyramb about how competitive the two mares were, and of a particular incident in an iron pony competition their rivalry led to a breach in their friendship, with much hilarious results. The play ends with a happy resolution, of course, and the play closes to the applause of it's small audience.
Nightfall comes, and we are all treated to a spectacular fireworks display in the sky over Fort Dash. As I stand watching the display in front of the fountain of the two sisters, i cannot but help at wonder at this town's ponies- the descendants of proud Stallions and mares, whose strength and refusal to roll over die in the face of dangerous foes, allowed them to reorganize their society into a fighting force that could survive the Grogar wars. As I looked back at the two statues of Celestia and Luna spitting water in the center of the fountain behind me, I feel a burst of gratitude two the two unicorns who help lay the foundations for the wonderful society we live in today.
Well, that's all I have for Fort Dash!
Entry 4- Misty Mountian
For my next spring festival report, I shall tale about the spring fete that is held every year at Misty Mountian fortress every year. I small reacall a particular year I visited the mighty citadel, some time back when the former alicorn monarch still governed the city. It is a remarkable kingdom with a remarkable history, and I shall truly never forget my remarkable experiences during my many visits there. For the ponies of Misty Mountian, the arrival of Spring is the return of the growing season along the terraced mountain sides near the citadel. And in these snow-capped reigons, that is reason enough to celebrate!
Among the snowy hills and peaks of Ponyland's mighty mountian ranges, with cloudy peaks and pure blue skies. The train takes us across elevated bridges so high, all I can see is the seemingly bottomless gorges enshrouded by the mists far below. As we go along I notice small guard houses dotting the mountiansides, and pony herders ushering thier sheep along the rolling hills. As our train pulls along towards the greatest peak of them all- Misty Mountian, an amazing sight stretcehes out before me.
Misty Mountian fortress is a mighty, crystalline stucture that spreads across three peaks, conneted by crystal bridges and elevated roadways running between the three. Within the citadel's walls, chalet-style shops and homes, built in the archetectural likeness of earth's Bavarian mountian villages, standing side by side in neat little orderly rows. The ponies of this land are all out in the streets celebrating, clinking hoof carved cider tankards together, and dancing the polka to the souds of the accordion.
Stallions in lederhosen, and mares in traditional drindil dresses move about through the crowds. Going into the local dressmaker's upon my arrival, it is not long before I too am dressed like the female ponies here, and I begin to sample the Spring festival's wonders. A dance around the maypole comes first, as is the custom for all the frauliens present at the spring festival. Taking a stand of ribbon in my mouth, and trotting around the pole in a cricle with all the other mares, until we have completely wrapped the pole in streamers of many colors. The tall green pole is decorated with the symbols of every guild in misty mountian, proudly symbolizing thier craft and civic pride.
Next comes a stallion's event; the whipcracking contest. The males will test thier strength by cracking long whips against the ground in large open areas, in order to 'drive the snow and cold of winter away'. Points are awarded based on style, strength of the whip crack, and loudness of the craking sound. It was a really fun even to observe, and the most fun aspect of all was that every maiden present got to kiss the winner. We all rushed forward in a big mass to give him his 'reward', and I think we left that poor bewildered stallion's face covered in lipstick, ha ha!
What followed then was a great blowing of Misty Mountian's alphorns- large, gound-sized horns blown to call back the sheep who were grazing all over the landscape. We all lined the outer walls of the citadel, and our ears were greeted by the mighty blast of the horns, ao powerful that they made the surrounding mountiansides shake. This louds noise was followed by another- the souds of misty mountian's yodeling troupe. With all the noise those ponies made, with thier loud voices echoing across the hills and valleys, I'm amazed all that sound didn't cause an avalanche up here.
The citadel's ruler, Pricess Mi Amore Cadenza, was in attendance for this event, and I actually had the chance to speak to the great ruler. While I will admit the last living alicorn in Ponyland is as beautiful as the ancient ledgends say, I must say the great ruler of Misty Mountian has a very spotty memory for a pony her age. I had to tell her my name three times, and twice her crystal pony assistants had to remind her why she was here. It's no wonder pony hitorians can't get anything about old equestria out of her, I wonder how she can remeber her own name. And I almost feel sorry for the crystal pony minority living here in the citadel- they've never numbered more than a hundred, I've been told. And if something should hapeen to the monarch whom thier ancestors came here with, I fear these few, already inbred, crystal pony families would be scattered to the four winds here in ponyland.
Finally, I was invited the the aunnual Applejack cider drink-off, the most anticipated event here in Misty Mountian fortress. These ponies really love thier cider, so it makes since they they'd honor the harmony bearer who is most well known for the aplle-flavored drink here. As we all have a seat at the long benches in the great cider guild hall, tankard after tankard of the sweet flowing liquid is set before us, and we quickly down each tankard, eating slat-covered pretzels between each glass to soften the blow between each glass. The winner is the pony who can imbibe the most apple juice, so I don't really think I stand a chance against these Misty Mountian pros.
Oh my *hic* my seventeeth glass has left me *hic* a little woozy. Maybe I'll just dive under this little table here, and *hic* take a liiiiitle nappy for a while. Ohhhh heyyyyy, it's that really cute stallion I was talking to at the whip cracking contest, he's under here, and I think he's had as much cider as I have. Ohhh, he's smiling at me now, and he's coming over to *hic*. Oh my... hee hee... wooooow... *hic*
Paradise Oasis
