Heave-ho!

One of the great things about being part of a community of moms is that they share information.  Someone always knows what is going on.  So when one of the moms mentioned a kid's mikoshi event today, we headed over to join the fun.

A half hour bike ride away was a small community matsuri.  Kids from all over came together to pull a taiko drum and heave a mikoshi throughout the neighborhood.  It was so fun to watch all the kids shouting "Wa shoi" as they worked together to spread joy and good luck.  My son joked around with his friends and happily pulled the drum. 

They would pull together for a few blocks, through traffic and around corners.  Then they would stop for a break.  Snacks were provided at each and every break.  They were not just little snacks - they were full size bags of chips and other salty snack foods.  Some of the stops also provided fresh fruit like apple slices and tea or juice.

I was shocked by the size of everything.  I mentioned to my husband that it kind of bothered me that they were rewarded so robustly.  It seemed like they were being bribed to do something that is fun anyway.  The kids were all having fun doing it without the bribes.  Do we really need to pay kids to do fun things?

My husband looked at me with a smug glance.  What do you think about Halloween?  Isn't it the same thing?  Kids are doing something fun and we pile on the treats to a disgusting degree. 

I blinked as I processed this statement and then I said "I guess you are right."  "Of course, I am."  he replied.  Every culture has traditions that seem overly generous to kids in some regard or another.  When I lament that kids don't have Halloween here, it is because I wasn't seeing that they actually do.  It just comes in a different form.  Instead of costumes, kids wear traditional outfits called happi (a special lightweight jacket).  Instead of parties, kids attend matsuri.  Instead of trick or treating, they get treats (sometimes in over the top quantities) at the shrine during festivals.  It all matches up.  There are special memories created through fun activities throughout childhood.  In the US, kids have Halloween.  And in Japan, children enjoy matsuris all summer long and into the fall.

When I asked my son what he enjoyed most today, he replied "pulling the mikoshi!"  I asked "was is actually getting all the snacks?"  And he told me, with the upmost seriousness, "no, momma.  I loved being with my friends and pulling the mikoshi.  It was heavy, but I used my strength and I did it.  That was my favorite part."

I guess we all walked away with a new appreciation of matsuris today.