Aoi Matsuri to be Celebrated in Steelhead Shanghai

The Aoi Festival is one of the biggest events on the festival calendar in Japan's ancient capital, Kyoto.  The festival was first held during the Heian period (794-1185) when court officials sent a retinue to appease the Kamo deities whom they believed were punishing the people with bad weather and poor crops. The festival came to be known by its present name because the paraders and carriages were decorated with aoi (hollyhock) leaves, which were once believed to provide protection against natural disasters.

Led by an Imperial Messenger on horseback, the procession included over 500 ornately dressed members of the royal court.  Regally decorated carriages were pulled by oxen while courtly music and dances were performed along the way as the retinue traveled to the shrine. The procession attracted many onlookers a thousand years ago, and continues to do so today.

Join us in Steelhead Shanghai as we attempt our first virtual recreation of this festival.  The procession will be held in-world on Friday, May 14, 2010 at 7:00 PM SLT and all citizens of Steelhead and sister sims are invited to participate in the processional. For further information, please refer to the Steelhead Ning or contact Krystine Qinan in-world.