a post that I stole from bakerstreet

[rarelogic]

The Winter Festival Meme

Brrr! It may be (literally) freezing outside, but that doesn't mean you have to stay cooped up indoors. In fact, with the beauty of the fallen snow, the many holiday celebrations, and the myriad activities one can only do in cold weather... many might consider winter to be the most fun and romantic time of the year!

1. illuminations
Who doesn't love a light show? Decorative strings of lights dazzle when they adorn houses, trees, or festive sculptures.

2. hot drinks
Wassail, cider, cocoa, mulled wine... 'tis the season to indulge in something warming from the inside out!

3. winter sports
Whether you're a snowboarder or a skiier, festival competitions are your time to shine! Or perhaps you prefer something more low-key, like sledding or ice skating on a frozen pond with a friend?

4. snow art
Do you wanna build a snowman? Your imagination (and the temperature sensitivity of your materials) is the limit when it comes to snow angels, ice sculptures, and snow sculptures!

5. snowball fight!
The age-old tradition of pummeling your friends with icy cold projectiles!

6. holiday market
Keep your fingers warm with a hot drink while you get your shop on!

7. Santa's village
Wait - those aren't real elves, are they?

8. new year
Put on your sequined best and wait for the ball to drop at this year's New Year's Eve bash!

9. hatsumode
Don't forget to wish for good luck at your first shrine visit of the new year.

10. wildcard
Anything goes!

stolen from bakerstreet

Comments

[judicialassistant]

[ What he says is very true. Someone like Mr Sholmes would certain appreciate an experience as opposed to a gift, and she can see the merits of that. Still, they sell all manner of trinkets and things around the shrine. If nothing else, she can perhaps find something he can always keep with him, to remind him of the experience.

A quiet hum, and she is nodding as she walks, excitement growing.

After a while, a crowd comes into view, slowly filing into a make-shift line leading to a rather extravagant set of stairs.

It appears they have found the temple entrance. ]

[rarelogic]

[ Falling into silence is awkward for Sholmes but at the same time, it allows him to put his observational skills to use. Not good use, exactly, but he'll settle for what he can get. Part of what makes him so good is that he knows the lay of the land - London and its surroundings. No matter how much Mikotoba may have told him, and no matter how much he may have read up on the subject, there still feels like a large part missing of how all of the pieces of Japan fall into place.

Though people, people are much the same everywhere. So he settles for taking in as much of them as he can on the way - and there are a decent number of people following the same path as they.

It's a good enough distraction that suddenly, despite the quiet, they have arrived at the stairs - and Sholmes' eyes light up as he smiles and glances at Susato. ]

What mystery awaits us at the top?

[ Rhetorically asked, but the curiosity is plain in his voice. ]

[judicialassistant]

[ "Hopefully not a murder!" she wants to say. Though she knows it is rhetorical, she chuckles as if it is a silly question. ]

Everyone will be waiting to make their wishes for the new year, and purchase new omamori charms for blessing and protection. You may think it is largely hogwash, but perhaps I can get you one you anyway that you can carry on your person.

For the experience.