Magical Mirai is an annual event held in Japan that celebrates the virtual singer Hatsune Miku and the Vocaloid music culture. The event features various activities such as concerts, exhibitions, and merchandise sales. One of the highlights of Magical Mirai is the cosplay contest, where fans dress up as their favorite Vocaloid characters and compete for prizes. The cosplay contest at Magical Mirai attracts participants from all over the world who showcase their creativity and passion for the Vocaloid characters. The participants spend months designing and creating their costumes, paying attention to even the smallest details. The level of craftsmanship and dedication is truly impressive, and it is clear that the cosplayers put a lot of love into their work.
Why the Romans permitted such silliness is based on the nature of the Saturnalia. Held in mid-December, the Saturnalia, a celebration in honour of the god Saturn, was characterised by the relaxation of social order and a carnival-like atmosphere.
Held in mid-December, the Saturnalia, a celebration in honour of the god Saturn, was characterised by the relaxation of social order and a carnival-like atmosphere. The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, mostly in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1.
The level of craftsmanship and dedication is truly impressive, and it is clear that the cosplayers put a lot of love into their work. During the contest, the participants take to the stage and showcase their cosplays to the audience and judges. The audience cheers and applauds as the cosplayers strike poses, show off their props, and even perform dance routines.
Harking back: the ancient pagan festivities in our Christmas rituals
Professor Marguerite Johnson , from the University of Newcastle's School of Humanities and Social Science, talks about the ancient historical traditions of Christmas in The Conversation.
In the movie The Life of Brian (1979), Reg, played by John Cleese, asks fellow members of the People's Front of Judea:
… apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health; what have the Romans ever done for us?
"Brought peace" is the answer he receives.
In hindsight, Christmas could be added to the list.
When we think of the Romans, gift-giving, carol-singing and celebrating the birth of Christ don't immediately present themselves. Waging wars, general oppression and a never-ending desire to rule the world are more likely to spring to mind.
What have the Romans ever done for us?
But various Christmas traditions come from ancient pagan festivities, including the Roman celebration of the Saturnalia.
Historian and cultural investigator, Polydore Vergil (c. 1470-1555), was the first to record the similarities between certain pagan and Christian practices. He noted the connection between the predominantly English tradition, "The Lord of Misrule", which occurred on Christmas Day and an equivalent custom of the Saturnalia. Both involved masters and servants or slaves swapping roles for a day.
Why the Romans permitted such silliness is based on the nature of the Saturnalia. Held in mid-December, the Saturnalia, a celebration in honour of the god Saturn, was characterised by the relaxation of social order and a carnival-like atmosphere.
Ruins of the Temple of Saturn (eight columns to the far right). Wikimedia Commons
Saturn, once the principal deity of the Italians, was the god of time, agriculture and things bountiful. He reigned over the Golden Age, an era of peace, happiness and plenty. Indeed, the pleasures associated with the Golden Age were perhaps re-enacted in the Saturnalia itself.
The Saturnalia celebrated the god in his role as overseer of a season of anxiety. Winters were harsh and food sometimes scarce. And as the days became shorter and the earth symbolically died, the seasonal time needed to be commemorated and the god kept happy.
The Saturnalia was a lead-up to the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, recorded as December 25 in the Julian calendar.
With revelries and hijinks, feasting and the cessation of formal business, the Romans looked forward to the coming of the light of the sun. With the return of spring, there would be renewed fertility. Crops would grow and farm animals would give birth, providing another year of bounty and full bellies.
As part of the revelries, the Romans exchanged gifts: candles, signet rings, toothpicks, combs, tooth paste, baby rattles, hairpins, woolly slippers, warm caps, tablecloths and, yes, even socks and the Christmas puppy! These were exchanged during or after a feast, served by the head of the household and perhaps his children while the slaves enjoyed their time off.
Saturn's association with gift-giving has led scholars like Samuel L. Macey to link him with Santa Claus. But, as Macey knows, Saturn had a shadowy side and, like many Roman deities, there were skeletons in his closet! Someone who decides to eat his children as a means of maintaining power, for example, isn't an ideal Santa prototype. Then again, some kids find Santa pretty scary.
French painter Antoine Callet's 1783 depiction of Saturnalia. Wikimedia Commons
As television was not yet invented, and the internet light years away, the poor old Romans had to occupy their Saturnalian leisure time with human interaction. They enjoyed games, gambled, played dress-ups and recited poetry (some of a risqué nature). Drinking, the modern scourge of the holiday season, was also a feature of the Saturnalia. While some of us take offence at the barbed comments at Christmas get-togethers, the Romans simply regarded them as a ritualised part of the upside-down world of the silly season.
Besides the Saturnalia, there was another important Roman festival with influential ties to Christmas: the celebration of the Unconquered Sun on December 25. According to the fourth century almanac, the Calendar of Philocalus, there is mention of a celebration of the "Unconquered" on December 25, which is most likely a reference to the "Unconquered Sun."
In the same manuscript, December 25 is also listed as the birth of Jesus.
The Calendar of Philocalus is therefore cited by some scholars as potential evidence for the coalescence of the festival of the Unconquered Sun with the celebration of the birth of Christ. David M. Gwynn suggests: "The commemoration of Christ's birth on 25 December … appears to have originated in the west, in part to provide a Christian counterpart to the birthday of the Sun."
By the end of the late Roman period, Christmas was part of the Christian calendar. The pagan festivals may have officially disappeared but traces of the old ways remained.
And so began the long history of Christmas.
This article is part of The Conversation's End of Year series.
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
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By A.D. 43, the Roman Empire had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the 400 years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.
The atmosphere is electric, with fans cheering for their favorite cosplayers and celebrating their shared love for the Vocaloid culture. The judges evaluate the cosplays based on various criteria such as accuracy, craftsmanship, and performance. They take into account the effort put into recreating the character's appearance, the attention to detail in the costumes and props, and the overall presentation on stage. The winners of the contest receive recognition for their hard work and dedication, and their cosplays often become the talk of the event. Magical Mirai cosplay is not just a competition; it is also a celebration of creativity and community. It brings Vocaloid fans from different backgrounds together and allows them to express their love for the characters and music in a unique way. It is a chance for fans to connect with each other, make new friends, and appreciate the artistry and talent within the Vocaloid fandom. In conclusion, the Magical Mirai cosplay contest is a highly anticipated and cherished event for Vocaloid fans worldwide. It brings together the creativity, passion, and talent of cosplayers who dedicate their time and effort to bring their favorite virtual characters to life. This event showcases the vibrant and enthusiastic Vocaloid culture and serves as a platform for fans to celebrate their shared love for Hatsune Miku and the Vocaloid music phenomenon..
Reviews for "Magical Mirai Cosplay Pro-tips: How to Stand Out in a Crowd"
1. Ethan - 2/5
I was really disappointed with the Magical Mirai Nimu Cospkay. The costumes were poorly made and didn't resemble the characters they were supposed to represent at all. The performances were lackluster and it seemed like the cosplayers weren't really into it. The choreography was also very basic and uncreative. Overall, I expected a lot more from this event and ended up leaving feeling let down.
2. Sarah - 1/5
I have been to many cosplay events in the past, but the Magical Mirai Nimu Cospkay was by far the worst I've ever attended. The organization was chaotic, with long lines and disorganized scheduling. The cosplayers themselves seemed unprepared and unenthusiastic. The whole event felt like a cash grab rather than a celebration of cosplay and creativity. I left feeling frustrated and unsatisfied, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
3. Michael - 2/5
The Magical Mirai Nimu Cospkay was a major disappointment for me. The costumes were poorly constructed and didn't do justice to the characters they were trying to portray. The event lacked any sort of energy and the performances were forgettable. The whole experience felt rushed and thrown together. It's a shame because I had high expectations for this event, but it fell far short.
4. Emily - 1/5
I found the Magical Mirai Nimu Cospkay to be a complete waste of time and money. The cosplayers looked like they just threw on whatever they had lying around, and their portrayals of the characters were uninspired. The event itself was poorly organized, with long waits and confusing directions. Overall, it lacked the passion and attention to detail that I've come to expect from cosplay events. I would not recommend attending this event.