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Aqua's Calendar アクアの暦
A year on Aqua lasts
24 months, and is twice the length of a year on Man-Home (Earth). In
Neo-Venezia, many festivals and traditions are celebrated which originated in
Venice on Man-Home. Others are unique to Aqua. However, despite Aqua's long
year, a festival or event is never far off!
Spring 春
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 Carnivale カーニバル
Neo-Venezia's carnival is the biggest festival of the year. With a mix of
traditions taken from the original celebration on Man-Home and those originating
on Aqua, revellers don masks known as bauta and dark cloaks called tabarro. The
streets are awash with colour. One interesting tradition is that of Casanova -
every carnival, a mysterious person dressed up as the famous 18th century figure
parades the streets with his crowd of dancers. There is a rumour that the same
person has worn Casanova's costume in Neo-Venezia for 100 years... who is he?
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 Festa del Boccolo ボッコロの日
On St. Mark's Day, 25th April, a special tradition is held in Neo-Venezia. The
Festa del Boccolo is when men give a single rose to the one they love; however,
this sentiment now applies to friends and family members also. The tradition
originates from Venice on Man-Home, in the story of two tragic lovers. The young
man was of lower class to his sweetheart, and so in order to impress her father,
went to war. He was fatally wounded, and with his last strength plucked a white
rose from a bush nearby. The rose became completely dyed red with his blood. He
gave it to a fellow soldier to deliver it to his love, who thus learned of his
death. That is why the red rose is said to represent eternal love.
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 The
Wedding to the Sea
Another tradition from Man-Home's Venice. Established in the year 1000, the Doge
of Venice initiated this ceremony as a symbol of the symbiotic relationship of
the city and the sea which surrounds it. The event, traditionally held on
Ascension Day (various dates in May), involved the use of a specially decorated
boat or gondola known as the Bucintoro and the symbolic throwing of a ring into
the sea.
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Summer 夏
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 Aqua Alta アクアアルタ
Each year in Neo-Venezia, the barrier between Spring and Summer is marked by the
Aqua Alta. For a day or two, there is a high tide and the entire city is
flooded. Due to the obvious problems this causes with travel by gondola, much of
the city's activities come to a standstill and most residents use this as a day
of rest.
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 Meteor Shower 流星群
Due to the differences in gravity between Aqua and Man-Home, in Spring and
Summer
meteor showers occur. The spectacular sight is best viewed from a high window or
even a rooftop at night.
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 Nightlight Chime Market 夜光鈴のいち
Neo-Venezia's summers are hot and humid. Thus, Man-Home's custom of hanging up
wind chimes during the warmer months has also become popular on Neo-Venezia.
During mid-summer there is a market especially for the selling of Aqua's special
nightlight chimes; so named, as the special type of stone used as the chime
glows faintly at night. However, the glow does not last very long. It is a
tradition in Neo-Venezia to let the stone return to the sea while giving off its
last light. Thus, a few days after the nightlight chime market, many residents
gather out on the water after dark to bid farewell to their chimes, with the
traditional saying, 'tante grazie' (which means, 'thank you very much').
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Autumn 秋
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 Vogare Longa ヴォガ・オンガ
The transition of Autumn into Winter on Aqua is marked by the Vogare Longa; a
gondola race which takes place in and around the city of Neo-Venezia. The event
is extremely popular, with many spectators as well as competitors taking part.
The race is meant to take a few hours; however, for some it is a full day's
activity. Anyone is welcome to take part, however there is a rumour that the
race is a promotion test for would-be prima undines.
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Winter 冬
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 First Snow 初雪
As winter approaches Aqua, yukimushi (snow bugs) can be seen in the city of
Neo-Venezia. These friendly creatures can only be seen at this time of year,
when it begins to get cold. There is a legend on Aqua that when the yukimushi
return to the tree roots that they live in for the majority of the year, the
first snow will fall.
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 Buon
Anno ボナーノ
In Neo-Venezia, the year's end is met with much excitement and celebration. The
entire city gathers together in San Marco Square to see in the New Year with the
traditional cry, 'Auguri! Buon Anno!'. After midnight, the celebrations get
under way. On Aqua, it is traditional to eat a bean dish for good luck; special
Neo-Venezian glass beans can also be bought from the many street vendors open in
the square. Those brave enough to bare the cold until daybreak will be presented
with a beautiful first sunrise of the New Year.
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