Glacier Spirits Festival

The Glacier Spirits Festival, or Southern Water Tribe Festival,The Legend of Korra—The Art of the Animated Series, Book Two: Spirits, page 18. is a celebration held in Wolf Cove, founded with the intention of strengthening ties between the North and South, as well as maintaining the nation's connection to the spirits. It is considered by the more spiritual tribe members, such as former Chief Unalaq, to be one of the "most hallowed times". The festival ends on the day of the winter solstice.
== History ==
Avatar Korra regularly celebrated the Glacier Spirits Festival growing up, and looked forward to it every year, as it was one of the few occasions when she was permitted to leave the compound where she was protected by the Order of the White Lotus. After mastering earthbending, she began her firebending training under Yim on the same week as the festival, but her strict teacher forbade her from going, making her instead focus on her firebending training. Korra managed to sneak out of the compound, and made her way to the festival in Wolf Cove just as the celebrations began.
At the Glacier Spirits Festival, Korra encountered several youths of the city, and was surprised to learn that weaver's ball was the most popular arcade game of the year. She introduced herself as the Avatar, to the surprise of the others, while one boy refused to believe her, belittling Korra. Provoked by the boy, Korra sent a firebending attack in his direction, and managed to set the game's net alight. Korra despaired seeing the damage she had done, but her father, Tonraq, arrived and extinguished the fire with his waterbending. Tonraq and Senna escorted Korra back to the compound after finding her, entrusting her back to the care of Yim. However, Korra's parents brought the new friends that Korra had made in the city to see her, and let her play games with them throughout the festival.
Six months after the end of the Anti-bending Revolution, Team Avatar, Tenzin, and his family attended the Glacier Spirits Festival. During the festival, Korra learned from her uncle about the spirit attacks on ships in southern waters. Despite the latter's insistence to become her spiritual mentor, Tonraq, refused his brother's offer, reaffirming that Korra's training would only be overseen by Tenzin. During their discussion, Korra discovered that she was incorrect in believing it was Aang who tasked the White Lotus with keeping her in the South Pole region, and that the decision to isolate her was instead made by Tenzin and her father.
At night, Korra was awakened by an alarmed Naga, who alerted her of a dark spirit, who subsequently attacked Korra just outside of the camp grounds. Mako, Bolin, Tenzin, and Tonraq all attempted to assist her in defeating the spirit, albeit unsuccessfully. The spirit was eventually calmed following Unalaq's intervention, through the use of a specialized waterbending technique that allowed the spirit to depart in peace. Korra dismissed Tenzin as her spiritual mentor following the incident, choosing instead to seek tutelage under Unalaq after witnessing his display of spiritual awareness.
== Purpose ==
Originally, the festival was a solemn time for fasting and meditation, during which tribal elders would commune with the spirits. As a result, spirits would dance in the skies, creating beautiful displays of light.
By the 160s AG, the festival had evolved into a frivolous carnival, spurring recreational games which included amusement booths, where stuffed animals, such as flying bison, are offered as prizes. Confectioneries, including cotton candy and popcorn, are available on the festival grounds as food.
A royal feast is also held in honor of the Chief of the Northern and Southern Water Tribes, during which animal shows and other forms of entertainment may be featured. Despite the festival having its origins in the Water Tribe, numerous attendees from other nations are welcome to take part in the festivities.
== Appearances ==
=== The Legend of Korra ===
==== Book Two: Spirits (神靈) ====
==== Avatar comics ====
== Trivia ==
* Chief Unalaq theorized that the deterioration of the festival's spirituality was one of the reasons angry spirits were roaming the southern waters around 171 AG, stating that some of the tribe's traditions had a purpose.
* The water shooting booth features targets with the same chibi design of Aang that was used in the Super Deformed Shorts.
* Michael Dante DiMartino stated that the festival was a fun way to show how Aang, Appa, and Momo were now part of popular culture in the Avatar World.
== References ==
== See also ==
* New Moon Celebration
* Northern Water Tribe
* Southern Water Tribe
* Water Tribe
de:Gletschergeisterfest
es:Festival Glaciar de los Espíritus
fi:Jäätikön henkien juhla
fr:Festival des Esprits du Froid
pl:Festiwal Duchów Lodowca
ru:Ледяной фестиваль духов
uk:Арктична_курка
Category:A to Z
Category:Celebrations
Category:Events
Category:Spirituality
Category:Water Tribes