The festival is an event held by the residents of Wano Country's capital to mourn the dead. Sky Ships (空船,Sorabune?) are a part of it where the grander the celebration, the better their feelings can reach the departed.[3] Tall bonfires would burn so they could reach heaven.[4] When the Fire Festival nears its end, the citizens would lit lanterns with their wishes written on it, sending them into the sky to their departed ancestors, in hope of their wishes to come true.[5]
However, this is a facade as the real purpose is for the shogun to have a banquet with his allies at the expense of the residents.[2] It is also revealed that all the people in Wano including the Flower Capital get the moment to relax, have fun, and pray as they actually despised Orochi and Kaidou and wish for Kouzuki and the rebels to stop them.[6] They would be drinking as much sake as possible, stating it is the only time of the year where they can do that.[5]
However, though they were allowed to drink and celebrate, surveillance at the Festival was still held by Orochi's officials who would hear and report any ill-talking from the citizens directly to Orochi.[5]
History[]
Past[]
20 years ago, as part of the Beasts Pirates and Kurozumi Orochi's plot to take over Wano Country from the Kouzuki Family, Orochi had the head of the family, Oden, executed while the Beasts Pirates burned down the family's home, the Oden Castle, seemingly killing the rest of the family and their allies. Following that, the shogun and the pirates took control of the land and claimed to have freed the country from Oden's dangerous "Open Country Idea".[7]
Believing that the Beasts Pirates began an era of peace, the residents of Wano started celebrating their feat and established the festival as a way to pay their respects to the crew.[2] However, majority of the people including the Flower Capital do not believe Orochi's lies, and they use the Festival as a way to enjoy the moment as they are glad whenever Orochi left the Capital to Onigashima.[6]
Twenty years after Oden's execution, the Nine Red Scabbards plotted for their revenge against Orochi and Kaidou to occur on the day of the Fire Festival, to catch their foes while they were drunk.[8] With inside knowledge of the Scabbards' return, Orochi took preparations to impede the opposition's ability to gather but otherwise prepared for the Festival as normal.[9]
When Orochi arrived at Onigashima and the Golden Kagura festivities began, Kaidou appeared to kill him in an act of betrayal as he initiated a full takeover of Wano to begin his "New Onigashima Project".[10] However, the Scabbards and their allies then successfully invaded Onigashima and attacked Kaidou; hours of intense fighting ultimately resulted in Kaidou and Big Mom being defeated while Orochi was killed by the Scabbards. During this, the people of Wano commenced their traditional Sky Ships ritual, and soon after they did this Kouzuki Momonosuke, Kouzuki Hiyori, and the Scabbards arrived to declare that Kaidou and Orochi had fallen and that Momonosuke was the next shogun of Wano.[11]
Trivia[]
Traditionally, a real world fire festival is a common Japanese custom of igniting a large bonfire during celebratory events.
Given that the current year's Fire Festival takes place two weeks after Tama's birthday, March 3, this puts its date at approximately March 17. However, it is unknown if the festival takes place on the same calendar date every year.[12]
In Chapter 973, a waning crescent moon was shown, implying that Oden's death, and subsequently the festival, occurred at the end of the month.
In Chapter 987, however, a full moon is shown during the event.
Beasts Pirates(Legendary Hour, Fire Festival, New Onigashima Project)*
Blackbeard Pirates(Duel on Banaro Island, Summit War of Marineford, Payback War)*
Straw Hat Pirates(Operation Utopia, Davy Back Fight, Buster Call, Celestial Dragon Hit-and-Run Incident, Operation SOP, Dead End Race, Turtle Car Race, Pirates Festival)*
