Shinto solstice...

...They were all cast into darkness and confusion. Their Sun Goddess, Amaterasu, had been driven out of the sky into a cave by her mischievous brother. All of the sky gods and goddesses went to the cave trying to lure her out. The waved their scarves and sang,

Amaterasu, bearer of light.

We stub our toes, we bump our nose

in this gloomy night.

Amaterasu, bearer of light.

Enlighten us, please brighten us

with your lovely sight.

But it didn't work.

Maybe she couldn't hear them?

So all the earth gods and goddesses came to help. They beat the earth like drums and sang with the others...

Amaterasu, bearer of light.
We stub our toes, we bump our nose
in this gloomy night.
Amaterasu, bearer of light.
Enlighten us, please brighten us
with your lovely sight.

But it didn't work.

Maybe she STILL couldn't hear them.

So all of the water gods and goddesses came to help. They danced and twirled and sang along with the others....

Amaterasu, bearer of light.

We stub our toes, we bump our nose

in this gloomy night.

Amaterasu, bearer of light.

Enlighten us, please brighten us

with your lovely sight.

Finally, Amaterasu heard. She wondered what all this celebrating out side was and peeked out of her cave. She saw the singing and dancing and drumming and joy... and flew all the way back into the sky...

Amaterasu, bearer of light.
Enlighten us, please brighten us
with your lovely sight.

(song lyrics, original by Doug Kraft of UUSS)