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In the _Zero no Tsukaima: Princesses no Rondo_ beach vacation OVA, the girls
are told to perform an offering ritual to the Spirit of Water, using a
watermelon.

[![Henrietta
misses](https://i.stack.imgur.com/fgKpim.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/fgKpi.jpg)
[![Kirche kisses \(the
ground\)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/WZCSqm.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/WZCSq.jpg)

The "ritual" later turns out to be some sort of game set up by Saito and the
other boys. However, why did they choose a watermelon for it? Does it
symbolize something specific?


CC BY-SA 4.0
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question
tropes the-familiar-of-zero
What is the purpose of the watermelon in the ritual at the beach?


This is just a game of [watermelon
splitting](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suikawari)
([スイカ割り](http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B9%E3%82%A4%E3%82%AB%E5%89%B2%E3%82%8A)).
In anime and manga, it is common activity portrayed in the beach chapters.
Generally, the game is also played at the beach in real life, but it may also
be played in nursery/kindergarten/playground or at event venue.

The rules of the game is quite similar to
[piñata](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi%C3%B1ata): the watermelon is laid
out, and the participants will try to smash it open while blindfolded.

The 2 paragraph above are summarized from Wikipedia page, both English and
Japanese version.

There is no significant symbolization here. It is just a game in Japan
introduced by Saito to the denizen of Halkeginia. By using the reason "for the
sake of the Spirits of Water", the principal (+ Saito) fools the girls to
change into bikini from one-piece swimsuit. And since the game is played
blindfolded, the boys can ogle at the girls body all they want without
triggering the girls self-consciousness.


CC BY-SA 3.0
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answer