A clip shows a big house on a sunny day in a quiet neighbourhood. Next, the team appears in a room, full of old things, where E.B. is on a laptop and Kyla on her phone.

Tilly seems to be looking for something. Next, she spots a chest under a label that reads "Past and Presents."

Tilly is in her mid-forties. She has dark brown hair down to the shoulders and wears an orange shirt under a pink cardigan.

Tilly says OH!
"PAST AND PRESENTS"!
AND LOOK, IT HAS A BIG BOW
ON IT! MY FAVOURITE COLOUR.

E.B. is a teenager. He has short curly black hair and is clean-shaven. He wears a blue shirt.

E.B. says MAYBE IT'S A TYPO.
LIKE, HERMIONE MEANT TO WRITE
"PAST AND PRESENT." YOU KNOW,
LIKE "THEN AND NOW."

Kyla has long dark straight hair and wears a floral dress.

Kyla says EXACTLY.
LET'S SEE WHAT'S INSIDE.

Tilly opens the chest and Kyla takes out a small present.

Tilly says OH, FOR ME?
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE. OW!

Kyla says IT HAS A WIRE HOOK ON IT,
FOR SOME REASON.

E.B. says THAT'S BECAUSE
IT'S NOT A PRESENT.
IT'S A CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT. LIKE
THE ONES YOU HANG FROM A TREE.

Kyla says WHAT'S THIS?

Kyla takes out a colourful stick.

Tilly says I'LL TEXT MY HISTORIAN
FRIEND DORA. SHE MIGHT HELP US
WITH THIS MYSTERIOUS STICK.
WHERE DID I PUT MY PHONE?

E.B. whispers DO YOU THINK SHE PICKED
THIS MYSTERY ON PURPOSE? SHE
KEEPS DROPPING ALL THESE HINTS.

Kyla whispers YEAH, IT'S HARD TO
PRETEND WE FORGOT HER BIRTHDAY.
HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO PULL OFF
HER BIG SURPRISE, IF...

E.B. says SHH!

Tilly comes back.

Tilly says HEY, YOU GUYS...
FOR SOME REASON, MY PHONE WAS
IN THE FRIDGE! I TEXTED DORA.
WHAT DID I MISS?

E.B. says OH, NOTHING.
JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT...

Tilly says WHAT'S THAT?

E.B. says ANOTHER CLUE.

E.B. holds a small white package.

Tilly says MAYBE AUNT HERMIONE IS TRYING
TO TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT
GIFTS. I DO ADORE PRESENTS.

E.B. says OH. THERE'S NOTHING
INSIDE. BUT THERE IS A LABEL,
"01-01." I THINK THAT
COULD MEAN JANUARY 1ST.
THE FIRST DAY OF THE FIRST
MONTH. BUT WHO GIVES GIFTS
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY?

Tilly says BIG OR SMALL,
I LOVE THEM ALL.

Kyla says OH, LOOK!
YOU HAVE A MESSAGE!

Tilly says OH. DORA WILL MEET YOU
LATER ABOUT THE STICK, KYLA.

Kyla says GREAT. MEANWHILE,
I'LL TAKE THIS ORNAMENT
TO A CHRISTMAS SHOP TO SEE
IF THEY CAN HELP.

E.B. says AND I'LL GET ON TO
SOLVING THIS NEW YEAR'S BOX.

Kyla says COOL.

Tilly says MAYBE THIS STICK KIND
OF LOOKS LIKE A MAGIC WAND, AND
IF I WAVE IT IN THE RIGHT WAY,
IT WILL GRANT ME
A BIRTHDAY WISH.

Each of them takes a single clue.

E.B. says OKAY, READY TO GET SOLVING?

Kyla says LET'S GO!

(Theme music plays)

A dark red background with letter prints shows the shapes of a girl and a boy in the middle. It lights up and reveals EB and Kyla smiling.

Next, the kids are in a room looking at a portrait. The image zooms in a reveals the image of a woman in her sixties with white hair and a hat.

The song plays and the lyrics go
HISTORY IS FULL OF MYSTERIES
GREAT AUNT HERMIONE
COULD BE HEARD TO SAY

The woman in her sixties unfreezes and picks up a blue shining object from the floor.

The song continues
YOU HAVE TO KNOW
WHAT CAME BEFORE
TO NAVIGATE THE WORLD TODAY

Fast clips show images of a river, a bridge at night and a fire explosion.

The song continues
SHE WAS GOING TO WRITE A BOOK
CALLED "MYSTERY FILES."

Next, pictures of dogs are followed by the woman in her sixties writing down notes on a journal.

The song continues
TO TELL WHAT SHE UNCOVERED
BUT TIME RAN OUT
NEW ADVENTURES CAME FIRST
SO SHE LEFT HER SECRETS
UNDISCOVERED

The woman in her sixties drives a car and next flies a small aircraft.

The song continues
AUNT TILLY INHERITED
HER BIG OLD HOUSE
FILLED WITH FILES AND CLUES
OF MUMMIES
SPIES AND VOYAGEURS
SCARY CREATURES TOO

Tilly stands in front of the house. She looks shocked. Next, EB checks a metal box full of objects. A mommy, a skull, and an eel appear among other objects.

The song continues
E.B. AND KYLA
WILL COME THROUGH
THEY'LL SOLVE

Kyla shows her phone screen. Tilly holds a lamp and a laptop shows the progress of file saving in a box.

The song continues
THE MYSTERY FILES
UNRAVEL ALL THE MYSTERIES
UPLOAD HIDDEN HISTORIES
THEY'LL SOLVE

EB, Kyla and Tilly pose together in a picture. The title of the show appears below in blue letters: "The Mystery Files."

The song ends
THE MYSTERY FILES.

(music plays)
The screen shows Kyla’s phone recording herself walking down the street.

Kyla says WE THINK AUNT HERMIONE
COULD BE TRYING TO TELL US
SOMETHING ABOUT GIFTS, SO I'M
BRINGING THIS CHRISTMAS TREE
ORNAMENT TO AN EXPERT FOR MORE
INFO, AND WITH ANY LUCK, I'LL BE
ABLE TO FIND A CERTAIN SOMEONE
A BIRTHDAY SURPRISE.

Kyla walks into a large Christmas shop.

Kyla says HI, CAROLINE?

Caroline stands behind a counter. She is in her mid-thirties with short chestnut hair. She’s wearing a white shirt under a dark green apron.

Caroline says KI, KYLA! NICE TO MEET YOU.

Kyla says NICE TO MEET YOU.
I'M TRYING TO SOLVE A MYSTERY
THAT I THINK IS ABOUT GIFTS,
AND THIS WAS ONE OF MY CLUES.

Caroline says WELL, DEFINITELY A
GIFT. BUT BECAUSE OF THE HOOK,
I'M THINKING IT MIGHT BE
SOME TYPE OF ORNAMENT.
I WAS ABOUT TO DECORATE A
CHRISTMAS TREE. WOULD YOU LIKE
TO HELP ME FINISH IT UP?

Kyla says SURE! IT MIGHT EVEN
HELP ME FIGURE OUT MY MYSTERY.

Caroline says COME WITH ME.

They stand by a Christmas tree. Caroline hands Kyla a bucket full of ornaments.

Kyla says THANK YOU.

Caroline says THERE YOU GO.
DO I JUST PUT THEM ANYWHERE?

Caroline says YEAH. THERE'S
NO RIGHT WAY TO DECORATE
A CHRISTMAS TREE.

Kyla says BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT
CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENTS
HAVE TO DO WITH GIFTS.

Caroline says WELL, ON CHRISTMAS,
THERE ARE A LOT OF TRADITIONS
THAT HAVE BLENDED OVER TIME
AND IT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO
ANCIENT ROME, WHERE THEY USED TO
CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF SATURN,
AND THEY WOULD BRING IN VARIOUS
SPRUCE AND FIR INTO THE HOUSE
AND LIGHT CANDLES. YOU ALSO HAD
ALL THE ANCIENT DRUIDS, CELTS
AND NORSE THAT WOULD BRING IN
ALL SORTS OF GREENERY, BECAUSE
GREENS REPRESENTED THE COLOUR
OF ETERNAL LIFE, AND IT WOULD
CHASE AWAY EVIL SPIRITS IN THAT
COLD, DARK PART OF THE YEAR.

A series of painting show ancient Romans having a feast and decorating a building.

Kyla says AND WHAT ABOUT GIFTS?

Caroline says WELL, GIFT GIVING
IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER
ALSO STARTED IN ANCIENT ROME.
AND PEOPLE LIKED THAT IDEA SO
MUCH THAT THEY DECIDED TO START
GIVING PRESENTS AS WELL.
AND THEN OVER TIME, IT WAS JUST
SOMETHING THAT WAS APPROPRIATED
BY OTHER GROUPS AND CULTURES,
THAT EXCHANGING GIFTS IN THAT
DARK, COLD PART OF WINTER
WAS A GREAT THING TO PERK
PEOPLE'S SPIRITS UP.

Pictures on the team’s computer show old mosaics, nineteenth century women shopping and a man carrying presents.

Caroline finishes decorating the tree.

Caroline says HOW DOES IT LOOK?

Kyla says IT LOOKS GREAT.

Kyla's phone rings. E.B. calls her from the headquarters.

E.B. whispers HI, KYLA! HOW'S IT GOING?
Kyla whispers I THINK AUNT HERMIONE ISN'T
JUST TRYING TO TELL US ABOUT
GIFTS, BUT CHRISTMAS GIFTS.

E.B. says THAT'S COOL.
BUT IF THE MYSTERY IS ABOUT
CHRISTMAS GIFTS, THEN HOW DOES
MY "01-01" GIFT BOX FIT IN?

Kyla says MAYBE THE MYSTERY'S ABOUT
GIFT GIVING AT CHRISTMAS AND NEW
YEAR'S? AND WHY AM I WHISPERING?

E.B. says BECAUSE I DON'T WANT
TO TALK TOO LOUDLY ABOUT GIFTS
WITH A CERTAIN SOMEONE IN THE
NEXT ROOM. OH, BY THE WAY...
I JUST FIGURED OUT MY GIFT BOX
CLUE WAS MADE USING A JAPANESE
PAPER ART CALLED ORIGAMI.
SO I'M GOING TO GET AWAY FROM
HINTY MCHINTSTER, AND GO FIND ME
A JAPANESE PAPER FOLDER.

Tilly says OH, IS THAT KYLA?
LET ME TALK TO HER. HEY, KYLA!
HOW'S THE RESEARCH GOING ON
YOUR LITTLE GIFT CLUE? GIVING
YOU ANY IDEAS ABOUT GIFTS?

Kyla says UH...
SORRY...

Kyla makes a static noise.

Kyla continues THIS PLACE GETS LOUSY
PHONE RECEPTION.

Tilly says OH! CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS
MAKE GREAT GIFTS ANY TIME OF THE
YEAR, YOU KNOW? LIKE, BIRTHDAYS?

Kyla makes a static noise.

Kyla says SORRY... CAN'T HEAR! BYE.

The call ends.

Kyla says SORRY. IN ADDITION TO SOLVING
THIS MYSTERY, I'M ALSO
PLANNING A SURPRISE PARTY
FOR MY AUNT TILLY.
BUT SHE KEEPS DROPPING ALL
OF THESE RIDICULOUS HINTS, SO...

Caroline says WELL, IF YOU NEED
ANY HELP FINDING A GIFT,
I COULD HELP YOU OUT. I'VE GOT
SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY HERE.

Kyla says SURE!
YOU KNOW, THE ROMANS KIND OF
REMIND ME OF MY AUNT TILLY.
SHE REALLY LIKES TO LET LOOSE
AT A PARTY.

The painting of the Roman feat appears. One of the women has Tilly’s face.

On the painting, Tilly says WOO-HOO! YEAH!

Kyla looks at snowballs and other Christmas presents displayed on glass showcases.

Kyla says I WONDER IF I COULD FIND
A GIFT THAT'S ROMAN-Y.
PERFECT!

E.B. stands on the street.

E.B. says I FINALLY GOT AWAY FROM
AUNT HINTS-A-LOT. NOW I'M OFF
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HERMIONE WAS
TRYING TO TELL US WITH THIS BOX.

E.B. walks into a Japanese decorated room. Sam sits at a table. She’s in her thirties with short black hair. She’s wearing glasses and a white shirt with delicate details.

E.B. says OH! HEY, I'M E.B.

Sam says HI. I'M SAM. COME ON IN.

E.B. says OH, WOW.
THESE LOOK REALLY NICE!

Origami paper sits on the table.

Sam says THANKS!

E.B. says WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE A
MYSTERY, AND AT FIRST WE THOUGHT
IT WAS ABOUT CHRISTMAS, AND THEN
WE THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT GIFTS.
NOW I'M THINKING IT'S ABOUT
NEW YEAR'S BECAUSE OF THIS.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS?

Sam says OH, THIS IS AN ORIGAMI BOX.

E.B. says AN ORIGAMI BOX. OKAY.

Sam says CHILDREN MAKE IT FOR EACH OTHER
AND THEY PUT THE GIFTS INSIDE.

E.B. says OH! SO IT IS A GIFT?

Sam says YEAH, IT'S A GIFT BOX.

E.B. says ALRIGHT.

Sam says YEAH. I'M ACTUALLY
FOLDING SOME RIGHT NOW.

E.B. says OH, COOL.
IS THIS WHAT THESE ARE?

Sam says YEAH. SO I'M ACTUALLY
FINISHING UP A BOX RIGHT HERE.
SO THIS IS THE BOTTOM OF THE
BOX. IF YOU LOOK AT THE ONE
THAT YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE A BOTTOM
AND A TOP. WITH ORIGAMI YOU HAVE
TO MAKE VERY PRECISE FOLDS, BUT
YOU CAN'T USE ANY TAPE OR GLUE.

E.B. says REALLY? CAN'T YOU JUST
USE, LIKE, A LITTLE BIT OF GLUE?

Sam says NO.
YOU CAN'T USE A LITTLE BIT OF
TAPE, AND NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW?

Sam says BUT IF YOU DO IT RIGHT,
YOU DON'T NEED IT.

E.B. says TRUE.

Sam says YEAH.

E.B. says I RESPECT THAT.

Sam laughs and says ALRIGHT. SO WE HAVE SOME
CREASE LINES THERE ALREADY,
FROM THE FOLDING. SO I'M GOING
TO FOLD THIS SIDE DOWN. AND THEN
THIS SIDE, THERE'S A CREASE.
SO I'M GOING TO OPEN THIS SIDE
HERE, AND IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO
BE THE INSIDE HERE. AS YOU LIFT
IT UP, YOU'RE GOING TO NOTICE...

E.B. says WOW!

Sam continues ... THAT THERE IS A DIAMOND
HERE, KIND OF, AND A DIAMOND
HERE. SO I'M JUST GOING TO FOLD
THIS PART OVER, AND THEN TUCK IT
IN. AND I'M GOING TO HELP YOU
WITH THIS SIDE. SO YOU'RE GOING
TO TUCK THAT PART IN.

E.B. says OKAY. BOOM.

Sam says YEAH. DO YOU SEE,
THAT GETS STUCK TOGETHER?

E.B. says NO TAPE NEEDED. WOW.

Sam says SO LET'S SEE IF
THIS LID WILL FIT OVER.

E.B. says OKAY. MOMENT OF TRUTH.

E.B. places a cover on the box.

Sam says YEAH, LET'S SEE.

E.B. says YEAH! IT WORKED. SEE?
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

Sam says TA-DA!

E.B. says HIGH FIVE.

Sam says OH YEAH!

E.B. says A PRO LIKE SAM CAN FOLD
AN ORIGAMI BOX FROM BEGINNING
TO END IN LESS THAN 90 SECONDS!
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.

A fast-motion clip shows Sam folding an origami box.

E.B. says WELL, ALL THESE BOXES ARE
REALLY NICE. BUT THESE ONES?
THEY SEEM REALLY SPECIAL.
WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THEM?

Sam says SO THESE ARE MADE USING
A TECHNIQUE CALLED ORIGATA.
AND IT ORIGINATED DURING 15TH
CENTURY JAPAN IN THE UPPER CLASS
SAMURAI FAMILIES.

E.B. says OH, SAMURAI!

Sam says YEAH. THEY WOULD FOLD IT
IN A CERTAIN WAY SO THAT EACH
FOLD SHOWS A SORT OF HINT
AS TO WHAT'S INSIDE THEM.

E.B. says IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO
GUESS WHAT THESE ORIGATA GIFT
WRAPPINGS MIGHT HOLD. THIS ONE
IS MEANT TO HOLD SPICES,
WHILE THIS ONE IS FOR A FLOWER.
AND THIS LITTLE POUCH HOLDS
MONEY, WHILE THIS ONE
IS FOR CHOPSTICKS.
ACTUALLY, COME TO THINK OF IT...
IT'S AUNT TILLY'S BIRTHDAY,
AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND THE
PERFECT GIFT. I'VE BEEN LOOKING
AROUND AND I SEE YOU HAVE SOME
REALLY NICE CHOPSTICKS THERE.
I WAS WONDERING, COULD I
BUY THEM OFF YOU?

Sam says OH, YOU CAN HAVE ONE FOR FREE.

E.B. says NO WAY!

Sam says HOW ARE THESE ONES?

E.B. says THOSE ARE PERFECT!
AUNT TILLY WILL LOVE THEM.
CAN YOU MAYBE HELP ME WRAP IT,
YOU KNOW, ORIGATA STYLE?

Sam says SURE, YEAH.

They fold origami paper.

Sam says YOU'RE JUST GOING TO LIFT IT UP,
AND YOU'RE GOING TO FOLD THIS
PART OVER. YEAH, YOU'VE GOT IT.

E.B. says OUH!
TILLY GIFT? CHECK. NOW, BACK
TO MY MYSTERY. I STILL DON'T GET
WHAT ORIGATA HAS TO DO
WITH THIS CLUE, "01-01,"
WHICH I THINK MEANS JANUARY 1ST.

Sam says JANUARY 1ST IS A VERY
IMPORTANT DAY IN JAPAN.

E.B. says WHY?

Sam says THEY HAVE 2 DIFFERENT WAYS
OF COUNTING BIRTHDAYS, AND
HOW OLD YOU ARE. SO BASICALLY,
THERE'S THE KAZOE VERSION, WHICH
WE'RE USED TO, WHERE YOU TURN
ONE YEAR OLDER EACH BIRTHDAY
YOU HAVE. BUT IN THE MAN SYSTEM,
THEY START COUNTING FROM
WHEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY BORN.
YOU'RE ALREADY 1 YEAR OLD. AND
THEN, WHEN JANUARY 1ST COMES,
YOU'RE 2 YEARS OLD.

E.B. says SO EVERYONE GETS OLDER
ON JANUARY 1ST?

Sam says YES. CORRECT.

E.B. says SO IF YOU'RE AT A PARTY
AND IT IS JANUARY 1ST, THEN
IT'S EVERYONE'S BIRTHDAY!

Sam says YEAH. THAT MUST REALLY BE
AN INTERESTING PARTY.

E.B.'s phone rings.

E.B. says OH!
HI, AUNT TILLY.

Tilly says HEY, E.B.!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Sam says OH, I'M WITH SAM
AND WE'RE JUST WRAPPING...
I MEAN, CHATTING ABOUT JAPAN.

Tilly says WELL, I WAS THINKING
THAT THE BOX SORT OF LOOKED
LIKE A WRAPPED PRESENT,
SO I PUT TOGETHER A REPORT
ON WRAPPING PAPER.

E.B. says WELL, WHAT DID YOU FIND?

Tilly says OKAY.
WHEN THE CHINESE INVENTED PAPER
IN 100 B.C., THEY OFTEN USED IT
TO WRAP GIFTS FOR EACH OTHER.

E.B. says THAT'S GENEROUS.

Tilly says MM-HM. PRESENTS WERE
MOSTLY MONEY, SO THEY MADE
CHI POW, PAPER GIFT ENVELOPES.
SINCE THEN, WRAPPING PAPER
HAS BEEN MADE OF ALL KINDS
OF THINGS, FROM RICE STRAW,
TO BAMBOO FIBRE TO FOIL.

E.B. says COOL!

Tilly says MM-HM. BUT IT WASN'T
UNTIL MORE THAN 2,000 YEARS
LATER THAT WRAPPING PAPER REALLY
TOOK OFF IN WESTERN CULTURE
FOR THINGS LIKE... BIRTHDAY
PRESENTS. DOES THAT MAKE YOU
THINK OF ANYTHING?

Fast clips show colourful wrapping papers.

E.B. says YES.
SAM SAID THAT THE JAPANESE HAVE
A SPECIAL WAY OF COUNTING AGE
WHERE EVERYBODY TURNS ONE YEAR
OLDER ON JANUARY 1ST.

Tilly says OH...
SO HERMIONE'S MYSTERY COULD BE
ABOUT BIRTHDAY GIFTS?

E.B. says MAYBE. OR MAYBE NOT.
WHAT ABOUT THE COLOURFUL STICK?
HOW DOES THAT FIT IN?

Tilly says OH, YEAH... KYLA'S
ON IT. WE'LL SEE WHAT SHE FINDS.

E.B. says YEP. WELL, GOT TO GET
BACK TO THE MYSTERY. BYE!

The call ends.

Tilly says BOY. THEY JUST
CAN'T TAKE A HINT.

E.B. says FINAL EXAMINATION.
IS THIS GOOD TO GO?

Sam says I THINK IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.

E.B. says BECAUSE THE THING IS, I LOVE
ORIGATA, BUT IT'S JUST SO TIME
CONSUMING AND PRECISE, YOU KNOW?
WHY DON'T JAPANESE PEOPLE JUST
PUT GIFTS IN SIMPLE BAGS THAT
THEY COULD FIND AT THE STORE?

Sam says WELL, IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO FOLD WITH PRECISION
AND MAKE IT LOOK BEAUTIFUL,
BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT THE
PRESENTATION AND SHOWING HOW
MUCH YOU CARE ABOUT THAT PERSON.
I THINK YOUR AUNT TILLY'S
REALLY GOING TO LOVE IT.

E.B. says YEAH, I THINK SO TOO. WELL,
THANKS SO MUCH FOR HELPING ME
FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS THING IS.

He puts the small white box into a pink paper bag.

Sam says OH, NO PROBLEM.

E.B. says I'D BETTER GO. I HAVE
TO FINISH SOLVING THIS MYSTERY.

Sam says GOOD LUCK!

E.B. bows and says DOMO ARIGATO.

Sam says OH, DO ITASHIMASHITE.

E.B.'s phone rings. Kyla calls him from the street.

E.B. says OH! HEY, KYLA.

Kyla says HEY, E.B.! I FIGURED OUT
THE STICK. I WAS TURNING IT
OVER IN MY HAND, AND I NOTICED
A STICKER THAT SAYS "THE LITTLE PARTY SHOP."
SO I ASKED TILLY'S HISTORIAN
FRIEND TO MEET ME THERE.

E.B. says PARTY? AS IN, BIRTHDAY PARTY?

Kyla says YEAH.
THE JAPANESE PAPER CLUE IS ALSO
ABOUT BIRTHDAYS, NOT NEW YEAR'S.

E.B. says JANUARY 1ST IS THE DAY EVERYBODY
IN JAPAN GETS ONE YEAR OLDER.

Kyla says HEY! THAT COULD WORK
WITH OUR FIRST CLUE, BECAUSE
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATES
JESUS' BIRTHDAY.

E.B. says YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS
MYSTERY'S ABOUT BIRTHDAY GIFTS.
OH, TILLY IS GOING TO LOVE IT!

Kyla says ALRIGHT. I'VE GOT TO GO
FIND OUT HOW THIS STICK FITS
INTO OUR "PAST AND PRESENTS."
MYSTERY. CIAO!

Kyla walks into a gift shop.

E.B. says ALRIGHT. GOOD LUCK.

Kyla says HI! ARE YOU DORA?

Dora is in her forties with dark short hair and bangs. She’s wearing glasses and a green sleeveless dress over black tights.

Dora says YES, I AM. YOU MUST BE KYLA?

Kyla says YEAH. NICE TO MEET YOU.

Dora says NICE TO MEET YOU.

Kyla says SO, AUNT TILLY THOUGHT
THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP
ME SOLVE A MYSTERY. COULD YOU
TELL ME WHAT THIS IS?

Dora says HOW ABOUT IF I SHOW YOU?

Kyla says UM... OKAY.

Dora says AND YOU CAN PUT THIS ON FIRST.

Kyla covers her eyes with a mask.

Dora says ALRIGHT! GIVE ME YOUR HAND,
AND LET'S GO THIS WAY.

Kyla says OKAY...

Dora says NOW, THERE'S SOMETHING
HANGING JUST ABOVE YOUR HEAD.

A multicolored piñata shaped like a horse hangs from the ceiling.

Dora says AND I WANT YOU TO HIT IT.
BUT I'M GOING TO GET OUT
OF THE WAY FIRST.

Kyla says OKAY. DID I GET IT?

Dora says NO, TRY AGAIN.

Kyla says I KNOW THAT SOUND!
I GET IT!
THIS IS A PIÑATA STICK, AND
PIÑATAS ARE USED AT BIRTHDAY
PARTIES WHERE PEOPLE GIVE GIFTS.

Dora says YES, IT IS! AND
THEY'RE ESPECIALLY POPULAR
FOR MEXICAN BIRTHDAYS.

Kyla says DID THE MEXICANS
INVENT PIÑATAS?

Dora says ACTUALLY, PIÑATAS COME
FROM CHINA. THE CHINESE INVENTED
PAPER, THEY CREATED THESE PAPIER
MÂCHÉ ANIMALS, AND THOSE ANIMALS
WERE ACTUALLY FILLED WITH SEEDS.

A picture of a dragon piñata appears.

Dora continues IT WAS MARCO POLO, WHO WAS A
12TH CENTURY ITALIAN MERCHANT
AND ADVENTURER WHO LIVED
IN CHINA FOR 24 YEARS...
HE BROUGHT THE PIÑATA TO ITALY.
IT WAS CALLED A PIGNATTA,
AND FROM ITALY MADE ITS WAY TO
SPAIN, AND FROM SPAIN TO MEXICO.

(WHIPPING AND SCREAMING)
Kyla continues trying to hit the piñata. After several tries, she hits it and it falls.

Kyla says LOOK AT ALL THESE CANDIES
AND LITTLE TOYS! AND WHISTLES,
AND DOUBLE BUBBLES...
THEY'RE NOT EXACTLY BIRTHDAY
GIFTS, BUT THEY'RE GIFTS
YOU GET AT BIRTHDAYS.

Dora says MM-HM.

Kyla says ARE LOOT BAGS
RELATED TO PIÑATAS?

Dora says THERE ARE A LOT OF THEORIES
AS TO WHERE LOOT BAGS COME FROM.
AND ONE OF THE THEORIES IS
THAT THEY COME FROM POTLATCH.
AND POTLATCH IS A GIFT GIVING
FESTIVAL OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
SO WHAT HAPPENS THERE IS THAT,
INSTEAD OF THE HOST RECEIVING
GIFTS, IT'S THE HOST WHO GIVES
GIFTS TO THE GUESTS
WHEN THEY LEAVE.

Kyla says SO TODAY, WHEN WE GIVE
LOOT BAGS OR HAVE A PIÑATA
AT A PARTY, IT'S LIKE A NOD
TO THOSE OLDER TRADITIONS.

Dora says EXACTLY.

Kyla says COOL.
IT'S NOT ALL FOR ME!
WE NEED LOOT BAGS FOR
AUNT TILLY'S PARTY.

Tilly conferences Kyla.

Tilly says HEY, KYLA! ARE YOU STILL
AT THE PARTY SHOP?

Kyla says UM... YEAH.

Tilly says I FOUND SOME COOL INFO
ON THE HISTORY OF BALLOONS!

Kyla says BALLOONS? BUT BALLOONS
DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH HERMIONE'S CLUES.

Tilly says I KNOW. I JUST HAD A GUT
FEELING THAT BALLOONS MIGHT COME
IN HANDY TODAY.

Kyla says WHAT DID YOU FIND?

Tilly says BALLOONS ARE GIVEN
TO PEOPLE ON...
She clears her throat and continues... SPECIAL OCCASIONS. AT
TRADITIONAL CHINESE FESTIVALS,
PEOPLE LIGHT A SMALL FLAME
INSIDE HUNDREDS OF PAPER
LANTERN BALLOONS AND
LAUNCH THEM INTO THE SKY.

Kyla says THEY'RE SO BEAUTIFUL.

Tilly says I KNOW. I LIKE TO DO A SIMILAR
THING WITH HELIUM BALLOONS
FOR MY SPECIAL OCCASIONS.

Tilly shows a clip of herself smiling next to a birthday cake.

Tilly continues IT WAS THEIR BRIGHT COLOURS
AND FLOATINESS THAT MADE PEOPLE
START USING BALLOONS FOR PARTIES
AND OTHER CELEBRATIONS,
LIKE BIRTHDAYS...

Tilly winks an eye.

Kyla says I... UH... DORA'S TANGLED
IN A PILE OF STREAMERS. PARTY
SHOP EMERGENCY! GOT TO GO.

The call ends. Tilly looks upset.

Kyla says DORA, SINCE YOU'RE A
HISTORIAN... WE THINK OUR
MYSTERY MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING
TO DO WITH BIRTHDAY PRESENTS.
DO YOU KNOW WHEN PEOPLE STARTED
GIVING BIRTHDAY PRESENTS?

Dora says WELL, HUNDREDS OF YEARS
AGO, PEOPLE USED TO THINK
THAT WHENEVER THERE WAS
MAJOR CHANGES IN ONE'S LIFE,
LIKE GETTING A YEAR OLDER,
THAT EVIL SPIRITS WOULD APPEAR.
SO, TO PROTECT THAT PERSON,
FRIENDS AND FAMILY WOULD GATHER
AROUND TO BRING GOOD CHEER.

Kyla says LIKE A BIRTHDAY PARTY.

Dora says EXACTLY. AND EVENTUALLY
THEY EVEN BROUGHT GIFTS TO MAKE
THE EVENT EVEN MORE CHEERFUL.

Kyla says JUST LIKE WITH CHRISTMAS GIFTS.
AT THE CHRISTMAS SHOP, CAROLINE
TOLD ME THAT CHRISTMAS ACTUALLY
COMES FROM WAY BACK IN ANCIENT
ROME AND THAT GREEN TREES
AND GIFTS WERE SUPPOSED
TO CHASE AWAY EVIL SPIRITS.

Dora says NOISE MAKERS WERE THOUGHT
TO SCARE AWAY BAD SPIRITS, TOO.

Kyla says WOW! SO BIRTHDAY GIFTS
WERE ORIGINALLY SORT OF LIKE
A TYPE OF PROTECTION?

Dora says THAT'S RIGHT.

Kyla says WOW. THANKS, DORA.

Dora says MY PLEASURE. AND HERE'S
THE LAST BAG FOR AUNT TILLY.

Kyla says THANKS!

Kyla walks to the counter and leaves the bags. Then, she adds a party horn.

Kyla says JUST IN CASE OF EVIL SPIRITS.

Later, Tilly walks into the headquarters when E.B turns on the lights.

Kyla and E.B. say SURPRISE!

Tilly says OH! LOOK WHAT YOU GUYS
DID! THIS IS BEAUTIFUL!
I THOUGHT YOU GUYS FORGOT.

Balloons, loop bags and a piñata decorate the room.

Kyla says REALLY? WITH ALL
THE HINTS YOU WERE DROPPING?

Tilly laughs and says OH... YEAH.

E.B. says OH, AND HERE'S
THE BEST PRESENT...
THE ANSWER TO THE MYSTERY!

Kyla says HERMIONE WAS TRYING
TO TELL US THAT OUR BIRTHDAY
GIFT-GIVING TRADITIONS ARE
A LOT LIKE ANCIENT ONES
FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

E.B. says MM-HM.

Kyla says LIKE PIÑATAS FROM MEXICO,
OR BALLOONS THAT SORT OF LOOK
LIKE CHINESE LANTERNS.

E.B. says BIRTHDAY TRADITIONS HAVE
A SUPER LONG HISTORY. ANCIENT
PEOPLE USED TO GIVE BIRTHDAY
GIFTS TO SCARE OFF EVIL SPIRITS.

Tilly says OOH!

E.B. says AND SAMURAIS IN JAPAN
USED TO WRAP GIFTS WITH CARE
TO BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS.
SO... THESE ARE FOR YOU.

He hands Tilly the chopsticks wrapped in origami paper.

Tilly says AH... GORGEOUS!

Kyla says AND THIS IS FROM ME.

Tilly says OH! A BIRTHDAY HAT!
WITH REINDEER ANTLERS?

Kyla says YEAH! CHRISTMAS IS
A KIND OF BIRTHDAY PARTY, TOO.

Tilly says HOW DO I LOOK?

Kyla and E.B. say AMAZING!

The doorbell rings.

E.B. says I'LL GET IT.

Tilly says I WONDER WHO THAT COULD BE...

Kyla says I DON'T KNOW...

E.B. sings, imitating a royal trumpet. The girls squeal and cheer as E.B. carries a cake.

E.B. says HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Kyla says HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Tilly says I'M GOING TO MAKE A WISH.

Kyla says NICE JOB!
(CHEERS)

Tilly says I THINK THE THREAD
BETWEEN ALL THESE GIFT
GIVING CUSTOMS IS SHARING.
THIS IS THE PART
THAT MAKES ME MOST HAPPY.

Tilly cuts the cake.

E.B. says YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RIGHT.
GIVING IS THE BEST GIFT OF ALL.
YEAH! EVERY CULTURE GIVES GIFTS
AS A WAY TO SHOW THEY CARE.

Tilly says GIVING MIGHT BE THE BEST
GIFT OF ALL, BUT BIRTHDAY CAKE
IS A PRETTY CLOSE SECOND.

E.B. says IT'S SO GOOD!
YOU SHOULD TRY IT LIKE THIS.

E.B. eats with his hands. Tilly laughs.

All say MYSTERY SOLVED. POSTING
TO
THE MYSTERY FILES
WEBSITE.

A new video shows the pictures and files recorded and gathered during the episode saved in a box, on a website.

The end credits roll.

An Apartment 11 Production. In association with TVO Kids.

Executive Producer, Jonathan Finkerstein.

TVO Kids and Apartment 11 Productions Logos appear.

Florence Productions Incorporated, 2015.