JusticeItEasy said: Wonder why Marisa finds the eggplan horse scary? It's not like it was given a "mean face" or something.
miiiii said: if I remember correctly, the eggplant is a mister cow.
I've read somewhere (in a Japanese festivals page, I think) that vegetables with wooden sticks to prop them up were supposed to represent transportation for the dearly departed ancestors, to hasten their trip to the afterlife.
And since yukkuri are magical manjuu, make that as you will...