Tanabata, also known as the Star Festival traces its origins to a legend that the Cowherd Star (Altair) and Weaver Star (Vega), lovers separated by the Milky Way, are allowed to meet just once a year–on the seventh day of the seventh month. The Tanabata festival is thought to have originated in China. It was transferred to Japan during the feudal period and was combined with the local traditional customs to become an official event at the Imperial court. Soon, commoners also began observing this festival, with the different localities developing their own distinctive ways of celebrating the festival.

The Tanabata Festival is a time honored Japanese tradition wherein people write their wishes on tanzaku papers (colorful, small strips of papers) and hang them on bamboo branches, sometimes with other decorations. Depending on regions, Tanabata is celebrated on July 7th or August 7th (which is nearer the seventh day of the seventh month on the lunar calendar). People decorate bamboo branches with various kinds of paper decorations and place them outside their houses. Many cities and towns hold Tanabata festivals and have Tanabata displays, decorating the main streets. In some regions, people light lanterns and float them on the river, or float bamboo leaves on the river.

There is also a traditional Tanabata song. It goes on like this:

Sasa no ha sara-sara … The bamboo leaves rustle, rustle,

Nokiba ni yureru … shaking away in the eaves.

Ohoshi-sama kira-kira … The stars go twinkle, twinkle;

Kin Gin sunago … Gold and silver grains of sand.

Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture and Hiratsuka in Kanagawa Prefecture are particularly famous for their elaborate Tanabata displays. Tanabata is considered one of the major festivals in these places. Shopping arcades in these two cities feature huge decorations that are sponsored by local shops, which try to outdo one another in the size of their displays. They also hold extravagant fireworks displays. There is also usually a program on Tanabata that features live music, songs and dances. This is especially true for the Sendai Tanabata Festival.

Tanabata is also a festival for lovers. This stems from the legend of the festival. The legend tells us that Orihime, the daughter of the Tentei, the Sky King, wove beautiful clothes by the bank of the Milky Way. Her father loved the cloth that she wove and so she worked very hard every day to weave it. However, she was sad that because of her hard work she could never meet and fall in love with anyone. Concerned about his daughter, Tentei arranged for her to meet Hikoboshiwho lived and worked on the other side of the Amanogawa River (the Milky Way).

When the two met, they fell instantly in love with each other and were shortly married. However, once married, Orihime no longer would weave cloth for Tentei and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to stray all over Heaven. In anger, Tentei separated the two lovers across the Amanogawa River and forbade them to meet. Orihime became despondent at the loss of her husband and asked her father to let them meet again. Tentei was moved by his daughter’s tears and allowed the two to meet on the 7th day of the 7th month if Orihime worked hard and finished her weaving. The first time they tried to meet, however, they found that they could not cross the river because there was no bridge. Orihime cried so much that a flock of magpies came and promised to make a bridge with their wings so that she could cross the river. If it rains, the magpies cannot come and the two lovers must wait till next year. This is why it is said that Tanabata is a great time for couples to become closer to one another. It is also said that Tanabata is also the time for people to confess their love to the one they fancy.

Tanabata is held all over Japan. It is considered one of the major festivals of the summer. While celebrating the festival, people get to relax and enjoy themselves. If you are ever in Japan around these days, stop by a Tanabata festival near your destination and immerse yourself in this romantic and colorful festival.

Posted in Events, Japan

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