Tanabata

I use a Japanese calendar to keep track of the Japanese lifestyle and events. I noticed a coming up event. Star Festival. It didn’t take my attention because it is not a holiday, but if you look closely you can notice cakes for star festival and the actual festival in temples.

It is called Tanabata in Japanese. Celebrated on 7^th day of 7^th month. 7^th of July or 7th of August for lunar calendar. This approach varies from location to location, in Tokyo, it is 7^Th of July.

There is a myth of Star festival and also a custom of the festival. How could I miss this? 

The myth was imported from China. Orihime, star Vega, and Hikoboshi, star Altair, fell in love, and starting to spend too much time together that caused problems since they could not fulfill their jobs as stars. They were punished and separated by Milky Way. And they were granted only one day in every year 7^th day of 7^th month to be together and to see each other.

People pray for good weather, open skies with no clouds and rain to help them to see each other better or clearly.

The custom of this festival is writing wishes on paper and pinning them to bamboos…

People wear kimonos and yukatas, go to temples, and attach wishes to bamboos. So many people so many wishes, which creates a sea of papers and a tree of papers and many other beautiful shapes and colors.

Sendai, a city located on the north of Tokyo, is really famous for Tanabata Festival, held in August. I would like to see this festival.

I was planning to go to Tokyo Daijijingu in Iidabashi on7th of July. Unexpected things happened and I had to change plans. People supposed to have started to pin wishes from 1th of July until 7^th of July. It must be such a beautiful view. I am sorry to miss the festival.

a small Tanabata corner from a shop

Make a wish at 7^th of July.

Cheers,

Ece