INTRODUCTION

Tanabata is a Japanese festival celebrated on July 7th every year. It is known as the Festival of the Stars. This festival is based on the Legend of Tanabata and celebrates the meeting, just once a year, of two lovers, a shepherd (the star Altair) and a weaving girl (Vega). There is also a song about Tanabata.

THE LEGEND OF TANABATA

Two stars, Weaver Princess Star and Herd Boy Star were in love. The Weaver Princess Star was very good at weaving, and her father was a heavenly king. Although the Herd Boy Star was a boy of lowly birth, the king, kind-hearted, let them marry. But because they were in love so much, they forgot to do their work. The Weaver Princess Star did not weave the cloth and the Herd Boy Star did not take care of the herds of sheep. The king became so angry, that he decided they must be separated. They were told to live at the opposite sides of the Milky Way, the Sparkling River of the Heavens. They were only to meet on the night of July 7th, when they cross the sky.

HOW WE CELEBRATE TANABATA

On the day of Tanabata, people wear kimonos. They write their wishes on beautiful colored, thin paper. They hang the paper wishes on bamboo trees, and decorate the tree with origami (e.g. paper cranes) and other special Tanabata decorations. It is believed that the wishes come true.