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The star festival (Tanabata) takes place on July 7. On this day two stars
(Altair and Vega) that are usually separated from each other by the milky way,
come together. In the night of July 7, people put little bamboo trees in their
garden. They also hang papers with wishes written on it on that tree in the hope
they become true.
Tanabata, also known as the "star
festival", takes place on the 7th day of the 7th month of the year, when,
according to a Chinese legend, the two stars Altair and Vega, which are
usually separated from each other by the milky way, are able to meet. |
Because the 7th month of the year roughly
coincides with August rather than July according to the formerly used lunar
calendar, Tanabata is still celebrated on August 7th in some regions of Japan,
while it is celebrated on July 7th in other regions.
With the year 1873, the Gregorian calendar was
introduced to Japan. While the Christian way of numbering years is commonly used
in Japan today, a parallel numbering system for years according to the reigns of
current emperors is also frequently applied (see year converter above). The year
2000, for example, which happened to be the 12th year of reign of the emperor
whose posthumous name is Heisei, was called "Heisei 12".
One popular Tanabata custom is to write one's wishes on a piece of paper, and
hang that piece of paper on a specially erected bamboo tree, in the hope that
the wishes become true.
Colorful Tanabata festivals are held across
Japan in early July and August. Among the biggest and most famous ones are the
Tanabata Festivals of Sendai in August and Hiratsuka near Tokyo in July As many other Japanese traditions, Tanabata has its origin in a Chinese
tradition but has become distinctively Japanese over the centuries.
On the day before “Tanabata,” the Japanese
express best wishes by writing on a piece of colored paper and tying it to the
branches of bamboo trees found in front of the house. It is believed that
prayers uttered and hanged on bamboo trees on the evening of “Tanabata” will be
granted. It appears, however, that today’s society feels less inclined to
celebrate this celestial event. Yet, for some the belief is as clearly evident
today as it was decades past.
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