In Japan, on July 7 (7/7), they celebrate Tanabata or Star Festival. According to this video, it's based on a Chinese legend about two stars, Vega and Altair, that are separated during the rest of the year by the Milky Way. In the legend, a princess named Orihime is Vega. She weaves beautiful clothes near a river, which represents the Milky Way. Her father introduced her to a cow herder named Hikoboshi who lived on the other side of the Milky Way. They fell in love but neglected their duties. Orihime's father was mad so he told them they couldn't see each other any more. Orihime begged her father to let them stay together. Her father said they could meet on the seventh day of the seventh month if they did their work.
In Japan, they have festivals for Tanabata. At the festivals, they hang wishes on trees. I hung this wish on a tree at a Bon Dance that happened on July 7th a couple of years ago. Sad we won't have any Bon Dances this year. The other picture is of some other activities I did. I made an origami ball, did some coloring and played with a kendama (cup and ball) and Gennai no fushigina katakata (Jacob's ladder).
This is a traditional Japanese song about Tanabata
If you watch the video on YouTube (https://youtu.be/m2X3-6U-QDo) the English translation is in the description.
Comments