Tanabata Festival is also known as Star festival. Every year on the seventh day of seventh month of the year the people of Japan celebrate a holiday.
Introduction of Tanabata to Japan
- Empress Koken (718–770) introduced Tanabata to Japan in the eighth century.
- By the early Edo period (1603–1867), it merged to some extent with the traditional festival of Obon, becoming a widely celebrated cultural event.
Tanabata Festivals’ origin
There are several story which represents this Festival here is one of them:
- Tanabata’s date varies regionally, but festivities often begin on July 7th in the Gregorian calendar.
- Celebrations are held across Japan from July to August, reflecting regional differences in the lunisolar calendar.
Story behind Tanabata
- Tanabata celebrates the meeting of Orihime and Hikoboshi, symbolized by the stars Vega and Altair.
- Orihime, the diligent weaver princess, lived beside the Amanogawa (Milky Way).
- She fell in love with Hikoboshi, a cowherd from across the Amanogawa, and they married.
- Their neglect of duties angered Orihime’s father, the Heavenly Emperor, who separated them with the Milky Way.
- Allowed to meet only once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, if Orihime completed her weaving tasks.
How is Tanabata celebrated in Japan?
- Tanabata symbolizes the annual reunion of Hikoboshi and Orihime.
- It reflects themes of love, dedication, and the celestial realms in Japanese culture.
- Celebrated with colorful decorations and traditional activities like writing wishes on paper strips (tanzaku) and hanging them on bamboo branches.
- Writing wishes on tanzaku is a central tradition of Tanabata, involving small pieces of paper in colors like blue, red, yellow, black, and white, each representing different elements of East Asian cosmology.
- After writing wishes, tanzaku are hung on bamboo branches adorned with streamers and ornaments, symbolizing hopes for fulfillment.
- Some celebrations involve floating these decorated bamboo branches on rivers or burning them the next day, reminiscent of Obon rituals like floating paper ships or candles.
- Tanabata festivals across Japan typically include elements such as traditional music, lively dance performances, food stalls offering local delicacies, and vibrant parades.
- Each region may showcase unique customs or practices during Tanabata, adding to the diversity and cultural richness of the celebrations.
Is Tanabata always in July 7?
Different areas within the prefecture observe Tanabata between July and August each year, with July 7th being the most commonly celebrated date.
Is Tanabata a romantic festival?
Nowadays, Tanabata is cherished as a romantic and auspicious time of year, prompting many to make wishes and enjoy time with loved ones at various festivals held throughout Japan.
What is the Tanabata story?
Long ago in Japan, there was a skilled weaver princess named Orihime who lived on one side of the Milky Way. She fell in love with Hikoboshi, a cowherd from the other side. They married but neglected their duties, angering Orihime’s father, who separated them with the Milky Way. They can only meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, celebrated as Tanabata. People make wishes and decorate bamboo trees to celebrate their love and reunion.
What is eaten on Tanabata?
Sōmen is a classic Tanabata dish made with thin wheat flour noodles. Some say the noodles symbolize the Milky Way, while the vegetables, eggs, or meat represent the stars.
What is the moral of Tanabata?
1)The moral of Tanabata is about love, dedication, and the importance of fulfilling responsibilities. 2)It teaches us that love should be cherished but not at the expense of neglecting our duties. 3)It also emphasizes the joy of reunion and the belief that wishes can come true with determination and perseverance. 4)Tanabata encourages us to appreciate relationships and strive for balance in life.
What do children do for Tanabata?
At some elementary schools, students tie their wishes to large bamboo branches, while others perform skits about the Cowherd and Weaver Stars legend. Sendai (Miyagi Prefecture) and Hiratsuka (Kanagawa Prefecture) are renowned for their impressive Tanabata decorations.
What do people wear during Tanabata?
The largest Tanabata festival in Japan takes place in Sendai City from August 6-8. Sendai’s streets are adorned with colorful handmade decorations and streamers, and people dress in vibrant yukata (summer kimono).
What happens if it rains on Tanabata?
If rain falls on Tanabata, it is believed that the rising river prevents the magpies from forming a bridge, forcing the two lovers to wait another year to meet. This rainy day is poetically referred to as “The tears of Orihime and Hikoboshi”.
How long does Tanabata last?
The Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival, renowned as one of the largest celebrations in the Kanto region (where Tokyo is located), occurs in early July in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa. In 2024, it is scheduled from July 5 to 7.
Why is it called Tanabata?
In Japan, there’s an old tradition of weaving and presenting clothes for ancestors’ spirits. The term “tanabata” is believed to originate from “tanabatatsume,” referring to women who wove these garments.
What is traditional Tanabata food?
Soumen.
Why bamboo is used in Tanabata?
The Sendai Tanabata Festival is thought to be a strong reflection of his aesthetic sense.” Yamaguchi adds, “Green bamboo that stretches straight to the heavens is considered sacred by Japanese people, and people in Sendai are especially fond of bamboo as it appears on the Date family crest, the Sendai Sasa.”
What are the colors of Tanabata?
Tanzaku are long narrow papers with printed art or calligraphy on them. Traditionally five colors (blue, yellow, red, black and white) are used for the tanzaku for the Tanabata festival. It is said that these five colors have the power to keep away evil spirits and bad luck.
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