七夕tanabata
Quick definition:Tanabata is a Japanese festival held in early July or August, based on a legend of two star lovers, when people write wishes on paper strips and hang them on bamboo.
Meaning
Tanabata, the star festival, is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month. In many places the date is July 7, while in some regions it is held in August. People write wishes on small strips of coloured paper called tanzaku and hang them on bamboo branches, along with other decorations.
The festival is based on a legend about two stars, a weaving princess and a cowherd, who are separated by the Milky Way and allowed to meet only once a year, if the sky is clear. The story came from China and was combined with local customs in Japan, giving the festival its romantic and hopeful feeling.
Anime and manga use Tanabata for romance, friendship and hopeful scenes. Characters write wishes, look at the stars or hope for clear skies, and wishes may be funny, shy or heartfelt. Streets and shops are decorated with paper streamers, and some cities hold large events with parades and stalls.
Origin:Tanabata is written with characters meaning seven and evening, referring to the evening of the seventh day. The festival comes from a Chinese star legend and from older Japanese customs involving weaving and purification, and it became popular among the general public in the Edo period. The reading of the characters is unusual and not obvious. Example:On the evening of July 7, a group of classmates hang colourful paper strips on a bamboo branch in a school corridor. Each strip carries a wish, such as passing exams or becoming a famous singer, and one student quietly writes something that she does not show to anyone.
Did you know?Because Tanabata falls in the rainy season in much of Japan, clear skies on the night are not guaranteed. Many stories use this fact, with characters hoping that the clouds will part so that the two stars can meet, and many series use the night for a quiet turning point.
