Japan Glances. Tanabata , or the star festival, is observed on July 7. As the date approaches, long, narrow strips of colorful paper known as tanzaku , vibrant ornaments, and other decorations are hung from bamboo branches, enlivening the decor of homes as well as brightening shopping arcades, train stations, and other public spaces.
A child places tanabata decorations on a bamboo branch. The stellar holiday centers on the stars Vega and Altair in the constellations Lyra and Aquila, respectively. Following the ancient Chinese lunar calendar, the festival marks the once-yearly meeting of Orihime Vega , the weaver star and patron of silk farming, and Hikoboshi Altair , the cowherd star and agricultural messenger.
Orihime and Hikoboshi meeting across the Milky Way. According to the folktale, Orihime, a gifted weaver, and Hikoboshi, a hard-working cow herder, began to neglect their duties upon being wed. They are granted a meeting each July 7 so long as they both diligently fulfill their celestial obligations during the other days of the year. The legend behind the star festival first crossed over to Japan from China during the Nara period —94 in the form of a weaving festival for young women aspiring to bolster their talents on the loom.
The story merged with the Japanese legend of tanabata-tsume , the tale of a celestial maiden who weaves clothes for the gods, as well as other native cultural aspects to produce a unique Chinese-infused Japanese tradition. The princess and her father lived alongside the Heavenly River, where Princess Orihime wove fine garments. The Sky King loved wearing her creations, and though she liked to make him happy, she felt lonely and sad as she wove by the river.
Seeing her sadness, the King arranged for the princess to meet Hikoboshi, a cowherder who lived on the riverbank opposite. Immediately, they fell in love with one another and quickly married, spending so much time together they both began to neglect their duties. Furious with the outcome, the King separated them to either side of the river, forbidding them to meet.
His daughter was heartbroken and pleaded with her father to allow her to see Hikoboshi again. Still, the princess wept that she could not cross the river. Upon hearing her cry, a flock of magpies flew over and, with their wings, created a bridge for the princess to cross the river, and reunite with Hikoboshi. Now, the romantic tale of the Tanabata Festival is celebrated on the 7 th of July. The myth is set upon the changing constellations in the night sky: Princess Orihime is actually the star, Vega, while Hikoboshi is Altair.
And the heavenly river? The star festival of Tanabata was originally based on the Lunar calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar, meaning August 7 th is actually a more accurate date to celebrate the celestial event. This means that in some regions, the Tanabata festival takes place in August instead of July.
Looking forward to their meeting once a year, the two began to work hard every day. The legend of the weaver and the cowherd is said to parallel the stars Vega and Altair, located on opposite sides of the milky way. In China, July 7th is celebrated as the day that the two stars appear the closest.
This is said to be the origin of the Tanabata star festival in Japan. Tanzaku strips hanging from bamboo. This practice began during the Edo period. In those days, it is said that many wished for better penmanship or craftsmanship. Tanzaku come in five colors: red, blue, yellow, white, and black.
These colors are based on the five elements of ancient China, from which nature was said to be derived from. These elements are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, to which blue, red, yellow, white, and black correspond. Black is often replaced by purple, as the color has a strong connotation of bad luck. Each of the colors has different meanings, too. Match your wish with the right colored tanzaku for a higher chance in your wishes coming true!
Red represents gratuity towards your parents and ancestors. Using the red tanzaku is recommended when writing wishes related to one's parents and ancestors. In feng-shui, red is the color of "determination". Blue represents courtesy and manners. For those working on self-betterment, the blue tanzaku is the way to go. In feng-shui, blue is the color of "calmness" and "trust". Yellow represents friendship, and is fit for wishes regarding human relationships. Its feng-shui meaning is prosperity, so wishes regarding business and success are also fitting.
White represents duty and responsibility, so it is fit for personal resolutions. White in feng-shui represents "relaxation" and "betterment of human relationships". Black is the color of academics, and is perfect for wishes regarding prowess in skills and academics.
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