What is the Tanabata festival?
Celebration of Stars and Heavenly Lovers Tanabata or Star Festival is celebrated on July 7 in Japan, and sometimes in August in the north of the country. On this day, people make a wish for the future.
What does Tanabata mean in Japanese?
Tanabata ( Japanese: たなばた or 七夕, meaning "Evening of the seventh"), also known as the Star Festival ( 星祭り, Hoshi matsuri ), is a Japanese festival originating from the Chinese Qixi Festival. It celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively).
What are the Tanabata customs?
This resembles the custom of floating paper ships and candles on rivers during Obon. Many areas in Japan have their own Tanabata customs, which are mostly related to local Obon traditions. There is also a traditional Tanabata song: And sway under the eaves. Like gold and silver grains of sand. I have written them.
What to eat in Tanabata?
Because Tanabata is a summer festival holiday in Japan, it’s common to eat festival street foods! It can be really hard to recreate the street food atmosphere in your kitchen. One easy food to make is yakisoba. We eat it year round, honestly, and it’s SUPER EASY. Just buy a refrigerated packet from your local Japanese market.
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Where do they celebrate Tanabata?
The most famous Tanabata festival is held in Sendai from 6 to 8 August. In the Kantō area, two of the largest Tanabata festivals are held in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa (around 7 July) and in Asagaya, Tokyo immediately prior to the start of the Obon holiday in mid August.
Who celebrates Tanabata?
JapanTanabata is an annual event that is generally celebrated on July 7th every year in Japan. In some areas, Tanabata is celebrated according to the old Japanese calendar which is in August. On this day, people hang colorful papers where their wishes are written on bamboo branches.
How Japanese celebrate Tanabata?
How is Tanabata Celebrated? People celebrate by writing their wishes on small pieces of paper (called tanzaku) and hanging them on bamboo branches with hopes they will come true. Other decorations including origami designs and colorful streamers may also be part of the display.
Why do Japanese people celebrate Tanabata?
Tanabata is celebrated to commemorate the romantic story of two lovers represented by the stars Vega and Altair who are only allowed to meet each other once a year as long as the skies are clear. It is celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, which is July 7th in the modern calendar.
Is Tanabata a public holiday?
Tanabata is a festival rather than a national holiday.
Is Tanabata celebrated in China?
A. Chinese legend adopted differently from area to area. The Tanabata (七夕) festival is now celebrated on July 7 on either the Gregorian calendar or lunar one, depending on the area. This year, the lunar day falls on Aug.
What is traditional Tanabata food?
Other foods enjoyed during Tanabata are Takoyaki or “octopus balls.” They are fried dough balls encasing chunks of octopus. Another are Yakitori, grilled chicken skewers that are seasoned with salt or a sauce. There's also Okonomiyaki, savory pancakes with ingredients and toppings varying from region to region.
What do you eat on Tanabata?
Tanabata (Star Festival) food & SardinesTanabata-style Somen noodles (with 2 types of dipping sauce)Sardine wrapped pickled plum and cheese.Tataki Kyuri (smashed cucumber pickles)Tsumire-jiru (sardine meatball soup)Japanese sweets of the day and green tea.
What is the story behind Tanabata?
The Tanabata story tells of the annual reunion of two lovers in the Milky Way. Originally a Chinese legend it made its way to Japan long ago and is the inspiration behind the Japanese Tanabata Festival celebrated on July 7 (and August 7 in some areas). The characters in the story represent the stars Vega and Altair.
What Japanese holiday is July 7?
TanabataJuly 7th: 七夕 (Star Festival) Tanabata is known as the “Star Festival” and is typically held on July 7. It traces its roots to a Chinese legend where the star Altair and the star Vega, which are usually separated on opposite sides of the Milky Way, are allowed to come together on this day once a year.
What religion is Tanabata?
JapaneseThe weaver is celebrated in Tanabata, a Japanese festival....Tanabata Shrine.Tanabata-jinja 七夕神社The honden, or main shrineReligionAffiliationShintoDeityOrihime Himekoso-no-Kami7 more rows
Is Tanabata a bamboo?
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.
What is the story behind Tanabata?
The Tanabata story tells of the annual reunion of two lovers in the Milky Way. Originally a Chinese legend it made its way to Japan long ago and is the inspiration behind the Japanese Tanabata Festival celebrated on July 7 (and August 7 in some areas). The characters in the story represent the stars Vega and Altair.
What is Tanabata based on?
The festival of Tanabata is based on the legend of Orihime and Hikoboshi, represented by the stars Vega and Altair. The most popular form of the legend comes from the Chinese folklore “The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl”.
What is famous festival in Japan?
Gion Matsuri is perhaps Japan's best-known festival, and possibly the largest as well. It has a long history (dating back to the year 869) and lasts the entire month of July, culminating in a parade of floats — the Yamaboko Junko — on July 17th.
What do people in Japan do to celebrate?
Although technically not an official national holiday, Obon (sometimes just bon) is the most widely observed of Japanese festivals in the summer. Obon is a three-day celebration of ancestors' spirits that come home to rest. People visit shrines, temples, and family graves during Obon.
Where to celebrate Tanabata in Japan?
The Star Festival is celebrated throughout the country, and you will find events in every city.
When is Tanabata in Japan?
Some regions in Japan, especially in the north, still celebrate Tanabata during August, with a variable date set according to the lunar calendar.
What does the name Tanabata mean?
In an older writing, the characters 棚機 were used, meaning " weaving loom " ( tanabata) and were included in the name of the legend in Japanese, Tanabata-tsume.
What is the origin of Tanabata?
As many Japanese traditions, Tanabata blends several customs 🛂 of different origins: a Romeo and Juliet style legend, rituals passed down from China and the celebration of the deceased.
When is the Tanabata Star Festival?
Tanabata or Star Festival is celebrated on July 7 in Japan, and sometimes in August in the north of the country. On this day, people make a wish for the future. A blending of different stories, this festival is dedicated to the love of two stars separated by the Milky Way, and is the occasion to create fairy tale-like sceneries. Tanabata Star Festival is a must-see if traveling in Japan in early July.
When was Tanabata democratized?
Tanabata thereafter democratized in the 17th century and became the celebration we know today.
What does Tana mean?
Tana for tanatsu-mono (種物, "the one who owns seeds"), for the herdsman, who symbolizes agriculture, and,
When is Tanabata celebrated in Japan?
It’s widely celebrated all over Japan, typically on the seventh day of the seventh month (July 7) - although some regions observe Tanabata on August 7, depending on how they decided to interpret the old lunar calendar. Based on a story of star-crossed lovers, Tanabata is among Japan’s most vibrant traditional festivals .
When is Tanabata in Japan?
If you’re in Japan in July or August, you can attend Tanabata festivals all over the country. One of the biggest events takes place every year from August 6-8 in the city of Sendai, about a hour and 40 minutes’ journey from Tokyo. In celebration, dozens of handmade streamers are hung throughout the city from long bamboo poles.
What is the history of Tanabata?
The history of Tanabata goes back over 2,000 years, and is based on an old Chinese tale. There once was a weaver princess named Orihime, the daughter of the Sky King, and a cow herder prince named Hikoboshi. They lived peacefully and industriously beside the “heavenly river” of the Milky Way. After the two met each other and fell in love, they began neglecting their work: Orihime ceased weaving cloth, and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to wander all around the skies. This angered the king, so as punishment he separated the two lovers across the Milky Way.
What is the Japanese star festival?
Tanabata, or the Star Festival, involves a Japanese tradition in which people write their wishes on small, colorful strips of paper ( tanzaku) and hang them on the branches of a small decorative bamboo tree. It’s widely celebrated all over Japan, typically on the seventh day of the seventh month (July 7) - although some regions observe Tanabata on August 7, depending on how they decided to interpret the old lunar calendar. Based on a story of star-crossed lovers, Tanabata is among Japan’s most vibrant traditional festivals .
Where is the streamer festival in Tokyo?
An impressive fireworks display on August 5 marks the beginning of the festival. In Tokyo, people celebrate in the neighborhood of Asagaya with gigantic papier-mache sculptures of Hello Kitty, Disney and anime characters.
Why is Tanabata celebrated on August 7?
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 7 in some regions of Japan, while it is celebrated on July 7 in other regions. One popular Tanabata custom is to write one's wishes on a piece of paper, ...
What is the custom of a Tanabata?
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.
What is the name of the festival in Sendai?
Tanabata. Tanabata decoration in Sendai. Tanabata (七夕), 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. Tanabata tree at a railway station.
When is Tanabata in Japan?
Also known as the Star Festival, Japan’s Tanabata has its roots in the Chinese Qixi, or Double Seventh Festival. In Japan, it is usually celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month of the Gregorian calendar – July 7th – rather than the traditional lunar calendar.
Where is the largest Tanabata celebration in Japan?
The largest Tanabata celebration in Japan is in Sendai, where it is held each year in August, closer to the traditional date of Qixi. The city is filled with paper streamers, decorations, and handwritten wishes.
What is the double 7th festival?
The Double Seventh Festival was introduced to Japan during the Heian Period (794-1185), where the two lovers are known as Orihime and Hikoboshi. It was mixed up with traditional Obon festivities, since Obon was celebrated around the same time. On this day, people write their wishes on paper slips called tanzaku and tie them to bamboo. The wishes are sometimes burned or sent down the river. But the bright and colorful paper streamers are the most iconic symbol of Tanabata.
When was the Tanabata festival introduced?
The Double Seventh Festival was introduced to Japan during the Heian Period (794-1185) , where the two lovers are known as Orihime and Hikoboshi.
When was the Double Seventh Festival introduced?
The Double Seventh Festival was introduced to Japan during the Heian Period (794-1185), where the two lovers are known as Orihime and Hikoboshi. It was mixed up with traditional Obon festivities, since Obon was celebrated around the same time.
Why is Qixi celebrated?
This is because a third star representing a bridge appears between their constellations Altair and Vega. Historically, the love story between the two made this festival important ...
What is Tanabata?
Tanabata Matsuri, also known as the Star Festival, is one of dozens of summer festivals celebrated across Japan each year and is celebrated either on July 7th or August 7th. The history of Tanabata in Japan goes back over a thousand years to a Chinese legend.
How to Celebrate?
In Japan, Tanabata is celebrated by covering public and private areas with colorful decorations. One of the most common decorations is called Tanzaku, which are pieces of colored paper with written wishes on them.
How to Decorate?
To learn how to make some of the colorful decorations that fill homes and streets in Japan, follow the instructions on the PDF below. Like with any festival, have fun!
What is the Story of Tanabata?
It is based off the Chinese festival celebrating the legend of the cowherd and the weaver girl. This is a story of star crossed lovers. Literally. The cowherd is the star Altair and the weaver girl is the star Vega. In Japanese, their names are Hikoboshi and Orihime. In the legend, Orihime was a princess who was very skilled at weaving. One day she met Hikoboshi, and they fell in love. However, because she was so happy in love (so the legend goes, okay, don’t @ me about anti-feminist themes), she stopped weaving. Her father, the king, was upset so she separated the two lovers on either side of the Milky Way. Orihime was so grieved that her father allowed the two to meet for one day a year, with birds creating a bridge across the Milky Way. That day is the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar year. Obviously July 7 isn’t always the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, but it suer is easy to remember.
What is the holiday of July 7?
Happy Tanabata! Today is July 7, which is the holiday Tanabata , or Star Festival, in Japan. It is a holiday celebrating the old Chinese legend of the cowherd and the weaver girl. In Japan, people celebrate with summer street festivals and by hanging paper decorations onto bamboo trees. Outside of Japan, Tanabata festivals can be hard to come by. Keep reading to see how Japanese families, including my own, celebrate Tanabata in America and the UK!
Do people decorate for Tanabata?
While we don’t have Tanabata street festivals where I live, we do have paper! To decorate for tanabata, people often create colorful paper crafts to hang on a bamboo tree. I don’t have a bamboo tree, but I do have a very sad looking parlor palm that got burned by being too close to the window. I think parlor palms are pretty closely related to bamboo trees so… good enough.
How long has the Asagaya Tanabata Festival been going on?
The Asagaya Tanabata Festival has been going on for more than 60 years since 1954, and has been so popular that other festivals have supposedly been created in an attempt at competition. But the festival has evolved with the times in a fascinating way, taking advantage of the Japanese Tanabata tradition of large paper lanterns, and creating them in extremely modern forms. From anime and movie characters, to athletes, political figures, cute animals and more, visit the festival for a variety of interesting paper creations. If you're interested to see the slow change of the decorations from more traditional forms to the modern ones we see today, the festival's web page includes links to great galleries from past years' celebrations (although there have always been some unique ones!)
Where is Jishu Shrine?
The Jishu Shrine is a little Shinto shrine in the shade of the larger Buddhist Kiyomizudera Temple in Kyoto. But it has its own popularity and a strong following, since it's dedicated to the Shinto gods of love (and has been since before the formation of Japan itself)! Whether you're looking for love, hoping to maintain a strong relationship, or even trying to fend off a love rival, this shrine is set up to aid you in your attempts. During the shrine's Tanabata festival, you can write down your heart's desires on little paper dolls of Orihime and Hikoboshi, and hang them on the conveniently placed bamboo plants.
