Festival of the stars - Tanabata

Tanabata or 七夕(in Japanese) means the evening of the seventh when it takes place the the festival of the stars. It was originally inspired by the Chinese festival Qi Xi.

The Chinese folclore says that Orihime (織姫, Weaving Princess) the daughter of the Tentei (天帝, Sky King) wove beautiful clothes by the bank of the Milky Way (天の川 Amanogawa). She woved everyday very hard but she was sad because she could never meet anyone and fall in love. Her father Tentei, then, arranged a meeting with Hikoboshi (彦星, Cow Herder Star) who lived and worked on the other side of the Amanogawa River (Milky Way). When the two met, it was love at first sight and shortly afterwards they got married.

Once they got married, Orihime no longer would weave cloth for Tentei and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to stray all over Heaven.

So, in anger, her father separated the two lovers across the Amanogawa River and forbade them to meet. Orihime became so devasted with the separation that begged her father to allow them to meet, Teitei moved by Orihime’s tears allowed them to meet on the 7th day of the 7th month if she worked hard and finished her weaving.

If I could imagine Orihime, that would be her...Someone you can fell in love at first sight, someone whose movements are hipnotic and amazingly perfect. I took this picture of a Japanese woman who was wearing a quimono, during the festival! She was performing and was so kind to let me take a picture of her!

The stars took up the names of Orihime (Vega) and Hikoboshi (Altair) that are part the most visible stars in the summer, known as summer triangle.

Nowadays the most emblematic feature of this festival is the little paper wishes you write on a piece of paper and hang in the bamboo trees!This is a picture of one of them! The wish written on it says something like, "I wish for the health of everyone to allow them enjoyment, for happiness and for a good wedding". My wishes would be similar for health, happiness and freedom, although I end up not writting them...