Festival Of Stars (Tanabata)

Hi guys! In today's post I will talk about a Festival which is released very very very old! However it's pretty cool too, and is still practiced!

Tanabata Matsuri or simply Tanabata (known also with the Star Festival) is a celebration of Japanese origin that occurs on the seventh night of the seventh month of the year.

The Legend that led to the celebration

A Japanese legend tells the origin of the Tanabata festival:
Long ago, according to an ancient legend, lived close to the Milky Way a beautiful princess named Orihime the "Princess Weaver".
One day Tentey the "Heavenly Lord," the girl's father, made him a handsome boy, "Pastor Cattle" Hikoboshi, believing it to be the perfect match for her.
The two fell in love scathingly. Since then, both of their lives revolved only around the beautiful novel, leaving aside their daily tasks and obligations.
Outraged by the lack of young couple responsibility, Orihime's father decided to separate the two, forcing them to live on opposite sides of the Milky Way.
The separation brought much suffering and sorrow for Orihime. Feeling the grief of his daughter, his father decided to allow the young couple met, but only once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, provided they satisfied their order to meet all the requests coming Earth today .

In Japanese mythology, this couple is represented by stars on opposite sides of the galaxy, which are really only seen together once a year: Vega (Orihime) and Altair (Kengyu).

The celebration

The festival that celebrates this love story began in Japan's imperial court for about 1150 years, and there became a national holiday in 1603.
Currently the Tanabata is one of the most popular parties of Japan. It is held in several cities, the most traditional is the Miyagi, which takes place in August, taking advantage of the summer vacation of Japanese schools.
in Brazil
In Brazil the first Tanabata festival was held in the city of Assam in doParaná State in 1978.


Festival Of Stars 

With the name "Festival of the Stars", the Tanabata Matsuri is held in the city of São Paulo, at Praça da Liberdade, in July since 1979.
This is the main annual commemoration of the neighborhood, included in the State Tourist Calendar and the city of São Paulo:
• the square the streets are decorated with large branches of bamboo decorated by colorful paper ornaments that symbolize the stars;
• tanzaku, small pieces of paper where people put their applications, are hung these bamboos;

• are also conducted performances of Taiko drums, folk dancing and singing shows.

Official dates by the lunar calendar

The original Tanabata date is based on the Japanese lunisolar calendar, which is a month later than the Gregorian calendar. Thus, some festivals are held on the 7th of July and other in the day close to August 7, while others continue celebrating the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar traditional Japanese calendar, which is usually in August in the Gregorian calendar.

Interesting right? I hope you enjoyed, and not forget to practice next year! Hugs.


By: Natasha