Tanabata in Japan 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

Tanabata, also known as the Star Festival, is annually observed on July 7. This date was chosen based on a Chinese legend, not by coincidence. According to this legend, the two stars Altair and Vega, which are normally separated by the Milky Way, can meet on the seventh day of the seventh month.

In some regions of Japan, Tanabata is still observed on August 7 because, according to the previously employed lunar calendar, the seventh month of the year roughly coincides with August and not July. On this day, festivities are conducted across Japan. Decorations are placed on houses and trains, and desires are written on paper.

The background of Tanabata

Tanabata is one of the five traditional seasonal Japanese celebrations that originated in China and was first observed by the ancient Japanese imperial court. The Star Festival concentrates on the Lyra and Aquila constellation stars Vega and Altair, respectively. The festival commemorates the annual meeting of Orihime (Vega), the star of the weaver and patron of silk farming, and Hikoboshi (Altair), the star of the shepherd and agricultural messenger, according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

According to a folktale, Orihime, a gifted weaver, and Hikoboshi, a hardworking cowherd, neglected their responsibilities after getting married. The couple offended the bride’s father, the heavenly emperor Tentei, and were exiled to separate parts of the Milky Way. They are permitted to meet annually on July 7 if they fulfil their celestial obligations on other days of the year.

In the year 755 A.D., the festival was instituted in Japan by Empress Koken. It derives from the “Festival to Require Skills,” an alternative term for Qixi celebrated in China and adopted by the Imperial Palace of Kyoto since the Heian period. At the start of the Edo period, the festival acquired widespread popularity among the general populace. Girls typically wished for better sewing and craftsmanship, while males wished for better handwriting by writing their wishes on strips of paper. These customs varied from region to region. During this time, it was common practise to use the dew left on the tarot card leaves to produce the ink used for writing wishes.

Tell the Truth Day in U.S. 2023: Date, History, Facts about Honesty

World Chocolate Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

Alice Springs Show Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

TANABATA ACTIVITIES

Make a desire

On this day, wishes are traditionally written on long, narrow strips of coloured paper called tanzaku and then suspended from trees. Do not pass up this chance, because your desires may be granted!

Attend the celebrations

You can appreciate the festival by admiring the exquisitely decorated retail street and donning a yukata (summer kimono). Snacks are also available at culinary kiosks.

Embellish the area

The Star Festival is characterised by decorating homes and public spaces such as retail malls, train stations, and other locations. On bamboo branches, you can suspend colourful paper, vibrant ornaments, and other ornaments.

5 Japanese cultural facts that will blow your mind

In contrast to many other nations, it is not uncommon to approach and claim a table by yourself in restaurants throughout the country.

In the seventh century, Buddhist laws prohibited the consumption of flesh but made an exception for birds and fish.

Sitting beneath the cherry blossoms is another tradition that dates back centuries.

It is common for commuters to read manga (a type of comic) on their phones or while standing, flicking through the latest available stories.

How many times and how profoundly you bow indicates the level of respect you have for the person you are addressing.

TANABATA DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	July 7	Friday
2024	July 7	Sunday
2025	July 7	Monday
2026	July 7	Tuesday
2027	July 7	Wednesday