Tanabata Festival

Festival Location: All Areas, Japan

Festival Type(s): Cultural Festivals , Traditional Festivals

Festival Video: Tanabata Festival

Tanabata Festival

by © Linda Gillis 2008

If you love romance this is the festival for you! On the seventh night of the seventh moon, or July 7th, Tanabata is celebrated. Tanabata is also known as the Star Festival or the Festival of the Star-Crossed Lovers. First celebrated in 755, this festival as well as many others began with a popular legend.

The legend is based on a tale about Princess Shokujo, the weaving girl, and her father, the Celestial Emperor Tentei. They lived on the east bank of the Heavenly River also known as the Milky Way. The princess had to weave cloth for the many gods in her father's mansion. The story goes on to say that she worked dutifully at her assigned task for many years and once she reached maturity her father chose a herdsman named Kengyu the "Ox Puller" who ruled west of the river, to be her groom.

Shokujo and Kengyu were introduced, fell in love and were married. However, their honeymoon lasted so long that they both neglected to perform their duties. Kengyu's oxen became thin and weak. The gods were angry because Shokujo was not weaving cloth for them. Emperor Tentei decided to punish the young couple and condemned them to be separated by the river, only allowing them to meet one night every year. The river dividing their kingdoms was very deep and swift. There was no bridge so the couple relied on magpies to flock together on this night to form a path so Shokujo could walk over to meet her husband. Today, the legend says that Shokujo is Vega, the Princess Star, and Kengyu is Altair, the Prince Star. One time each year these two stars cross paths, hence, they've become known as the star-crossed lovers.

The belief that Vega and Altair cross paths only once a year is very appealing to young Japanese girls, they eagerly pray during Tanabata for the success of their own love and also pray that the weather will be fair. If it rains the Milky Way will become flooded and the two stars will not be able to meet for another year. Rain on the evening of Tanabata is considered bad luck for couples.

Even though Tanabata is celebrated on the mainland, Okinawans celebrate somewhat differently. On the mainland, the festival includes an evening ceremony to float candles down streams and rivers. The flames represent the stars and the water represents the Heavenly River that separates them.

On Okinawa children and adults write Japanese love poems on brightly colored strips of paper. Other strips of paper along with bright decorations represent wishes for success, wealth, love and health. The decorations traditionally come in red, yellow, green white and black paper. The poems and decorations are hung on bamboo trees or branches and are offered to the stars along with prayers.

One of the most colorful displays celebrating this festival can be found at the Ichibangai Mall, also known as Sunset Mall on Gate 2 or Airport Street in Okinawa City near Kadena Air Base. The display usually lasts several days. The mall vendors sell souvenirs as well as some very tasty treats. Don't be afraid to try them!

by Linda Gillis

Tanabata Festival Dates and Location

Tanabata Festival is celebrated on the seventh night of the seventh moon, or July 7th on Okinawa and the Japanese mainland.

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Tanabata Festival Video

A walk around the colourful Tanabata Festival held annually on July 7th accross Japan. This traditional celebration sees locals write their wishes on tanzaku paper and hang them on bamboo branches outside their homes. In the cities the most common Tanabata decorations are the colorful streamers as seen in this video. These streamers are said to symbolize the weaving of threads.