*Ø* Happy Tanabata!
Tanabata Star Festival (Hoshi Matsuri; Weaving Loom Festival; Festival of the Seven Evenings) Japan
[Tanabata may be translated as ‘weaving with the loom (bata) placed on the shelf (tana)’.]
Tanabata is a nationwide celebration, featuring very large festivals, with streets decorated with lanterns, festooned bamboo and colourful streamers.
Tanabata, inspired by a romantic legend, is the name for Japanese version of the Chinese star festival (Qi Qiao Jie, sometimes called Chinese Valentine’s Day, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the Chinese calendar and thus is also known as ‘Double Seven Day’). On this day two stars (Vega, in the Lyra constellation, and Altair, in the in the Aquila constellation) that are usually separated from each other by the Milky Way, come together.
The festival celebrates the meeting of Orihime (personifying the star Vega), a skilful weaver, and Hikoboshi, or Kengyu (Altair), a herdsman and breeder of cattle, mythological lovers who were separated by the Milky Way, a river made from stars that crosses the sky. They were allowed to meet only once a year, on Double Seven Day, which the Japanese have placed at 7/7 in the Gregorian Calendar, namely, July 7.
At this time of year, Lyra and Aquila are prominent in the evening sky with their major stars, Vega and Altair, separated by the Milky Way. The seventh day of the lunar month has a waxing crescent moon reaching its first quarter, representing the boat piloted by the boatman on the sacred river of the Milky Way.
The romantic myth of Orihime and Hikoboshi
There was once a beautiful Princess of Heaven named Orihime, daughter of the Emperor of Heaven (or the Jade Emperor in the Chinese tradition). Orihime loved to weave all day at her loom, creating the cloth of stars worn by her honoured father. For many year, weaving this wondrous fabric was all that her heart desired.
One day, a peasant boy named Hikoboshi passed by, leading an ox from star to star. When Orihime and Hikoboshi’s eyes met, loved suddenly filled both their hearts and from that moment on, Orihime cared no more for her weaving ...
This is just a snippet of today's stories. Read all about today in folklore, historical oddities, inspiration and alternatives, with more links, at the Wilson's Almanac Book of Days, every day. Click today's date when you're there.
Tanabata Star Festival (Hoshi Matsuri; Weaving Loom Festival; Festival of the Seven Evenings) Japan
[Tanabata may be translated as ‘weaving with the loom (bata) placed on the shelf (tana)’.]
Tanabata is a nationwide celebration, featuring very large festivals, with streets decorated with lanterns, festooned bamboo and colourful streamers.
Tanabata, inspired by a romantic legend, is the name for Japanese version of the Chinese star festival (Qi Qiao Jie, sometimes called Chinese Valentine’s Day, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the Chinese calendar and thus is also known as ‘Double Seven Day’). On this day two stars (Vega, in the Lyra constellation, and Altair, in the in the Aquila constellation) that are usually separated from each other by the Milky Way, come together.
The festival celebrates the meeting of Orihime (personifying the star Vega), a skilful weaver, and Hikoboshi, or Kengyu (Altair), a herdsman and breeder of cattle, mythological lovers who were separated by the Milky Way, a river made from stars that crosses the sky. They were allowed to meet only once a year, on Double Seven Day, which the Japanese have placed at 7/7 in the Gregorian Calendar, namely, July 7.
At this time of year, Lyra and Aquila are prominent in the evening sky with their major stars, Vega and Altair, separated by the Milky Way. The seventh day of the lunar month has a waxing crescent moon reaching its first quarter, representing the boat piloted by the boatman on the sacred river of the Milky Way.
The romantic myth of Orihime and Hikoboshi
There was once a beautiful Princess of Heaven named Orihime, daughter of the Emperor of Heaven (or the Jade Emperor in the Chinese tradition). Orihime loved to weave all day at her loom, creating the cloth of stars worn by her honoured father. For many year, weaving this wondrous fabric was all that her heart desired.
One day, a peasant boy named Hikoboshi passed by, leading an ox from star to star. When Orihime and Hikoboshi’s eyes met, loved suddenly filled both their hearts and from that moment on, Orihime cared no more for her weaving ...
This is just a snippet of today's stories. Read all about today in folklore, historical oddities, inspiration and alternatives, with more links, at the Wilson's Almanac Book of Days, every day. Click today's date when you're there.
Pip Wilson posted item above at 3:50 PM | Permalink
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