Summer is such a fun exciting time in Japan filled with all sorts of summer festivals. One of my favorites is "Tanabata" which is loosely based on a Chinese folk story about the star princess and prince Orihime(Vega) and Hikoboshi(Altair).
Orihime is a weaver who lives with her father Emperor Tentei and Hikoboshi is a herder. The two live on opposite sides of the milkyway. The two meet and fall in love but then spend so much time together that they fall behind on their weaving and herding. The Emperor Tentei becomes very angry at this and separates the two lovers so that they can only meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month of the year. The Japanese celebrate the union of the lovers by putting a bamboo tree in their garden and hang papers with their own wishes on them in hopes they will come true.
There are often "matsuri" which are festivals in which everyone dresses up in their summer kimonos, or yukatas, and have bon dances. Many times this includes food and games stands.
I've always enjoyed this festival because it is such a romantic story that a whole country celebrates and is not turned into a hallmark type hoopla like Valentine's Day.
Happy Tanabata!
Words for today:
Summer Kimono - Yukata(you-kah-tah)
Star- Hoshi(hoe-shee)
Bamboo - Take(tah-keh)
Festival - Matsuri(mah-tzuri)
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