Today is Tanabata or the Star Festival. This festival is based on a Chinese legend in which Hikoboshi (Altair), a herdsman fell in love with Orihime (Vega), a weaver princess. Since they were from different status classes, their love was not approved of. Orihime's father split the two of them apart and sent each to the extreme ends of the Milky Way. It is said that only on the 7th of the 7th month can they meet.
In Japan, children write their wishes on colorful strips of paper which are then hung from the branches of bamboo trees. This festival is elaborately celebrated every year Sendai.
This is a photo that I took when we visited an outer island of Okinawa called Iriomote. This was a sunset taken from the hotel that we were staying at called, Niraikanai.
Happy Friday!
8 comments:
Aww...I love reading about these types of myths and legends. At the end I even felt like writing down my own wishes and hanging them up, but I don't have a bambu tree! I didn't even realize that today is 7/7. I feel like I should be getting some good news or something!
I'm with Rowena as I love finding out about myths and legends. Lovely photo btw :)
j
I am like Rowena, I love to read about those kinds of legends and myths. Very nice!
Thanks Rowena, Jasmine & Bea,
I hope your wishes come true!!
Take care and thanks for stopping by!
Kat
Hi Kat - thank you for telling us about tanabata - I've actually tried to tell my husband about it, but my english was so bad that he just thought I was talking nonsense! The picture of iriomote is absolutely beautiful, I'd love to visit there some time... (did you see 'the cat'?) Good luck with the climbing mt fuji, I'm sure you'll make it and look forward to hearing about it :) Hope you're having a wonderful time with your family and friends.
Hi Keiko,
I'm glad I was able to explain Tanabata for you :) I've never seen the Iriomote cat, but have heard it looks kind of spooky.
Take care and thanks for your well wishes!
Kat
Heehee...we're gonna hang 2 wishes each on the 3 fruit trees in the yard. I know...overkill, but this is too cute to resist.
The comments are wacky, so I'm copying what I published (7/7/2010)
Rowena: Heehee...we're gonna hang 2 wishes each on the 3 fruit trees in the yard. I know...overkill, but this is too cute to resist.
@Rowena, I hope your wishes come true!
Take care.
Kat
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