Tanabata Matsuri, “Stars Festival”

Is a Japonese celebration, happens on the seventh night on the seventh month of year. Origins are from an ancient legend about meeting of two stars, Altair Katsujiro, a pastor, and Vega Shokujo, a young, represented two lovers separated by the Milky Way. According to this story, these lovers can only get together once a year.

Tanabata is currently one of the largest festivals in Japan. During this day is typical write a wish or a poem on a piece of colored paper and hang it in a bamboo grove. Also on that day the Japanese usually give a ring gift for their girlfriends. The night after the party, bamboo sticks, with their offerings, are thrown into the river.

(Leonardo Silva)