Sunday, July 6, 2014

Star Festival (Ta-na-ba-ta, 七夕)☆☆☆

(posted; Japanese culture page)
Linking this post to Our World Tuesday;
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Let me post about this festival this year again ;-)  


July 7th is Star Festival  (link to the detail about the story) in Japan;
 Quote from the link about this romantic story
"Separated by the milky way, two star crossed lovers are only able to meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month based on the lunisolar calendar. The legend of Hikoboshi (the star known as Alter) and Orihime (the star known as Vega) has roots in China but has been associated with Japans Tanabata festival since the sixth century."



Traditionally, we write our wishes on strip of paper (tanzaku) and tie them to the bamboo branches. And people wish for improved technical skills and abilities in homage to the legend of Hikoboshi and Orihime. At school, children write their wishes on 'tanzaku' for school projects. This year, I will wish for all my blog friends' happiness.   (Reading my last years wish, I realized my father was still here with me)  former posts 
   And also wish to have a chance to speak English, no chance now(^^;)
   Do you have anything special to wish for the star?

*And for the extra*
Today I took my husband to the new cake shop where we can have light-meal for lunch. We can enjoy the live music performance there. It was raining hard and my pictures came out bad. But I was happy to see my husband seemed to have enjoyed the quiet atmosphere with music. 


Tomorrow will be rainy day as well. As it is the rainy season here, I remember that feeling so sad thinking the rain prevent the two lovers from crossing the milky way and seeing again p;)

Wishing you all will have a star-bright day; 
Thank you very much for visiting today's long post.

23 comments:

  1. ¸.•°♪♬
    A história do festival é encantadora.
    Os jardins do restaurante, um sonho!...

    Boa semana!
    Beijinhos do Brasil.
    ¸.•°♪♬♫º°

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  2. Hello Miyako! I love the tradition of the Star Festival and the wishes..It sounds romantic..I wish much happiness for you and my blogging friends also.. The garden is lovely and looks like a nice place for lunch! Wishing you a happy day and week ahead!

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  3. Dearest Miyako,
    I almost made it in July 2007 to be there on this day; only 2 days short! It strikes you when reading last year's wish when your dear Father was still with us... It only teaches us how time can change everything.
    You made a very sweet wish and most of the time I too wish for peace and harmony for friends and family.
    Sending you hugs,
    Mariette

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  4. Happy Tanabata, Miyako san! There must be many tanzaku displays around you. I remember writing wishes on tanzaku when I was in elementary school :-)
    The cake shop looks lovely! Sorry it was raining but photos of garden are beautiful. Seems like rainy season is not over yet.

    Have a great new week, Miyako san!

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  5. what a sweet legend. i love tying wishes to trees, too. :) thank you for wishing for our happiness, dear miyako. i would love to be able to converse with you. :)

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  6. I have done this too! Lovely post.

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  7. Dear Miyako,
    What a beautiful tradition - this is maybe the origins of 'wishing upon a star'! I wish you all good things! xo Karen

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  8. Dear Miyako
    Your Star Festival is a lovely romantic tradition.Thank you for your good wishes and I also wish you all the very best.

    I was in your beautiful country in July of 1970, but did not know of this legend then, but would have written that I wished to return one day.:)

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  9. How nice to sit in the restaurant looking at the beautiful garden in the rain while listening to music and eating cake! It sounds wonderful to me.
    I like the story and the tradition of the Star Festival, and wish you happy days ahead.

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  10. What a sweet tradition that is! Thank you for the well-wishes...I wish the same for you. :) Hope you have a great week!

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  11. Happy late birthday to your husband. It looks like you took him to a nice relaxing place for lunch. I do like the tradition of writing wishes on strips of paper. My wish, good health for me and my loved ones. Have a great week!

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  12. Such a lovely tradition and beautiful legend this is indeed, Miyako! Thank you for sharing it with us today!! Sending good wishes to you and hoping you have a beautiful week!!

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  13. Wonderful tradition.Thank you for sharing it with us.

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  14. Always fascinating traditions you post and glad you and your husband had fun at the cake shop despite the rain ~ Great photos and wishing you and your husband a happy, healthy and loving year ~ thanks,

    artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)

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  15. I love all your posts always and they are never too long. Especially when you teach me so much about your Country's rich culture. I love this story ... Even though it is so sad.

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  16. Dear Miyako san!
    Koto shi no Tanabata wa at school children write their Tanzaku for school projectss and your blog friends happiness you are very happy with Otosan.
    Have a nice day!
    Michiko

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  17. take care. i read that a strong typhoon/storm is headed your way. be careful.

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  18. Interesting tradition..enjoyed your post..Thanks for sharing!

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  19. What a beautiful story about the lovers and indeed quite sad. Glad you and your husband enjoyed your meal at the cake shop

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  20. Such a sad and romantic story!

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  21. Thank you for your good wishes. What a sad story.

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  22. Thank you for keeping me up to date with all your traditions - I will be happy our Japanese guests arrive soon so I can talk to them about the Star Festival.
    Have a great week!
    Wren x

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  23. The star Festival..what a lovely and romantic story and tradition!!
    my wish..one day we could meet in person!
    your photos came out beautifully...i love rain and the color of the sky when it rains.
    what a lovely place to enjoy a meal..looks like a wonderful view out the windows!
    xoxo

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