2010 July - Tanabata

On Saturday, July 10th 2010, we were invited over to the Japanese annual Tanabata celebration at a friend's house. A reason for me to research what this is all about and what to carry along as a gift for the hosts. I hope my research below is correct, and I'd ask Genpo Doering (the father of my daugter's best friend) to correct it where necessary and to put his two cents in. So here I go:

The princess, the cattle herdsman and the summer triangle

This story stems from Japan. It's about the cattke herdsman Hikoboshi and Orihime, the daughter of the heavens god Tentei. Hikoboshi herd his cows and Orihime was busily weaving material for the gods clothes. Tentei became the matchmaker of Orihime and Hikoboshi, to spoil his daughter with a little distraction. But you know how it is with young people... out of love they completely forgot about work. There was no material anymore and the cows were running around everywhere. So Tentei banished both to opposite sides of the big heavens river Amanogawa. That wasn't exactly of help - because now they both were too sad to work properly. And that is why both of them are allowed to meet once a year, on the 7th day of the 7th month each year, from then on. Unfortunately there wasn't a bridge over the Amanogawa. When they wanted to meet for the first time it didn't work out and Orihime cried so much, that a big swarm of magpies rushed by and promised to build a bridge with their wings. They would do so from now on into the future every year - but just if it wouldn't rain that day.

Look up into the nightly sky in July: the bright star up left is Orihime; better known as Vega. Below in the middle, the bright star Altair can be found, in the constellation of the Eagle: Hikoboshi. Both are separated through the Milky Way - the big river Amanogawa. Between both you see the bridge of magpies: the dark clouds of the northern coal sack. Together with the bright star far left in the middle - Deneb - Vega and Altair build the famous summer triangle. In August it's at the zenith of summer - right at the time, when Tanabata celebrations were usually celebrated (and in some cities like e.g. Sendai still are).

With celebrations nowadays one isn't interested in astronomy that much anymore. One writes ones wishes on little sheets of paper, which are hung up everywhere with lots of other decoration. There are parades and decorating competitions, eating and drinking and altogether a lot of good mood ;)

(C) Florian Freistetter - researched via Google

Well, from my point of view it reads a little bit like Romeo & Juliet in Japanese, don't you agree?

As a gift of the guests to the Japanese hosts they suggest to give sweets. And the other two things slipped my mind now... :(

In case the invitation for us parents still stands and in case my health tags along as well as my agenda permits, I'm very curious to experience this celebration, which my daughter is totally excited about. I will report then.

And now... feel free to correct my information anytime! Thank you.

Johnny asked me about the details, so that's why I translated them for my fellow native English speakers, and the details can be found below the photos of my Tanabata album... Please go, have a look! And I'd eagerly expect your comments on them. Thank you.