Tanabata, or the Star Festival: How Japan and the World Celebrate the Meeting of Two Lovers on the Milky Way On July 7th, when the summer sky is particularly clear and the Milky Way is visible through the evening mist, a moment arrives in Japan that has been awaited for a whole year. This is Tanabata — a festival known as the Star Festival, a day when two stars, Vega and Altair, separated by the celestial river, finally have the right to meet. But Tanabata is not just an ancient legend. It is living traditions, bright decorations, paper scrolls with wishes, and a sincere belief that even the most distant dreams can come true if written on a colorful strip and hung on a bamboo shoot. And although this festival originated in China and flourished in Japan, today it has stepped far beyond the Land of the Rising Sun, finding a resonance in the hearts of people all over the world. The Legend of the Weaving Maiden and the Herdsman: a story older than a millennium The foundation of Tanabata lies in an ancient Chinese legend that over time has acquired its own Japanese face. Long ago, in the sky, there lived a beautiful Orihime, the daughter of the Heavenly Lord. She was an accomplished weaver and day by day created wonderful clothes for the gods. But her soul longed for love. One day she met Hikoboshi — a young shepherd who herded cows on the other side of the Milky Way. They fell in love, got married, and were so happy that they forgot about their heavenly duties. Orihime stopped weaving, and Hikoboshi — herding the cattle. Enraged by the Heavenly Lord, they were separated, forever divided by the Milky Way. However, moved by his daughter's tears, he allowed them to meet once a year — on the seventh day of the seventh month. Since then, on this night, if it does not rain, crows fold their wings to form a bridge over the celestial river, and the lovers are momentarily united as the stars Vega (Orihime) and Altair (Hikoboshi) shine brightly in the sky. From China to Japa ... Read more