Tanabata

Tanabata (七夕) is the Japanese name for the originally Chinese star festival. Held on July 7 the festival celebrates the meeting of Orihime[?] (Vega) and Hikoboshi[?] (Altair). The Milky Way, a river made from stars that crosses the sky, separated these two lovers, and they were allowed to meet only once a year. This special day is the 7th of July.

People in Japan celebrate this day by wearing yukata and decorating the bamboo leaves. They write their wishes on the tanzaku[?] and hang them on the leaves. It is said that the Orihime and Hikoboshi would make their dreams come true. Having been decorated, the bamboo tree is thrown into a river.