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Tanabata Facts and Worksheets

Tanabata, which translates as "Evening of the Seventh," is a Japanese festival commemorating the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi, who were represented by the stars Vega and Altair, respectively.

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Tanabata, which translates as “Evening of the Seventh,” is a Japanese festival commemorating the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi, who were represented by the stars Vega and Altair, respectively. According to legend, the date of its celebration was usually July 7 of the Gregorian calendar because it was the day when lovers separated by the Milky Way were allowed to meet. It evolved from China’s Qixi festival and is celebrated on various days between July and August, depending on the region of the country.

See the fact file below for more information on the Tanabata Festival or alternatively download our comprehensive worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

History

  • In 755, Empress Koken first introduced it to Japan, originating from the Chinese Qixi Festival, which is also known as The Festival to Plead for Skills.
  • By the early Edo period, a period in the history of Japan between 1603 to 1867, it gained widespread popularity among the public when it was mixed with Bon traditions and developed into what is now the Tanabata festival.
  • The most common custom related to the festival is girls wishing for better sewing and craftsmanship while boys were wishing for better handwriting by writing their wishes on strips of paper.
  • Its name was derived from how the Japanese read the Chinese character 七夕, which was originally read as “Shichiseki.”
  • Qixi is not the only festival celebrated in Japan; Korea and Vietnam also have their own versions. The Imperial Court of Kyoto adopted Tanabata during the Heian Period (8th-12th centuries), the first time Kyoto served as Japan’s capital.

Legend

  • Orihime, a weaving princess and daughter of the Tentei or Sky King wove beautiful clothes by the bank of the Amanogawa, which represented the Milky Way.
  • Her father adored her weavings so she worked so hard each day. But she was saddened by the time she was supposed to spend meeting and falling in love with someone rather than weaving.
  • Tentei arranged a meeting for her and Hikoboshi, a Cowherd Star who lived and worked on the other side of the Amanogawa.
  • The two instantly fell in love with each other the moment they first met and married shortly thereafter. However, their marriage hindered them from doing what they were doing before.
  • While the cows roamed Heaven, Orihime stopped weaving clothes for her father. Tentei angrily separated them and forbade them from meeting across the Amanogawa.
  • Orihime begged her father to let them meet again, and Tentei was moved to tears, agreeing to let them meet on the seventh day of the seventh month if she worked hard.
  • When the time came for them to meet again, they were unable to do so because there was no bridge across the river. She cried so hard that a swarm of magpies appeared and offered to let her use their wings as a bridge.
  • It is stated that if it rains on Tanabata, the magpies will be unable to arrive due to the rising of the river, and Orihime and Hikoboshi will have to wait one more year.
  • Tanabata-jinja, a Shinto shrine dedicated to Orihime, was built in Ogori, Fukuoka prefecture, Japan.

Celebration

  • The date of celebration differs because some regions follow the Japanese lunisolar calendar while others follow the Gregorian calendar, which is one month apart. As a result, some festivals were held on July 7, while others were held around August 7.
  • People wrote their wishes on small pieces of paper and hung them on bamboo. These were frequently set afloat on a river or burned after the festival, either at midnight or the next day.
  • The majority of Tanabata customs were based on local Bon traditions.

Festivals

  • Large-scale festivals are held throughout Japan, primarily along shopping malls and streets that are decorated with large and colorful streamers.
  • The most well-known festival takes place in Sendai from August 6 to 8, while two of the largest festivals take place in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa (July 7), and Asagaya, Tokyo (by mid-August).
  • A festival is also held outside of Japan, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on the first weekend of July, and in Los Angeles, California, on the first weekend of August.
  • Most festivals include decoration competitions, parades, and other contests, though this varies by region.

Sendai Tanabata Festival (Miyagi, August ６-8)

  • The Sendai Tanabata Festival has been held since the reign of the area’s first warlord, Date Masamuna (1567-1636).
  • Its popularity began after the Meiji Restoration and nearly vanished during the Great Depression that followed World War I, but it was revived by volunteers in Sendai in 1928, making it a tradition to be celebrated from August 6 to 8.
  • Very few decorations were visible in the city during World War II because the war made it impossible to celebrate the festival. Following the war, the first major Sendai Tanabata festival was held in 1946, with approximately 52 decorations.
  • The following year, Showa Emperor Hirohito paid a visit to the festival, which featured 5,000 decorations.
  • With the progress of time, the festival was divided into three summer festivals in the Tohoku region, eventually becoming a major tourist attraction with a fireworks display on August 5.

Asagaya Tanabata Festival (Tokyo, early August)

  • Asagaya is a very local area in Tokyo, making it an interesting place to visit. It’s entertaining to walk around the slightly retro shopping area and watch locals do their business.
  • When Tanabata arrives, many decorations appear around the shopping area, and there are food stalls and a lively atmosphere in the evening.

Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival (Kanagawa, July 8-10)

  • The largest Tanabata festival outside of Tokyo erupts in the early evenings of three consecutive days in early July on the north side of Hiratsuka station.
  • There are approximately 500 colorful streamers and a large dance parade. There are also around 400 food stalls selling traditional Japanese summer foods, so if you want to try things like kakigori and yakisoba, this is a great place to do so.
  • It is located close to Chigasaki Beach, allowing to combine a festival visit with a day at the beach.

Kyo no Tanabata Festival (Kyoto, August)

  • The Tanabata festival is held in Kyoto along the banks of the Hori and Kamo rivers. It takes place in the evening, and one of the main draws are the fairytale-like illuminations.
  • There is also projection mapping art and a yukata fashion show, making this a very enjoyable festival to attend.

2008 Tanabata Festival

  • Tanabata 2008 was held in conjunction with the 34th G8 summit in Toyako, Hokkaido.
  • The G8 summit is primarily a gathering of world political leaders, but it has evolved into a forum for non-governmental organizations to discuss a variety of issues.
  • The summit’s political leaders were invited to the festival by the host, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, and were each asked to write a wish on tanzaku, which was later hung on a bamboo tree.
  • During the summit, colored strips of paper and a bamboo tree were made available in Roppongi for G8 wishes.
  • Organizations protesting in Sapporo during the summit also took part in the festival with various wishes, and some non-governmental organizations set up an online wish petition campaign.
  • Fukuda also invited his fellow Japanese to turn off their lights and gaze up at the Milky Way in the night sky. The Japanese Ministry of the Environment reported on July 7 that over 70,000 facilities and households in Japan had turned off their lights.

Tanabata Worksheets

This bundle contains 11 ready-to-use Tanabata Worksheets that are perfect for students who want to learn more about Tanabata, which translates as “Evening of the Seventh,” is a Japanese festival commemorating the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi, who were represented by the stars Vega and Altair, respectively.

List of Worksheets Included

  • Tanabata Facts
  • The Stars of Altair and Vega
  • Japanese Culture
  • Spirit of Sevens
  • Imperial Palace
  • Mapping Japan
  • Tanabata Song
  • Japanese Mythology
  • Gosekku
  • Let’s Celebrate!
  • Tanzaku

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tanabata known for?

The Tanabata festival, also known as the Star Festival, celebrates the meeting of Vega and Altair – represented by the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi respectively. Originating from China’s Qixi festival, this popular event is now celebrated in Japan every year.

How old is Tanabata?

Tanabata has a long and storied history, dating back more than 2,000 years. The holiday is based on an old Chinese tale about two lovers: a weaver princess named Orihime and a cow herder prince named Hikoboshi.

What is the story behind Tanabata?

The Tanabata story is about the annual reunion of two lovers in the Milky Way. Originally a Chinese legend, it made its way to Japan long ago and inspired the Japanese Tanabata Festival, which is celebrated on July 7 (and August 7 in some areas). The characters in the story represent the stars Vega and Altair.

Why do Japanese people celebrate Tanabata?

Tanabata, which translates as “Evening of the Seventh,” is a Japanese festival commemorating the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi, who were represented by the stars Vega and Altair, respectively.

What religion is Tanabata?

Tanabata-jinja, a Shinto shrine dedicated to Orihime, was built in Ogori, Fukuoka prefecture, Japan.

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Link will appear as Tanabata Facts and Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, June 26, 2022

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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