Facts about Tanabata

1. 05

   Sendai hosts one of Japan's most famous Tanabata festivals each August, attracting millions of visitors with enormous hanging decorations called kazari.

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2. 04

   Colorful paper streamers and ornaments decorating Tanabata festivals are traditionally made in specific shapes, each carrying symbolic meaning such as good harvest or longevity.

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3. 03

   Derived from the Chinese Qixi festival, Tanabata's mythological origins trace back to a weaving princess and a cowherd separated by the Milky Way.

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4. 02

   In Japan, Tanabata is celebrated on July 7, when people write wishes on colorful strips of paper called tanzaku and hang them on bamboo branches.

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5. 01

   The Japanese star festival Tanabata celebrates the annual meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi, represented by the stars Vega and Altair.

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