Tanabata is the Weaver Star Festival, which occurs on July 7.
The Chinese legend, which has it that Altair(the Cowherd Star) and Vega(the Weaver Star)
were split apart by the two banks of the River of Heaven(the Milky Way) and come together
once a year on this night, has aligned with Japanese belief. Originally a festival carried out
among the Court nobility, it has since the Edo Period(1603-1867) become established among
the people at large. On the night of the 6th, people write their wishes or poems on strips of
poetry paper in various color. And hung them on leafy bamboo; then on the night of the 7th,
they are put out in the garden. These are attractive enough to be called summer Christmas trees.
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