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Tanabata (七夕) is the
Japanese name for the originally
Chinese star festival (see
Qi Qiao Jie). 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.
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