The Unveiled Truth In Darkness

Special Chapter: Tanabata Festival

The Tanabata Festival is also called the Star Festival that is celebrated in Japan on the 7th day of July when 2 star crossed lovers Orihime-san and Hikoboshi-san reunited at the Heavenly Bridge Amanogawa.

Orihime, the Weaving Princess, was so skilled in weaving clothes along the bank of the Heavenly River Amanogawa, the garments she crafted were beautiful and fine like no other. Her father, the Sky King Tentei, loved wearing the clothes his daughter made.

Because of her father's fondness for her garments, Orihime worked hard to weave new and wonderful things day in, day out. While she enjoyed seeing her father happy, she also felt rather sad and lonely - focusing on her weaving, she'd never be able to meet someone and ultimately fall in love.

Her father noticed Orihime's sadness and arranged her to meet Hikoboshi, the Cow Herder that worked on the other side of the Heavenly River. The two of them fell in love the second as they laid their eyes upon each other. They didn't hesitate for long and became married shortly after. Living their life as a happy couple, Orihime neglected her weaving, and Hikoboshi let his cows roam free all over Heaven.

The Sky King was angered by the neglect of the couple's duties, separated them, and ultimately forbade them to meet. Orihime, on one side of the Heavenly River, was heartbroken, as her beloved was out of reach, on the other side of the river. She turned to her father in desperation, pleading him to let her meet her beloved Hikoboshi.

The Sky King couldn't help but notice Orihime's unhappiness and allowed her to see Hikoboshi on the 7th day of the 7th month. When the day of their meeting finally came, Orihime and Hikoboshi realized that there was no bridge across the Heavenly River - and by that, it would be impossible for them to meet.

Devastated, Orihime broke down and cried bitter tears. Her anguish was so great, a flock of magpies heard her crying and built a bridge with their wings, allowing Orihime to cross the river and see Hikoboshi. The birds also made a promise: they would come back on every 7th day of the 7th month to reunite the lovers.

Orihime represents the stellar formation of Vega, while Hikoboshi stands for Altair. You might have already guessed it, but the Heavenly River is none other than the Milky Way. The intersection of those two stars first gave birth to the lore that then created Tanabata Festival. The characters for Tanabata literally mean "Evening of the Seventh", a direct referral to the 7th day of the 7th month mentioned in the lore.

The annual reunion of the star-crossed lovers is celebrated in rather big fashion. The mortal population uses the happy event not only to praise the two stars but also send their very own wishes towards the heavens.

One of the most famous customs of Tanabata Festival is the writing of said wishes on small strips of paper called tanzaku, which are then pinned or hanged on bamboo decorations. The many wishes, along with their bamboo hosts, are then often set afloat on a river or burned after the festival.

This is a direct link to O-Bon, where instead of wishes, paper boats are set afloat. This link is not a coincidence, as the festivals of Tanabata and O-Bon used to be very close to each other, if not overlap, in the old Japanese lunisolar calendar. They became separate events as the Gregorian calendar was adapted and the dates for the festivals shifted.

Apart from the bamboo decorations, paper plays a major role when it comes to decorating one's home or the streets of a city. Big, colorful streamers made from paper are installed wherever Tanabata is celebrated.

People also decorate their homes with smaller, handcrafted paper ornaments. These papers decorations are called nanatsu kazari and, as the name indicates, there exist seven different types, each with its own specific meaning.