昨日、静岡県を含む東海地方の
Tanabata is a traditional Japanese festival held every year on July 7th. It is based on an old Chinese legend about two lovers, Orihime (the weaving princess) and Hikoboshi (the cowherd), who are separated by the Milky Way and allowed to meet only once a year on this day. This romantic story is well known and loved in Japan.
On Tanabata, people write their wishes on colorful strips of paper called tanzaku and hang them on bamboo branches. The wishes are usually personal, such as "I hope to do well in my studies" or "I wish for my family to stay healthy." Schools, local communities, and shopping streets often create large displays with bamboo and paper decorations.
Tanabata is a beautiful custom that encourages people to look up at the summer night sky and make a wish upon the stars. In some regions, the festival is celebrated in August, and the Sendai Tanabata Festival is especially famous, attracting many tourists. For Japanese people, Tanabata is a meaningful event that combines hope, tradition, and the feeling of the season.
七夕（たなばた）は、日本で毎年7月7日に行われる伝統的なお祭りで、中国から伝わった「織姫と彦星」の伝説がもとになっています。天の川をはさんで離れ離れになった恋人同士の二人が、年に一度だけ会える日とされ、そのロマンチックな物語が広く親しまれています。
この日、日本では人々が色とりどりの短冊に願い事を書いて、竹の枝に飾ります。願いごとは「勉強がうまくいきますように」「家族が健康でいられますように」など、個人的なものが多いです。学校や地域、商店街などでも七夕飾りが作られ、笹や紙飾りで華やかに彩られます。
七夕は、夏の夜空を見上げて星に願いを込める、美しい風習です。地域によっては8月に行われることもあり、仙台の七夕祭りなどは特に有名で、多くの観光客が訪れます。日本人にとって、願いを込めて季節を感じる大切な行事の一つです。
