July 25 – August 7, 2016
Tanabata and her lover meet on a bridge of magpies across the Celestial River. Image via https://lilliacerise.wordpress.com/2010/08/28/tanabata-festival/
Mt. Washington — At the height of summer, a blue-white sapphire of a star appears near the top of the sky in the east at dusk, soon followed by a pale citrine point of starlight below. By 9:15 p.m. a third, dimmer star completes one of the season’s great celestial patterns: the Summer Triangle. The stars – Vega, Altair and Deneb – are among the brightest distant suns visible with the naked eye. In Japanese lore, Vega is identified with the Sky King’s daughter Orihime, the Weaving Princess; and Altair with Hikoboshi, the Cow Herder. At nightfall, when darkness is complete, the Silver River (Milky Way) courses between them. The enchanting and heart-rending tale spun about Orihime and Hikoboshi is the basis for Tanabata, or Star Festival, that is celebrated on July 7 or August 7, depending on how the 7th day of the 7th month is determined in the various localities in Japan and in Japanese communities around the world.
Tanabata was inspired by an ancient Chinese folktale and evolved out of other Asian traditions. The legend holds that Orihime wove beautiful cloth for her father, Tentei the Sky King. Alone on the banks of the Amanogawa, the Silver River of stars, she was sad with longing. In sympathy, her father introduced her to Hikoboshi and the two fell deeply in love. When they neglected their work, Tentei forbade them to see each other. They were separated, one on either side of the Silver River. Orihime’s despair at the loss of Hikoboshi moved her father to permit them one meeting a year. A version of the legend holds that magpies form a bridge across the river of stars one day each year, making it possible for the two to be together.
I was introduced to Tanabata by my friend the artist Naoto Nakagawa in the following communication:
I grew up learning about Tanabata, where two lovers are united only for this day meeting on the Silver River in the sky. In Japanese tradition, we visit a temple to receive wish paper to write our love wishes, then attach them to branches on the temple’s designated trees or bring them home with their good luck wishes hanging on a bamboo stick. On Tanabata that wish will come true. Tanabata is one of the most celebrated holidays in Japanese culture. With other Japanese parents, I used to go to our son’s school to teach kids about Tanabata. —Naoto Nakagawa http://naotonakagawa.com/
Art by ayeru: http://ayeru.deviantart.com/art/Orihime-and-Hikoboshi-251844848
According to a compelling article on Wikipedia:
In 2008, the 34th G8 summit in Tōyako, Hokkaidō coincided with Tanabata.[11] As host, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda invited the G8 leaders to participate in the spirit of the festival. They were each asked to write a wish on a piece of paper called tanzaku, to hang the tanzaku on a bamboo tree, and then to take the necessary actions to change the world for the better.[12] As a symbolic gesture, the actual writing and the act of hanging up that note is at least a first step.[13]
….. Fukuda also invited his fellow citizens to try turning off the lights in their house and stepping outside to enjoy with their family the sight of the Milky Way in the night sky.[17] On 7 July, the Japanese Ministry of the Environment anticipated that over 70,000 facilities and households across Japan would switch off their lights from 20:00 to 22:00 [8 p.m. to 10 p.m.] as a symbolic step and as a wish for the future.
To bring back the Milky Way, which is lost to light and air pollution in most areas where there is human habitation, we need Tanabata festivals all over the Earth, times of celebration where the lights are turned down and eyes turned up to the sky.
Opportunities to participate:
July 29 – August 7 10 Day Dark Skies Star Party in Plainfield, Mass.: http://rocklandastronomy.com/ssp.html
International Dark Sky Association: http://darksky.org/
August 12 – 17 Urban Tanabata Festival in Los Angeles, Calif.: http://www.tanabatalosangeles.org/#!attend-the-festival/cjg9
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanabata
http://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/vega-brilliant-blue-white-is-third-brightest-star
Artist Naoto Nakagawa – http://naotonakagawa.com/
Teaching:
http://www.aboutjapan.japansociety.org/content.cfm/tanabata_japans_star_festival
http://kajapan.org/general/tanabata-star-festival/ and http://darksky.org/