Special: Tanabata Festival for the Weavers (Japanese Festival, Starry☆Sky)

Is there someone special you want to meet on this day this year?

Depending on your location, the 7th day of the 7th month is celebrated in Japan as Tanabata (七夕, “Evening of the seventh”). The festival celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime (織姫, Weaving Princess) and Hikoboshi (彦星, Cow Herder Star). They are represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively.

According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar. The date of Tanabata varies by region, festivities beginning on July 7 of the Gregorian calendar.

This legend actually originated from China. “The Festival to Plead for Skills” (乞巧奠, Kikkōden), an alternative name for Qixi (Chinese name for Tanabata) was celebrated in China and the festival was imported to Japan. More information at wiki.

Since Starry Sky is about stars and constellations, Honeybee made a special Tanabata site and it will be up for a limited period (ends 14 July 2011). See the grown-up versions of the boys and their little notes about the festival.

Check it out: http://www.honeybee-cd.com/starrysky/tanabata2011/index.html

There’s also some activity on each boy’s Twitter account too where they posted their wishes ^^