Tanabata, The Star Festival

Tanabata, the Star Festival, is one of five seasonal festivals that has been celebrated in Japan since the 8th century. Each summer in Japan, people prepare for the festival by writing their wishes on narrow strips of paper called tanzaku and hanging them with other origami paper ornaments on bamboo branches displayed at the entrance to their homes and public places. Guests attending Portland Japanese GardenÕs Tanabata celebration will be invited to the Yanai Classroom to write their own wishes on tanzaku. Volunteers will be present to assist guests with hanging their tanzaku on the bamboo in the Crumpacker Bamboo Allee, adding to the colorful display. The festival will also feature music from Takohachi featuring storytelling of the Tanabata story.