The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FESTIVAL: THE JAPANESE STAR FESTIVAL

ALTHOUGH SOMEWHAT SAD IN THEM, THE STAR FESTIVAL IS OBSERVED IN A
SPIRIT OF JOY. (CHECK THE LEGEND FOR THE STAR FESTIVAL, UNDER
LEGENDS.) ON JULY 7, OR AUGUST 7, SUPPLICATIONS ARE MADE TO THE
WEAVER PRINCESS BY THOSE WHO WISH TO IMPROVE THEIR WEAVING AND
SEWING, AS WELL AS THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE GENTLE ARTS: MUSIC,
POETRY, CALLIGRAPHY, ETC. OF WHICH THE PRINCESS LATER BECAME THE
PATRON. AT THE SAME TIME, FARMERS PETITION THE HERDBOY STAR FOR
A BUMPER HARVEST.
CHARACTERISTIC OF THE STAR FESTIVAL, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY A
CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL, ARE BAMBOO TREES SET UP IN FRONT OF THE
HOUSES OR BEFORE GARDEN SHRINES, ON WHOSE BRANCHES ARE HUNG LOVE
POEMS WRITTEN ON CARDS, ALSO PAPERS CUT IN THE SHAPE OF KIMINO,
5 COLOR THREADS, PAPER BALLOONS, ETC. ALSO OFFERED TO THE SPIRITS
OF THE TWO ROMANTIC STARS ARE ASSORTED FRUITS, VEGETABLES, CAKES,
AND CANDY.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS WRITTEN IN A LETTER FROM THE INFORMANT WHEN SHE WAS
TELLING ME ABOUT ONE OF THE JAPANESE FESTIVALS. FOR THE
LEGEND, SEE B455.

Data entry tech comment: TANABATA-MATSURI, FEAST OF TANABATA, JULY 7. SPICER, DOROTHY,
BOOK OF FESTIVALS, P. 199.

Where learned: JAPAN ; NAGANO