Tanabata: Japanese Star Festival
7th of July is Tanabata・七夕 which is one of the seasonal celebrations in Japan and also called star festival. In the northern hemisphere, during this time of the year, you can see three big stars in a beautiful milky way. Towards this day, people make and place decorations on a bamboo tree and write a wish on a long piece of paper to hang on the branch. Bamboo tree is believed to have spiritual power for the wish to be heard. This custom began in Edo period (1603-1868) when ma