Tanabata Festival

On July Seventh we celebrate the Tanabata Festival. The festival itself originated from China and was inspired by the famous Chinese folklore, The Princess and The Cowherd. Children at kindergarten and schools will write a wish on a piece of paper which will then be hung onto a bamboo tree - a typical decoration for Tanabata.

Source: Wikipedia, Tanabata - The Story of The Princess and The Cowherd

Orihime (the Weaving Princess), daughter of the Tentei (Sky King or King of Universe), wove beautiful clothes by the bank of the Amanogawa (Milky Way, believed to be the "heavenly river"). Her father loved the cloth that she wove and so she worked very hard every day to weave it.

However, Orihime was sad that because of her hard work, she could never meet and fall in love with anyone. Concerned about his daughter, Tentei arranged for her to meet with Hikoboshi (Cow Herder Star), who lived and worked on the other side of the Amanogawa. When the two met, they fell instantly in love with each other. Enjoying each other's company, Orihime no longer was keen in working hard, while Hikoboshi let his cows to stray all over Heaven. In anger, Tentei separated the two lovers across the Amanogawa and forbade them to meet. At the loss of her lover, Orihime asked her father to let them meet again. Tentei was moved by his daughter's tears and allowed the two to meet on the Seventh of July, only if Orihime worked hard and finished her weaving. The first time they tried to meet, however, they found that they could not cross the river because there was no bridge. Orihime cried so much that a flock of magpies came and promised to make a bridge with their wings so that she could cross the river.

It is said that if it rains on Tanabata, the magpies can not come and the two lovers must wait until another year to meet.

2009 today on Tanabata's day, it is sunny and windy, a lovely summer .... children in Japan are so happy to know that Orihime and Hikoboshi can meet tonight (:

The city of Sendai celebrates Tanabata Festival in a very big way, and for many years this celebration has attracted local and international visitors. The celebration does not take place in July but August - this is mainly to accommodate local visitors, attracting family with children who are on holidays during summer.

Japanese site:

http://www.city.sendai.jp/soumu/kouhou/tanabata/

I also recommend JNTO (Japan National Tourism Organization), an English website, for more information about Japan:

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/history/traditionalevents/a45_fes_tanabata.html

Chinese New Year - OX

About one fourth of the world celebrates the Lunar New Year of Ox.   A quick tour around the world looking at the celebration of Chinese New Year:

NEW YORK

Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival in Chatham Square on Monday, January 26, 2009.  

Lunar New Year parade on February 1, 2009, starting noon from Canal Street South, winding throughout Mott, Canal and Bayard st. and along East Broadway.

LOS ANGELES

The 110th Annual Golden Dragon Parade on January 31, from 2pm-4pm along Broadway and Hill Streets, involving over 100 floats, bands, marching bands in various costumes with Chinatown roots.

MOSCOW

Chinese people gathered at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year on January 18th 2009 with the Chinese Ambassador pledging to further promote China-Russia ties.    Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a day for family reunion and traditional celebrations for those Chinese in Russia. 

HONG KONG

Chinese New Year Parade on January 26th 2009, from 8pm to 9:30pm, where spectators can buy seats for $180 - $400 if they can sit and watch the celebration at the HK Cultural Centre

JAPAN

Nagasaki Shinchi Chukagai has Lantern Festival from 26th January to 9th February.  

Yokohama Yamashita-cho Park has Dragon Parade 26th January from 16:00 and Traditional Dance & Other Cultural Performances on January 27th, 28th and 31st at 14:00 and 15:40

AUSTRALIA

Sydney celebrates with the Dragon Parade on January 23rd, from 6pm to 8pm at Belmore Park.   Also a Chinese New Year Twilight  Parade on February 1st, at Town Hall followed by fireworks at Cockle Bay.   From January 23 to January 25 there will be Chinese New Year Markets at Belmore Park as well.