[For Seniors] Tanabata Trivia Quiz: Simple and Fun

Always visible

The Milky Way is actually a cluster of stars that appears in the night sky all year round. If the weather is clear and the sky is dark, you can see it regardless of the season. However, it’s said to be more clearly visible on summer nights because it appears higher in the sky. That’s why Tanabata is associated with the Milky Way.

Edo period

The answer is the Edo period. Tanabata originally came from China, and in the past people wished for improvement in weaving and calligraphy. In the Edo period, ordinary people also began writing their wishes on tanzaku paper strips, and the custom of Tanabata in its current form spread. Writing wishes on tanzaku is a long-standing Japanese tradition.

Anywhere is fine

You can place it anywhere. There’s no strict rule about where to put the Tanabata bamboo decorations. It’s fine to display them wherever you like—inside your home, by the entrance, on the balcony, or in the garden. What matters most is enjoying the tradition while making your wishes. Attach your wish slips to the bamboo and let them flutter in the breeze to celebrate the Tanabata spirit.

Because two people stopped working

Orihime and Hikoboshi were originally very hard workers. Orihime wove fabric, and Hikoboshi tended cattle, but after they married, the two spent all their time playing and stopped working. Seeing this, the god of heaven grew angry and separated them to opposite banks of the Milky Way. He then promised, “If you work diligently, I will allow you to meet just once a year.”

weaving

Orihime was the daughter of the heavenly god and worked as a weaver. She was very diligent and known for weaving beautiful cloth. This weaving work is also connected to the origin of Tanabata, and the word “Tanabata” itself comes from the act of weaving.

magpie

Because there is no bridge over the Milky Way, they must cross the river to meet. That’s where the bird called the “magpie” comes in. The magpies are said to spread their wings to form a bridge across the Milky Way, helping Orihime and Hikoboshi meet.