[Tanabata Quiz] Three-choice questions to enjoy trivia and fun facts
Tanabata is a festival where a romantic story unfolds about Orihime and Hikoboshi, who can meet only once a year on a special night.
It’s also cherished as a traditional celebration, with a bittersweet yet heartwarming tale passed down through generations.
Some of you may want to delve deeper into the romantically tinged atmosphere of Tanabata.
In this article, we’ve compiled a quiz themed around the history and trivia of Tanabata.
We’ll present many questions that teach fun facts, such as why we write wishes on tanzaku strips and decorate bamboo.
Give these quizzes a try to make your Tanabata festivities even more enjoyable!
- Surprisingly unknown? Trivia Quiz [Multiple Choice: 3 Options]
- Collection of trivia and fun facts about stars shining in the night sky
- Fun facts about the Moon. A rapid-fire quiz!
- Become a trivia master with a multiple-choice quiz for elementary schoolers! A fun problem collection that captivates both kids and adults
- Trivia and fun facts about July, including tidbits about Tanabata.
- [For Elementary School Kids] A New Year’s Quiz Everyone Can Enjoy! Learn surprising fun facts with multiple-choice questions
- A three-choice quiz of useful trivia: a collection of questions you can use in everyday life
- Make your summer festival even more fun! Trivia quizzes and fun facts for kids
- Space trivia quiz: Multiple-choice questions about the planets of the solar system and astronauts
- [Challenging] General Knowledge Quiz Compilation: Difficult and Interesting Multiple-Choice Questions (3 Options)
- Enjoy summer festivals even more! Trivia quiz & fun facts collection
- February trivia quiz: three-choice questions on seasonal fun facts like Setsubun and Valentine’s Day
- A multiple-choice quiz with three options for upper elementary students. Fun questions that build thinking skills.
[Tanabata Quiz] 3-Choice Questions to Enjoy Fun Facts and Trivia (1–10)
What do you call the rain that falls on Tanabata?
- Love Rain
- Love Rain
- tears-inducing rain (literally “tear-evoking rain”; often used poetically for rain that seems to bring tears or is associated with sorrow)
See the answer
tears-inducing rain (literally “tear-evoking rain”; often used poetically for rain that seems to bring tears or is associated with sorrow)
The rain that falls on Tanabata is called “tear-bringing rain.” This expression depicts Orihime and Hikoboshi weeping in sorrow when they cannot reach each other on their once-a-year rendezvous. It is said that their tears become the falling rain, giving the scene a poetic atmosphere.
What is the origin of the name Tanabata?
- Intersection of the Stars
- A night when wishes come true
- A machine that weaves the gods’ kimono
See the answer
A machine that weaves the gods’ kimono
It is because the machine used to weave the gods’ garments was called tanabata (棚機), and the women who did the weaving were called tanabatatsume (棚機女). There is also a theory that the festival is called Tanabata because the event was held every year on the evening of July 7.
What is the third star of the Summer Triangle along with Deneb and Vega?
- Aldebaran
- Altair
- Rigel
See the answer
Altair
The final corner that forms the Summer Triangle is Altair. Altair is the alpha star of Aquila and is one of the stars that appears very bright in the summer night sky. The Weaver Star is Vega in the constellation Lyra, and the Cowherd Star, Hikoboshi, refers to Altair in the constellation Aquila.
What festive food is eaten on Tanabata?
- ohagi (sweet rice balls coated with red bean paste)
- Chirashi sushi
- somen (thin Japanese wheat noodles)
See the answer
somen (thin Japanese wheat noodles)
The traditional food said to be eaten on Tanabata is somen noodles. This custom is believed to originate from likening the slender shape of somen to the image of Orihime weaving at her loom. In addition, somen is popular as a summer festive dish because its delicate, smooth texture makes it easy to eat during the coming hot season.
Why do we decorate bamboo branches for Tanabata?
- Because it inherits ancient Chinese customs
- Because it was used for Shinto rituals.
- Because bamboo leaves were believed to have the power to ward off illness.
See the answer
Because it was used for Shinto rituals.
The custom of decorating with bamboo grass during Tanabata originates from its use in Shinto rituals. Because bamboo leaves grow in a way that keeps them from moving, they came to be seen as symbols of purification that ward off impurity, and were used to sanctify sacred spaces. On the night of Tanabata, people began attaching paper strips and ornaments to bamboo leaves with wishes that Orihime and Hikoboshi would safely cross the Milky Way to meet, and that people’s own wishes would be conveyed.