[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!
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[Tanabata Quiz] 3-choice questions to enjoy trivia and fun facts (21–30)
What is the distance between Orihime and Hikoboshi?
- 4.4 light-years
- 14.4 light-years
- 44 light-years
See the answer
14.4 light-years
The two stars known as Orihime (Vega) and Hikoboshi (Altair), which are separated by the Milky Way, are about 14.4 light-years apart in actual space. Although from Earth they appear so close that they are indistinguishable to the naked eye, this distance is quite large on a cosmic scale.
What is the cloth woven by Orihime called?
- scarlet lacing
- clouds and brocade
- warp-patterned brocade
See the answer
clouds and brocade
In the Tanabata legend, the cloth woven by Orihime is called “un-kin,” and its beauty is said to ascend to the heavens. As intricate as clouds and vividly colored, this fabric is said to be used for garments and other items in the heavenly realm.
What is the Milky Way called in English?
- Sky River
- Milky Way
- Star River
See the answer
Milky Way
In English, 天の川 is expressed as “the Milky Way.” It’s curious, isn’t it? You might expect it to include “River,” since 天の川 literally means “river in the heavens.” In fact, in Greek mythology the Milky Way is said to be the milk of the goddess Hera. The story goes that Hercules latched on to her, and the milk that spilled when Hera awoke became the Milky Way.
What is the confection, introduced from China, that is said to be eaten on Tanabata?
- mooncake
- Sakubei (traditional twisted fried dough)
- Wife Cake
See the answer
Sakubei (traditional twisted fried dough)
Tanabata is said to be a custom that was brought from China during the Nara period. Along with that custom came a confection called sakubei. Sakubei is made by mixing wheat flour and rice flour, twisting the dough into thin strands, and deep-frying it. It is also said to be the prototype of somen noodles.
In which era was Tanabata a public holiday?
- Edo period
- Meiji era
- Taisho era
See the answer
Edo period
Tanabata, held on July 7, was designated in the Edo period as one of the shogunate’s official ceremonial days known as the Five Seasonal Festivals and was treated as a holiday. The reason Tanabata is not a holiday today is that the new Gregorian calendar was adopted in the Meiji period and the Five Seasonal Festivals were abolished.