Rather than offer a lecture on Tanabata, the Star Festival, the Japan Society in New York decided to stage a play on July 12 at 2pm.
Here's the program:
Tanabata legends (Hikoboshi and Orihime) in an interactive setting with
songs and dance by performers from Theatre Arts Japan-KIDS-. Afterward, participants will make paper ornaments and their own traditional tanzaku, thin paper strips for writing wishes and to hang on bamboo branches.
Recommended for children ages 3-10 and accompanying adults.
Tickets:
$15 per family (up to five people), $10 per family, including at least one Japan Society member.
Space is limited. Advanced ticket purchase is highly recommended.
If like me (until today) you never heard of the 'Star Festival' here's what Wikipedia has to say about it:
"Tanabata (七夕 tanabata, meaning "Evening of the seventh") is a Japanese star festival, derived from the Chinese star festival, Qi Xi (七夕 "The Night of Sevens")．
It celebrates the meeting of Orihime (Vega) and Hikoboshi (Altair). The Milky Way,
a river made from stars that crosses the sky, separates these lovers,
and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the
seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar. The celebration is held at night, once the stars come out."
In related news, from July 6 through 10, 2009, the Consulate-General of Japan in Houston presents the Tanabata Festival through origami, wish-cards, and traditional decorations in the atrium of The Shops at Houston Center.
Muza-Chan (a Romanian expat in Japan) in Customs and traditions of Japan – Travel impressions from last years Tanabata (July 6, 2009) gives us her take on the event.
I took the liberty to borrow one of Muza-chan's photos from her piece (above) taken at the Asakusa Shrine as an illustration.
Tradition and culture on the menu of Tokyo Thursdays # 95
Previously: Anime Expo 09 opens in Los Angeles, Covers all Trends from Shojo to Seinen