Tanabata

[snapes_mistress]

Today is Tanabata, or "Star Festival." One of my lessons for the past month, which I prolly taught about a thousand times, involved me reading a passage about Tanabata and the kids taking notes. So, from memory, here is the story of Tanabata, as written by the bigwigs at my company:

July 3rd is the Star Festival in Japan. The festival is from an old Chinese story, where two lovers can only meet once a year. For the Star Festival, people decorate special bamboo branches with beautiful pieces of paper. On the paper, they write their wishes for the future.

Ha ha ha. Anyway, an NPO where Liam teaches (and where I occasionally taught when I was at my old job) had a little Tanabata festival for the kids. We stopped by to check it out.

Here are what the bamboo branches look like. I love Tanabata trees. So colorful and cute.


















There were some snakes you could touch... This pic is awful, and hilarious. I love snakes!

























Watermelons for "suica wari," a game where you wear a blindfold and try to smash the melons with a big stick.




Pony rides for the kids. I reeeeally wanted a go... :(




Right after I took this, the damn thing sprayed snot all over me. D:





There was also typical festival fare: fried chicken, yakisoba (grilled noodles,) takoyaki (deep fried octopus in dough balls,) and my favorite: wata ame (cotton candy!) Unfortunately for me, the cotton candy was DIY, and the kids were having so much fun, I didn't have the heart to butt in and get some. :( Oh well. Ota Summer Festival is in two weeks, so I'll be gorging on cotton candy there. :D

Comments

[mapetitemort.livejournal.com]

I must admit I'm kind of disappointed those weren't square watermelons... Also, the scenery is just lovely, really makes me want to reach out and touch my screen.

[snapes-mistress.livejournal.com]

Ha ha! I actually haven't seen any square ones yet...

[heartshurt.livejournal.com]

It looks so pretty and colorful ♥

[re1enzyme.livejournal.com]

Looks like a neat festival!

[elixxir.livejournal.com]

OMG Tanabata trees are so so awesome! Love these pix! :)

[ebeda.livejournal.com]

I love these pictures! The tanabata trees are so colorful and pretty. It looks like you guys had an awesome time. :')

[ireneadler.livejournal.com]

Interesting - I always heard Tanabata was July 7th! That's when it was celebrated at a big festival in Hiratsuka, in Kanagawa. I went twice, once in yukata with a bunch of friends. Such fun! I'm a bit sad to not be in Japan for the festival this year.

[snapes-mistress.livejournal.com]

Oh snap, you're right, it IS the 7th... ha ha. Oops.

[rumours78.livejournal.com]

Awesome pics, looks like fun. :)