Every country, every culture, every period in time has their “star 💫 crossed” lovers tale. We grew up on the story of Romeo and Juliet and it’s multiple and varied tellings.

“Star-crossed” or “star-crossed lovers” is when two people are not able to be together for some reason. The term also has other meanings, but originally means that the pairing is being “thwarted by a malign star” or that the stars are working against the relationship. Wikipedia

Like the well known Romeo and Juliet or the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone, Japan has its own tale of forlorn love.

Based on the Chinese legend the story eventually migrated to Japan and became part of the cultural tapestry. The Japanese Tanabata Festival celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively) who according to legend are separated by the Milky Way and only allowed to meet once a year on the 7th of July (the 7th day of the 7th lunar month).

Starting around the last week in June you’ll start to see bamboo trees and bright colored pieces of paper around town. Grocery stores, malls. If your kids attend school in town the schools will have a real bamboo wishing tree and will probably send home a paper version or a slip of paper to make your wish upon.

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It is said that the two lovers can only meet if the sky is clear and that’s when your wishes come true! So those celebrating wish for clear skies 🌌 both for themselves and for the two lovers!!

So find a tree and pick one of the five colors, each has a specific meaning and write your wish on the tanzaku! Hang it on the wishing tree and keep an eye on the forecast for the 7th day of this month!!