Make a wish for the Star Festival, Tanabata! Write your wish on a strip of colored paper, or tanzaku, and tie it to a branch of the Tanabata bamboo to celebrate at the Morikami Museum, located at 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach. All the people of Japan celebrated the story of Tanabata and its festival. It was during this period that the tradition of writing wishes on tanzaku, brightly colored pieces of paper, and hanging them from branches of bamboo became part of the celebration.

July brings Tanabata, one of Japan’s most well-known festivals. People recognize the pieces of paper with wishes hanging from a bamboo tree. But do you know why this “star festival” is celebrated? The tale of Tanabata and this summer tradition comes from the myth of two star-crossed lovers.

The main character of the story of Tanabata. She was a weaver who made beautiful pieces of cloth by the heavenly river, the Milky Way. She spent most of her time weaving and became incredibly sad and felt that she would never find love. Her father, who was a god of the heavens, knew of a good young man who lived just across the Milky Way. He was a cow herder.

They met and the two fell in love instantly. Their love for each other was so deep that they abandoned their duties. The gods became truly angry and prohibited the two lovers to be together. However, her father permitted her to meet up with her love on the seventh day of the seventh month if she did her duties. If it rained, then the wish must wait until the following year.

The festival begins at 10:00 am on July 1, 2, and 3, 2022. This activity is for people of all ages and is especially enjoyed by children making wishes on the colorful paper.