The Village of Wellington is observing the Japanese holiday of Tanabata in July. Tanabata, also known as the Star Festival, means “evening of the seventh” and originated as a Chinese legend before making its way to Japan and becoming the inspiration behind the Japanese Tanabata Festival.
The festival traces its origins to the legend of two star-crossed lovers, the Cowherd Star (Altair) and the Weaver Star (Vega), who are separated by the Milky Way and allowed to meet just once per year, on the seventh day of the seventh month.
Tanabata is celebrated by writing wishes on colorful strips of paper called Tanzaku and attaching them to bamboo branches, or “Wish Trees,” in the hope that they will come true.
Between Tuesday, July 1 and Monday, July 7, the Village of Wellington invites the community to stop by the Wellington Community Center, Wellington Village Hall or Village Park to hang a Tanzaku on one of the bamboo “Wish Trees” on display. Village Hall and the Wellington Community Center will be closed for Independence Day on Friday, July 4.
For more information, visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/tanabata.
