Tanabata — wishes on paper

On July 7th, Japan celebrates Tanabata, the star festival. The story: two lovers — the weaver star Orihime (Vega) and the cowherd star Hikoboshi (Altair) — are separated by the Milky Way and allowed to meet only one night a year. To celebrate, people write wishes on colorful paper strips called tanzaku and hang them on bamboo branches. Streets and schools fill with rustling bamboo covered in thousands of hopes: passing exams, good health, meeting someone special. If it rains that night, legend says the two stars must wait another year — so everyone checks the sky on Tanabata evening.