at tanabata, worshipful hearts are all as one;

[stressweets]

WHO: Anyone ♪
WHERE: The shrines over at Recollé's worship corner; Koyama Shrine and Tojimi Temple are the some of the largest, but the more modest-sized areas have activities too, so don't stress too much over particulars
WHEN: July 6th - July 8th
WHAT: Tanabata ☆
WARNINGS: None! Let me know if anything comes up so I can adjust accordingly though, of course.

the threads of prayers are all our own, each and every one!

( entertainment )

Tanabata is always a big deal, and this year is no different: with people decorating the likes of Chata and Tribunal Terrace proper, those working at the shrines have decided to make their area as appealing as possible. There's plenty of brightly colored decorations and large bamboo trees to hang wishes at—not to mention the amount of food available. Vendors hawk their wares in loud, cheerful voices, competing with each other among the bustle of activity; there's festival staples like okonomiyaki, takoyaki, yakitori... along with sushi and sashimi of various kinds, sake, and a lot of fried foods. For the health-conscious and vegetarian, grilled vegetables and marinated tofu, among other treats, are present too... Basically, it's a smorgasbord. As for games, there's goldfish scooping, yo-yo fishing, watermelon splitting, and a special kendama competition to see who can get the most hits. The prizes for these range from coupons to various places around the city, to stuffed animals, and so on and so forth. There are your typical shooting games too, and places to buy masks, fans, and toys if you can't manage to win them yourself. One more thing: the shrines/temples each sell their own different charms. While their usage may be the same (good fortune in general, in love, in academics, and so on and so forth), each has their own design. Pick up one or several to bless the second half of your year, and toss in a few coins as an offering if you decide to pray as well just to make certain things go smoothly (and to support your community). This is also where you can rent a yukata or kimono, if you're in need of one of them... though yukata is probably the better option, given the heat.

( upon a bridge of magpie wings )

Those wishing to purchase tanzaku to write their wishes on can find several stalls offering them closer by the bamboo trees—there's also a helpful chart explaining the significance of other decorations hanging around, and visitors who feel their fingers are nimble enough are even invited to try their hand at a little bit of origami to make their own ornaments. The papers offered here are as varied in color as they are in pattern, so pick your favorite and make a wish! If you need a quiet moment, there are gardens available to rest in; at night, these are lit up by lanterns and make for a lovely date spot. There's also the option of traveling through a tunnel decorated to look like the Milky Way itself—though if you decide to go alone, the shrine workers will giggle and say that whoever you meet beneath its glittering lights is your soulmate. But that's just superstition. The area is dimly-lit and nice enough to hang around in, so don't give it too much thought. Sparklers begin being sold around evening too, and on the seventh, stalls will begin closing early to prepare for the fireworks that show later that night. They're not the same as those featured on the Fourth of July—instead, they're in the shape of phoenixes and dragons of different colors, along with starmine-type arrangements, and some that resemble the ornaments decorating the festival.

( afterwards )

As the festival dies down, those that can manage to stay up will be invited to watch the bamboo tree burning. Wishes go up in flames, both as a way to clean-up and for them to reach the Heavens as soon as possible. This continues into the 8th as well, as do most of the stalls, so for those that couldn't attend on the 6th or 7th there's still things to do. But largely, it's a day of rest and cleaning the area. Stroll through the gardens and the Milky Way tunnel at your leisure, now that the crowds have settled, and write some last-minute wishes before the rest of the trees are burned.