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Tanabata

24th July 2021, Hanspaulka park (around Růžák playground, between Na Hanspaulce and Šárecká streets), 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Tanabata is a holiday that has been celebrated in Japan since the middle of the 8th century. Traditionally, this holiday is held on the seventh day of the seventh month, when the stars Vega and Altair (representing Princess Orihime and the cowherd boy Hikoboshi) approach each other. One of the most popular versions of the story states that Orihime, the daughter of the celestial king Tantei, woven beautiful clothes from the Amanogawa River (literally the celestial river, figuratively the Milky Way). Tantei adored this fabric and Orihime woved every day to please father. But she was sad, because she didn’t have time to fall in love baceuse of all of the work. Her father arranged her to meet Hikoboshi, who was grazing cows on the other side of Amanogawa. They immediately fell in love, but soon after the wedding Orihime stopped weaving and Hikoboshi let the cows run all over the sky, which angered the heavenly king, separated the lovers across the Milky Way and forbade them to see each other. Orihime eventually managed to soften her father so that they could meet at least once a year. However, when they met for the first time they found that they were unable to cross the celestial river, but magpies appeared and formed a bridge from their wings that Orihime could cross and finally meet Hikoboshi. It is said that if it rains on July 7, Orihime cries because the magpies could not arrive and the lovers have to wait for the meeting until next year.

Nowadays, the Japanese celebrate Tanabata by writing a wish on colored “tanzaku” papers, which they hang on bamboo branches, sometimes with other paper decorations, and at the end of the festival they are thrown into the river. Depending on your wishes, you will also choose a color:
° red indicates family and ancestors, it is the color of decision
° blue or green signifies habits and courtesy, it is the color of calm and trust
° Yellow represents friendship and relationships in general, it is the color of success
° White represents responsibility and duty, it is the color of improving relationships
° Black or purple represents education and knowledge, it is the color of strength and desire

In the park you will be able to sit and enjoy the delicacies by the Japanese restaurant Miyabi, sweets by Japonska domaci cukrarna and summer heat will be better with vegan ice cream from Imaginary Ice Cream.
Take the whole family with you, we prepare interesting activities around the park, not only for children.
We also offer calligraphy workshop (including tanzaku), folding origami, creating a haiku poetry or summer kimono dressing – yukatas. Do you have your own kimono? Come and show off and tcompete for the Ms./Mrs./Mr. Yukata 2021 title!
As a souvenir, you will be able to buy small items from My Amazing Japan or publications from the Czech-Japanese Association. There will also be an genuine Japanese flea market!

There will be a program on the stage:

10:00 Opening of the festival Tanabata 2021
10:30 Yosakoi dance
11:00 Jan Benesh: Tameshigiri
11:30 Kenya Satoh: shamisen
12:20 Veronika Richterova: presentation of the book Japan in details
12:45 Pavel Balvin: Iaido
13:30 Kyogen Theathre: Delicious poison Busu
14:30 Compilation Ms. / Mrs. / Mr. Yukata 2021
15:00 ending of the festival Tanabata 2021

Due to the fact that the event is in the open air, it will not be possible to take place in bad weather. Program change and specific offer of individual sites reserved. We also ask you to get to the place mainly by public transport or on your own, the park is located in a residential area and there is not enough parking space in its vicinity.

Where to find us?

In accordance with current government regulations, we ask all visitors to be able to provide one of the following documents upon request:
° Certificate of completed vaccination against COVID 19, from which at least 14 days have elapsed.
° or Document by which you are able to prove that you have suffered from COVID 19. The period of 180 days from the first positive PCR test is now recognized.
° or Confirmation of the current negative test result. For PCR tests, confirmation is valid for 1 week, for antigen tests 72 hours.
Disinfection will be available at the venue and please keep a safe distance.

We look forward to seeing you!

The event is supported by the City of Prague and the City District of Prague 6, and the Embassy of Japan in the Czech Republic has taken over the honorary patronage of the event. The event is also supported by the Prague Botanical Garden, the bambusy.cz bamboo garden, the Miyabi Japanese restaurant, Imaginary Ice Cream, the Japonská domácí cukrárna, My Amazing Japan and Dobrá čajovna. The event can also be realized thanks to the support of the Katsura restaurant, Nippon PGM, Prague Estate, TRCZ, Furukawa Electric, Kajima, Amcon and others. Thank you for all the kind support!