Today (7/7) is Tanabata, a festival known in several places including Japan and Okinawa. It is originally a Chinese festival and known by various English names, such as the Star Festival, or the Starcrossed Festival, and appears not only in anime (most obvious example being Orihime, from the Bleach series) but in video games like Animal Crossing: New Leaf as well. As it’s a popular summer festival, you can also find many illustrations of the story and photos of the festival.
But what is it?
Legend goes, when the stars were people living in the heavens, the Weaver (Vega) and the Herder (Altair) fell in love. They were separated by the Milky Way, though, and so the Weaver begged her royal father for the Herder to come live with her. The father gave permission, but soon after the wedding, the Weaver and the Herder neglected their duties and the heavenly court fell into disarray. The father then separated the Weaver and the Herder again, sending the Herder across the river, and only allowed them one meeting each year if the weather was right.
Tanabata, or the ‘seventh evening’, is the seventh day of the seventh month, where the Weaver and the Herder are able to meet again.
It’s a festival of wishes and trust and love. Even though it came from China, and the dates have been changed (originally the seventh month/seventh day reckoning was using the lunar calendar), it’s still capturing the imaginations of people today.