たなばた

"Tanabata" - Japanese folk song

Origin: Japan (日本)

Trivia: the song "Tanabata" shares the same name of a popular Japanese holiday. Tanabata is a legend about two stars who are only able to meet one another once a year on July 7. People celebrate with writing a wish on colorful strips of paper (called tanzaku) and tying it on bamboo branches. Popular wishes in Japanese culture include: wishing for elder family members to have longevity, for parents to be healthy, for personal handwriting to improve, for loved ones to have happiness, and passing exams.

Listening Example

Extension Activity

Materials Needed:

writing tool
colorful paper
string/ribbon or paper clip

Steps:

write a wish on the piece of paper
punch or poke a hole through the paper and tie the string or hook the paper clip onto a bamboo or tree branch

Extension:

create decorations and hang them on bamboo or a regular tree!

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