"Star Light, Star Bright, First Star I See Tonight..."

"...Wish I may, wish I might, wish the wish I wish tonight."

Hey, guys! ^^ Bri here! Well, yesterday was Tanabata, so sorry for this late post. ^^; For those who don't know what it is, I posted a brief description of it on my previous post.
However, to refresh your memory, it's sort of like a real-life Wish Day (if anybody else is a Wuzzles fan, you'd remember that.). During this day, everybody make origami, write down their deepest wish on a strip of paper and hang them up on bamboo or tree branches. And all this centered around a couple that are forced to meet each other once a year.

And now, to unveil my Tanabata display! *drumroll*

The main branch itself. ^^ I can explain below what everything is.

 

My Build-A-Bears Daryl and Steven as Orihime and Hikoboshi. ^^

 

A Spiderman-themed fukinagashi I made myself. This one was so hard to make! -.-



I know it doesn't look like much, but this was hard work and actually a lot of fun to do. I found an old tree branch since there are no fake bamboo stalks sold in my local craft stores. I cut and folded different things out of construction paper. Best of all, I let my imagination run wild!

Around this holiday, different decorations symbolize either a wish or something related to the story. The decorations I used include:

• Strips of paper (Tanzaku) - used to represent the wish for better handwriting and better studies, but today it's used to write down someone's most precious wish
• Fishing net (Toami) - better fishing and healthy crops, but supposedly represents the Milky Way
• Money purse (Kinchaku) - to be prosperous and rich
• Chains - also represents the Milky Way
• Streamer ball (Fukinagashi) - represents Orihime's weaving fabric

Now for big news before wrapping this up! Starting next month and September, I'll start making a couple school uniform recipes for you guys. I'll start planning for the annual '13 Cosplays of Halloween' in September, too. Hope y'all have a great summer and...

あなたが良い七夕を持っていた願っています！
(Hope you had a good Tanabata!)

Fireworks and Stars and Strips, Oh My!

Hey, guys! ^^ I'm back from my long hiatus! Well, briefly. Anyway, today's Independence Day. ^^ For my friends overseas, Independence Day honors America's fight for independence from England (sorry if I upset anybody from across the pond! ^^;). Nowadays, it's a common BBQ holiday, like many holidays here in America. Every year the night sky is filled with the BOOMs and flashes of fireworks as people nibble on hot dogs, burgers and watermelon (common summer staples here in the States).

For my friends over in Japan, it's also three days until the holiday of Tanabata (Star Festival). On this day, people display their deepest wishes by tying origami and strips of paper to bamboo and trees. Sorta similar to how people decorate pine trees and spruces for Christmas.
Another trait that both Tanabata and Christmas share is that they have stories that are traditionally told on that day. During Tanabata, it's a love story about a weaver and a shepherd (or a cow herder) that are forced to meet once a year.

I'll do a follow-up post in a few days where I'll show you all my Tanabata tree. ^^ Until then...
Have a great and safe Independence Day! [|:3>