LP Lotion: Tokyo Disney Star Festival
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Every year at the start of July Tokyo Disneyland offers the Star Festival for guests. Below is a synopsis of the legend behind the festival. The text was written by Tetsuya Kawamura and featured in Issue 11 of Tales from the Laughing Place Magazine. More information about this issue can be found at the Official Site:
In a Chinese legend about the constellations, there were two young stars: the Weaver star (Vega) and the Cowherd star (Altair) who fell in love. In becoming lovesick, Cowherd neglected his herds and Weaver neglected her weaving which made her father, God, angry. He placed the Milky Way between them and separated the pair with the allowance that they can see each other only once a year, on the night of July 7th, if it is a fine night...
THE STAR FESTIVAL, Tanabata in Japanese, is based on this legend and has been held since the Edo era (1603 - 1867). People write wishes on strips of colored paper and hang them on the branches of leafy bamboo stems outside of their home at night. This summer festival is very popular in Japan and carried out in many places with Sendai, the capital of the Miyagi prefecture in the Tohoku (North-East) region hosting the most renowned festivities with large scale street decorations that also takes place a month later than the rest of the country.
The Star Festival at Tokyo Disneyland is a special summer event held from July 1st through 7th. During these seven days, a tall bamboo grass decoration appears in the center of World Bazaar that almost touches the roof. Cast members wearing a casual summer Kimono known as a Yukata hand a colored wishing card to guests. These cards come in several colors and are shaped in the silhouette of Mickey Mouse. Guests write their wishes on the card and tie them to a stand at the base of the bamboo grass decoration. On top of this, decorative figures of Mickey and Minnie sit floating on clouds.
During the Festival a small greeting parade is performed several times a day at an undisclosed time. Mickey and Minnie follow the Disneyland Band, wearing the costumes of Cowherd and Weaver respectively, based on the original legend. They parade on a traditional Japanese small carriage called a �Jinriki-sha�, which is pulled by a person clockwise along the parade route through the castle forecourt.
In the original Chinese legend, the Weaver can only meet Cowherd once a year. At Tokyo Disneyland, Weaver Minnie and Cowherd Mickey can meet each other at any time because their wishes have already been granted. Now their wish is to share their happiness with all guests who have individual dreams and for all of their wishes to come true.
Videos
A video of the greeting parade is available by clicking below
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