Star Festival

This festival is based on a Phoenix folktale concerning a weaving maiden and a cowherd that were madly in love, but unable to be together. They were taen by the fortunes and placedin the sky, separated by the River of Stars. One day a year, if the River does not flood, they can cross and meet, but to make sure no dishonor is brought to their families, the people of Rukugan come out on this day to chaperone the meeting of the two lovers. The Rokugani often write wishes and romantic aspirations on long, narrow strips of colored paper and hang them on bamboo branches for this festival.