Celebrating Tanabata: The Star Festival Comes to St. Andrews College!

In Term 2 Weeks 9-10, our Year 8 students embarked on an exciting cultural journey into Japan's rich traditions with Tanabata, also known as the Star Festival. Held annually on the 7th day of the 7th month, Tanabata celebrates a beautiful legend where two stars, Altair and Vega, reunite across the Milky Way. This festival reflects themes of love, hope, and dreams, which resonated deeply with our students.

During this special cultural exploration, our Year 8 Japanese course students learned about the customs of Tanabata. They enthusiastically wrote their wishes on colourful strips of paper called Tanzaku, expressing their hopes and dreams for themselves and others. These Tanzaku were then delicately hung on bamboo branches, transforming our Gould area into a picturesque bamboo forest. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. McLoughlin, our dedicated school maintenance man, whose efforts helped create this enchanting setting for our students.

Throughout the activity, our students immersed themselves in Japanese traditions, learning not only the art of Tanzaku decoration but also gaining insights into the significance of Tanabata within Japanese culture. They shared stories, exchanged experiences, and embraced the spirit of unity and goodwill that Tanabata embodies.

As we wrap up this year's celebrations, we reflect on the joy and cultural enrichment this experience has brought to our school community. We look forward to continuing this tradition and further exploring global cultures with our students in the coming years.

We wish all our students a happy and healthy academic journey ahead, filled with growth, learning, and the realisation of their heartfelt wishes. Here's to another wonderful Tanabata festival next year!