Tanabata & Other Starry Folktales

By Jessa Gardner

We hope you all enjoyed July’s Virtual Tanabata Celebration! The origin of Tanabata comes from the legend of Orihime and Hikoboshi, star crossed lovers separated by the Milky Way. Each year on the evening of July 7th, Orihime and Hikoboshi are allowed to reunite for one night only in a clear sky.

You can enjoy the full story on Tanabata below, read by Yukari Yamano.

If you follow us on Instagram or Facebook, you may have seen our weekly posts of star stories from various cultures around the world.  We shared four stories from the book “Star Stories: Multicultural Myths of the Constellations” by Jennifer L. Kroll, read by Yukari Yamano. These four stories are available below, and on our YouTube channel!.

Tanabatasama is a story based on the Japanese folktale.

Written: Yoko Imoto Published: 金の星社 Recited: Yukari Yamano Music: Soothing Relaxation

“Maui Goes Fishing” a story is based on a Maori myth about the constellation Scorpius.

This story is from the book “Star Stories: Multicultural Myths of the Constellations” by Jennifer L. Kroll. Read by Yukari Yamano.

Tanabata “The Weaver and the Herder” is a story based on a Japanese myth about the asterism Altair and Vega.

This story is from the book “Star Stories: Multicultural Myths of the Constellations” by Jennifer L. Kroll. Read by Yukari Yamano.

“The Children of Lir” is a story from an Irish myth about the constellation Cygnus.

This story is from the book “Star Stories: Multicultural Myths of the Constellations” by Jennifer L. Kroll. Read by Yukari Yamano.

“White Hawk and the Star Dancer” is a story based on a Shawanee myth about the constellation Corona Borealis.

This story is from the book “Star Stories: Multicultural Myths of the Constellations” by Jennifer L. Kroll. Read by Yukari Yamano.