- This event has passed.
Chinese Valentine’s Day: Qixi Festival & Perfume Pouch Making
| Click the BOOK TICKET button below to reserve your spot via our Eventbrite listing. |
This celebration is a fun way to experience Tanabata (七夕), a traditional Japanese summer festival that blends mythology, customs, and making wishes under the stars.
Join us to celebrate the Tanabata Star Festival, a centuries-old tradition inspired by the romantic legend of Orihime and Hikoboshi – two celestial lovers separated by the Milky Way, who are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh night of the seventh month. On this night, it is believed that wishes written on Earth are carried up to the stars and may come true.
Across Japan, Tanabata is marked by vibrant bamboo decorations, colourful paper wishes, and gentle summer breezes that carry hopes into the night sky. It is a festival that celebrates longing, connection, and the beauty of dreaming beneath the stars.
What You’ll Experience:
🎋 Stories & Traditions: Discover the legend of the star-crossed lovers and how Tanabata has been celebrated for centuries through poetry, festivals, and bamboo wish trees
📝 Wish Writing Ritual: Write your own wishes on colourful paper strips, following a cherished Japanese custom where hopes and dreams are hung on branches and offered to the stars
🎐 Make Your Own Wind Chime: Create and decorate your own traditional Japanese wind chime, a symbol of summer that produces soft, calming sounds in the breeze, paired with your personal wish to carry your intentions into the wind
🍡 Seasonal Flavours: Enjoy a selection of Japanese-inspired snacks while immersing yourself in the festive summer atmosphere
Cultural introduction
Tanabata (七夕), also known as the Star Festival, is a traditional Japanese celebration rooted in a beautiful and poetic legend. It is based on the story of Orihime, the weaving princess represented by the star Vega, and Hikoboshi, the cowherd represented by the star Altair. According to the myth, the two lovers are separated by the Milky Way and are only allowed to meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month, when the stars align across the night sky.
Over time, this celestial story became a cultural tradition celebrated across Japan. Tanabata is a time when people express their hopes and dreams by writing wishes on small, colourful paper strips called tanzaku, which are then tied to bamboo branches. As the bamboo sways in the summer wind, it is believed that these wishes rise to the heavens and may be granted.
The festival is also closely connected to the arrival of summer, often marked by vibrant decorations, street celebrations, and a sense of renewal and optimism. Bamboo, wind, and starlight all play symbolic roles, reflecting themes of longing, connection, and the flow of wishes between earth and sky.
Want to hire us?
Bespoke event for you!
Dear Asia is a London-based event organiser specialising in creative workshops celebrating Asian cultures. With years of experience, our team excels at hosting engaging events for groups of 15-60 people in your office. We’re passionate about what we do, but our capacity is limited. If you’d like us to run an event for you, visit this page for more details and get in touch!
May 6 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm BST