The Hanami Festival celebrates the beauty of cherry blossoms in spring from late March to early April in Japan. It has its origins in the Heian period when the imperial court would admire and compose poems about the cherry blossoms. Today, people have picnics and enjoy viewing the cherry blossoms, which symbolize the ephemeral nature of life. The Tanabata Festival in summer celebrates the meeting of two stars and involves hanging wishes on bamboo trees in hopes they will come true. People celebrate with parades, fireworks, and food stalls at shrines.

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24. http://fre-kun.deviantart.com/art/Cherry-Blossoms-69158519 http://gotenkun.deviantart.com/art/Hanami-Festival-in-Ueno-58992786 http://osiris-nihonwa.deviantart.com/art/Hanami-10-80903573 http://lou-nihonwa.deviantart.com/art/Hanami-matsuri-1-80874939 http://takaides.deviantart.com/art/Ueno-Hanami-32829273 http://osiris-nihonwa.deviantart.com/art/Hanami-8-80876062 http://osiris-nihonwa.deviantart.com/art/Hanami-7-80875853 http://namja01.deviantart.com/art/700-steps-75727154 http://fcneko.deviantart.com/art/Ogano-Tanabata-37539338 http://emy-kitsune.deviantart.com/art/Wishes-37213268

25. http://www.astronomy.pomona.edu/archeo/Other%20student%20web%20sites/Anne%20Gibson%20web%20project%201999/Tanabata%20Festival.htm http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2283.html http://www.2camels.com/tanabata-festival.php http://web-japan.org/atlas/festivals/festi_fr.html http://www.2camels.com/cherry-blossom-festival.php http://www.tokyotopia.com/japanese-cherry-blossom.html http://www.tokyotopia.com/cherry-blossom-festival.html http://japan-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/hanami _