Although tanabata was originally one of the court events, it spread in the Edo period among ordinary people as a means of prayer to improve their skills since Orihime (the Weaver) excelled in women's practices such as in weaving cloth.
本来、宮中行事であったが、織姫が織物などの女子の手習い事などに長けていたため、江戸時代に手習い事の願掛けとして一般庶民にも広がった。