Chinese Valentine's Day

The Chinese Qixi Festival, also known as the "Qi Qiao Jie" or "Daughter's Festival," is a romantic and traditional holiday with a story that dates back to ancient times. Its origins are rooted in an ancient legend that has been passed down for centuries, becoming a brilliant gem in Chinese culture.

The story of the Qixi Festival traces back to the legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. According to the legend, there was a diligent and kind-hearted cowherd named Niulang, represented as the Cowherd Star, who herded cattle in the heavens. On the other side of the Milky Way, lived the Weaver Girl, symbolizing feminine grace, who was skilled in weaving.

The Weaver Girl, for her playful antics, was banished to the heavens by the Heavenly Queen Mother. There, she met and fell in love with Niulang. They became a couple, but their love was frowned upon by the Heavenly Queen Mother. She separated them by placing them on opposite sides of the Milky Way. Niulang's loyal cow transformed into a celestial beast, allowing him to fly to the heavens.

Despite their efforts, the Heavenly Queen Mother divided them by the Silver River (the Milky Way), allowing them to reunite only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. Magpies would form a bridge, known as the "Magpie Bridge," for them to meet. This day came to be celebrated as Qixi, or "Double Seventh Festival."

To commemorate the love story of Niulang and the Weaver Girl, various celebrations take place on Qixi Festival, particularly among women. Girls pray to the Weaver Girl for cleverness and skill. People look up to the sky on the evening of Qixi, hoping for the reunion of Niulang and the Weaver Girl. This holiday embodies people's aspirations for love and a better life.

This ancient tale, carried through the ages, has become the profound essence of the Chinese Qixi Festival, representing people's yearnings and pursuits for love and a better life.