Romantic Qixi Festival: Chinese Warmth and Affection

Are you familiar with China's Qixi Festival? Also known as the Chinese Valentine's Day, it originated from a beautiful and romantic legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl reuniting. This festival falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month each year and is one of the most romantic holidays in Chinese traditional culture. On this day, there are many intriguing traditions. Would you like to learn more? This article will introduce them to you!

Qixi, also known as the "Begging Skills Festival," typically falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. This festival carries a poignant love story, narrating the tale of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, two lovers.

According to the legend, the Cowherd was a hardworking and kind mortal, while the Weaver Girl was a beautiful celestial fairy. They fell in love and became husband and wife, living a happy life together. However, the rules of heaven did not allow immortals to love mortals, and the Weaver Girl was taken back to the sky. With the help of their children and an old cow, the Cowherd managed to follow her to the sky. To separate them, the Queen Mother of the West drew a silver river, the Milky Way. Yet, their love touched the magpies, and every year on the seventh day of the seventh month, numerous magpies form a magpie喜鹊(xǐ què) bridge to allow the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl to meet.

喜鹊 (xǐ què), noun, magpie

Examples:

1. The magpie chirped melodiously in the morning.
   清晨，喜鹊在树上欢快地啁啾。
   qīng chén, xǐ què zài shù shàng huān kuài de zhōu jiū。
2. She spotted a magpie perched on the fence.
   她发现一只喜鹊停在篱笆上。
   tā fā xiàn yī zhī xǐ què tíng zài lí bā shàng。

This legend has moved countless people, so on this special day, people look up to the sky, as if they can see the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl embracing and weeping on the magpie bridge, feeling that deep affection that spans across the Milky Way.

Interesting Customs

Seeking Skills Activities

This is one of the most classic customs of Qixi. In ancient times, young girls would gather for needle threading competitions to pray to the Weaver Girl for wisdom and skillful handiwork. They would also place silver needles on fruits, hoping to prove their successful begging for skills by passing through the needle's eye before nightfall, indicating a future filled with happy and skillful needlework.

Eating Skillful Pastries

Skillful pastries are specially made pastries in various shapes like flowers, birds, fish, both beautiful and delicious. Every household will make or purchase skillful pastries for Qixi, eating them to mark the festival, symbolizing dexterity of heart and happiness in the family.

Releasing Lanterns花灯(huā dēng) and River Lanterns

花灯 (huā dēng), noun, lantern

Examples:

1. The streets were adorned with colorful lanterns.
   街道上挂满了五颜六色的花灯。
   jiē dào shàng guà mǎn le wǔ yán liù sè de huā dēng。
2. Children were excited to carry their lanterns during the festival.
   孩子们在节日里兴奋地提着他们的花灯。
   hái zi men zài jié rì lǐ xīng fèn de tí zhe tā men de huā dēng。

At night, people release flying lanterns or float lit river lanterns on the water, letting them drift with the current. This not only adds a touch of fantasy to the night sky and water surface but also symbolizes guiding the way for the Cowherd and Weaver Girl to meet, while also embodying people's beautiful wishes for their future lives.

Listening to Whispered Secrets

It is said that on the night of Qixi, hiding quietly under the grapevine, one can hear the whispered secrets of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl reuniting. While this is just a legend, it has piqued the curiosity of many and become a mysterious yet fun custom.

Weaving Colorful Cords

In some regions, people weave colorful cords to wear on their wrists, believing that this can bring good luck and protect themselves from evil. When it rains next, they will untie the cords and throw them into the water, symbolizing letting the river carry away their worries and illnesses.

Aren't these customs fascinating? Nowadays, modern celebrations of the Qixi Festival are also very creative! Many couples choose to go out on a date on this day, such as having dinner together, watching a movie, or taking a meaningful walk in a special place to enjoy quality time. Furthermore, exchanging gifts on this day is also an important aspect. Common gifts include flowers (especially roses), chocolates, jewelry, or customized gifts based on each other's preferences, conveying deep affection through gifts. These methods not only inherit the cultural essence of traditional festivals but also integrate the characteristics of contemporary life, making Qixi a moment to display love and warmth.

Beautiful Proverbs about Qixi

• 花好月圆 (huā hǎo yuè yuán)
  Symbolizing perfection and fulfillment, often used to bless a happy and harmonious love life. On this day of Qixi, people use this proverb to wish all couples a beautiful ending.
• 比翼双飞 (bǐ yì shuāng fēi)
  Metaphorically describing deep affection and inseparable love between spouses or lovers, like birds flying together, coordinated and inseparable, akin to a beautiful symbol of everlasting love during the Qixi festival celebration.