Qixi Festival

Overview:Qixi Festival, also known as Qiqiao Festival and Qiqiao Festival, is one of the most romantic festivals in Chinese traditional culture. It originated in the Han Dynasty and is scheduled on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month every year. It is famous for the love story of “Cowherd and Weaver Girl” and is known as “China’s Valentine’s Day”. Qixi Festival not only carries the yearning for loyal love, but also expresses the pursuit of family happiness and ingenuity.

Origin of Qixi Festival

The origin of Qixi Festival is closely related to ancient astronomical observations and folk legends. The “Changsheng Palace on July 7” has been recorded in the “Book of Songs”, showing the long history of this festival. Its most important story comes from the myth of Cowherd and Weaver Girl: Cowherd and Weaver Girl got married because of love, but were separated by the Milky Way and could only meet once a year on the seventh day of July by a magpie bridge. This story expresses people’s praise for true love and their expectation for reunion.

Main customs of the Qixi Festival

  • Begging for Skill:The most famous custom of the Qixi Festival is “begging for skill”. Women pray for dexterity and a happy life by threading a needle and doing needlework. In tradition, there is also a competition to see who can thread a seven-hole needle the fastest.
  • Worshiping the Weaver Girl:The Weaver Girl is a symbol of weaving and needlework. In ancient times, women worshiped the Weaver Girl on the night of the Qixi Festival, praying for wisdom and dexterous hands, and also praying for family happiness and a happy marriage.
  • Stargazing:On the night of the Qixi Festival, the “Altair” (Altair) and the “Vega” in the sky echo each other, and the Milky Way is like a bridge. People often watch the sky on this night to express their wishes for love and reunion.
  • Threading a needle to pray for skill:This custom is very popular during the Chinese Valentine’s Day, especially threading a needle under the moonlight, which means improving craftsmanship and praying for good luck.
  • Eating Qiaoguo:Qiaoguo is a fried food with various shapes and a crispy taste, symbolizing happiness and skill. This is a traditional food unique to the Chinese Valentine’s Day.

The cultural significance of the Chinese Valentine’s Day

The Chinese Valentine’s Day carries the Chinese people’s beautiful yearning for love and is a festival for conveying true love and loyalty. It is not only an important day for lovers to express their feelings, but also a moment for family members to share reunion and happiness.

In addition, the Chinese Valentine’s Day also reflects the respect for women’s wisdom and creativity, as well as the pursuit of the art of life. Through activities such as begging for skill and worshiping the Weaver Girl, the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation that value diligence and skill are demonstrated.

In modern society, the Qixi Festival has been given more romantic colors and has become a festival for couples to celebrate their love. It also conveys the unique charm of Chinese culture. It is not only widely popular in China, but is also gradually understood and accepted by the world.

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