The Chinese Valentine’s Day

by Chen Yining
(Chengdu, Sichuan, China)

The Chinese Valentine’s Day is on the seventh day of the 7th month in the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, whose name is “七夕” (Qixi). The Chinese Valentine’s Day of 2013 is on August 13th.

The most famous part is the love story between the weaving goddess and cowherd. It is said that the cowherd from the mundane world and weaving goddess from heaven loved each other. But love between the goddess and human beings was forbidden. They were separated by the Milky Way according to the command of the Queen Mother of the West.

But the Queen Mother of the West also showed her mercy to the couple. They were permitted to meet once a year, and the cowherd and weaving goddess became the stars of Altair and Vega. They could meet on the seventh night of the seventh lunar month every year, with the magpies making a bridge to help them cross the Milky Way.

Their beautiful tale is wildly known in China and the Qixi festival is passed down as a tradition from generation to generation. Every year on the Qixi Festival, many lovers would pray for their love and happiness. And the Qixi Festival is also known as the Needlework's Day or Girl's Day. In ancient time, girls prayed to the goddess of Weaving for their skills in needlework.