Qixi Festival - Chinese

Hello! I am the Qixi Festival, a special day that people celebrate in China. My name is very meaningful. It translates to "The Night of Sevens" because I always arrive on the seventh day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar. My celebration is based on a beautiful and famous love story. It is a tale about a weaver girl named Zhinü and a cowherd named Niulang. According to the story, these two sweethearts live far apart in the sky, where they shine as bright stars. My whole existence is dedicated to commemorating their love.

My history is very long. People have observed me for more than 2,000 years! My earliest celebrations took place during the Han Dynasty in China. The story that everyone loves comes from ancient beliefs people had about the stars. Long ago, people looked up at the night sky and saw a story unfolding. They imagined that the bright star Vega was Zhinü, the talented weaver. They saw the star Altair as Niulang, the kind cowherd. Between them stretches the Milky Way, a shimmering band of stars that looks like a wide, sparkling river. This river in the sky keeps them apart. But the legend says that on my special night, something magical happens. A flock of magpies flies up to the sky and forms a bridge with their wings so the two lovers can finally meet for just one night.

In the past, my traditions were especially important for girls and young women. It was a time for them to wish for skills and happiness. They would practice their needlework, sewing and stitching carefully. They hoped that by practicing on my day, they could become as skillful as the weaver girl, Zhinü. Another fun tradition was to carve pretty and delicate designs into melons. Families would also get together to honor the stars. They would set out offerings of fresh fruit and cups of tea. Then, as darkness fell, they would all go outside to gaze at the night sky, trying to find the two stars representing the starry-eyed lovers.

Today, the way people celebrate me has changed a little, but the feeling of love is still at the heart of it all. Many people now know me as a day for romance, and I am sometimes called "Chinese Valentine's Day." The old needlework contests are not as common as they once were. Instead, couples might celebrate their love for each other on my day. They may give gifts like beautiful flowers and delicious chocolates, or go out to enjoy a special meal together. Even though some traditions are different now, the romantic story of Zhinü and Niulang remains the most important part of my celebration, reminding everyone of the power of love.