Qixi Festival is the Chinese Valentine's Day. It celebrates the annual meeting of the cowherd and weaver girl on the 7th day of the 7th month in the Chinese Lunar calendar.
It is celebrated in China and inspired other festivals such as the Japanese Tanabata Festival, the Korean Chilseok Festival, and the Vietnamese Thất Tịch festival in Vietnam.
QIXI TRADITIONS
Retell the story of Niulang and Zhinü
We retell the story of the Chinese Romeo and Juliet. A weaver and an ox herd who were separated by the milky way and are allowed to meet once a year on this day via a bridge.
Search for Vega and Altair in the sky
We gaze at Vega is the star of Zhinü the weaver girl, and Altair is the star of Niulang the cowherd separated by the silver river — or, as we know it, the Milky Way.
Have a romantic dinner
Many couples use this as an opportunity to go out to a special dinner as well as exchange gifts and flowers.
SAY HAPPY QIXI!
Greet everyone with Happy Qixi Chinese New Year!
The Story of Zhinü and Niulang
This is the story of two star-crossed lovers: Zhinü, the weaver girl who lived in the sky; and Niulang, the cowherd who lived on Earth.
One day, bored with her life in heaven, Zhinü ventured down to Earth, and there, by a riverbank, she met a kind but poor boy named Niulang.
Zhinü told Niulang of her uneventful life in heaven, where she was tired of weaving rainbows and clouds all day. In turn, Niulang spoke of his difficult life with his unpleasant sister-in-law, and how he had few friends, apart from an old ox to keep him company.
The two fell in love and were soon married, and all was well until Zhinü’s mother, the Goddess of the sky, learnt of her daughter’s new life on Earth. She angrily summoned Zhinü back to heaven, drawing a silver river across the sky so Niulang couldn’t follow.
As Niulang wept, the magpies of the town saw his sadness and flew into the sky to create a bridge so the couple could meet again. Niulang and Zhinü embraced, but soon the magpies’ wings tired and they were parted once more.
Understanding that her daughter and Zhinü were truly in love, the Goddess of the sky softened, and granted them permission to meet once a year on the magpie bridge, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.
And did you know there are two stars in the sky that represent these lovers? Vega is the star of Zhinü the weaver girl, and Altair is the star of Niulang the cowherd. If you find them in the night sky, you’ll see they are separated by the silver river — or, as we know it, the Milky Way.
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