The Story of Qixi Festival

The Qixi Festival is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. This year it falls on August 22. Qixi has its roots in ancient Chinese folklore. The legend goes that Zhinü, a weaving girl from heaven, descended to earth and fell in love with a mortal named Niulang. They married each other without the knowledge of Zhinü’s mother, the Goddess of Heaven. Zhinü bore Niulang two beautiful children and lived happily until her mother learned of her transgressions, went into a rage, and sent soldiers to retrieve her. Zhinü went back to Heaven.

Sometime later, Niulang tried to rescue his wife, but the Goddess of Heaven took out her hairpin and created a massive river, thinking she had separated the lovers forever. However, Niulang and Zhinü’s love was stronger than she thought. It moved the magpies so much that they flew up to Heaven to form a bridge over the river.

Seeing the love between her child and a mortal man, the Goddess of Heaven allowed the lovers to meet on the magpie bridge on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month every year — and that’s how the Qixi Festival came into being.

According to traditional Chinese beliefs, the river represents the Milky Way, while Zhinü and Niulang represent the stars of Vega and Altair. The festival was first recognized as a formal occasion during the Han Dynasty, over 2,600 years ago.

On this day, young women participate in ceremonial offerings, showcase their domestic skills, and pray for a life partner. It's a day when the heavens and the earth conspire, stars align, and wishes are whispered into the night, all in the hopes of love's sweet return.

七夕，又稱為東方的情人節，其歷史淵源已久，充滿了浪漫的真情。每逢農曆七月初七(西曆2023年8月22日），許多情侶和有情人都會藉此節日表達彼此的深情厚意。

七夕的故事源自於古老的中國神話。根據傳說，天上的織女星（織姬）和牛郎星（牛童）相愛，但他們的愛情被天神所不容，導致他們被迫分隔在銀河的兩側。但每年的七月初七這一天，一群善良的喜鵲飛上天形成一座鵲橋，讓牛郎織女在銀河之上相會。這個動人的故事流傳千年，並成為人們紀念真愛與永恆承諾的節日。

傳統的慶祝方式中，七夕除了是情人節，也是女子們向織女祈求巧手和美滿姻緣的日子。在古代，少女們會在七夕之夜準備鮮花、茶和水果作為祭品，祈禱自己能得到與織女一般的巧手，以及一段如牛郎與織女般的愛情。

隨著時代的變遷，七夕的慶祝方式也有所改變，但不變的是人們對愛情的渴望和對真愛的追求。現代的情侶可能會選擇在這一天送禮、出遊或是吃一頓浪漫的晚餐，慶祝他們之間的愛情。