Love on Qixi

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Qixi(七夕) Festival

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The Qixi Festival (Chinese: 七夕), also known as the Qiqiao Festival (Chinese: 乞巧), is considered to be the most romantic of traditional Chinese festivals, earning it the title of "Chinese Valentine's Day". The festival is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh lunisolar month on the Chinese lunisolar calendar.

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The Legend of Qixi

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Popularly known as Chinese or Asian Valentine's Day, there are many variations of the legend of Qixi Festival across Asia, with the original story coming from Chinese mythology and dating back to more than 2,600 years ago, during the Han Dynasty. According to Chinese mythology, Niulang (the Cowherd, symbolizing Altair) and Zhinü (the Weaver Girl, symbolizing Vega) fell deeply in love. However, their love was forbidden. They were separated by the vast Milky Way, with only a single meeting allowed each year. On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, magpies form a bridge with their wings, allowing Niulang and Zhinü to reunite for a brief but joyous moment. This touching story symbolizes eternal love, devotion, and the enduring bond between the two lovers despite the obstacles they face.

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Qixi in Asian Cultures

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Equivalents of this celebration in other countries include the Tanabata Festival in Japan, the Chilseok Festival in South Korea, and Thất Tịch in Vietnam. Tanabata (Japanese: たなばた or 七夕, meaning "Evening of the seventh"), also known as the Star Festival (星祭り, Hoshimatsuri) is a traditional summertime celebration in Japan. Tanabata commemorates the meeting of the deities Orihime (the Weaver girl) and Hikoboshi (the Cowherd). As one of Japan’s five traditional seasonal festivals, or gosekku, Tanabata has been celebrated for thousands of years. To celebrate, people write their wishes on colorful strips of paper called tanzaku and hang them on bamboo branches, along with other decorations. Festivals featuring parades, music, and traditional foods are common, making Tanabata a vibrant and joyous occasion. In Korea, Chilseok (Korean: 칠석; lit. Seventh Evening) is a period where the heat starts to dwindle and the Wet season begins, and the rain that falls during this period is called Chilseok water. Chilseok marks the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the harvest period. Traditional customs include making and sharing wheat-based foods, such as wheat cakes and noodles, symbolizing abundance and good fortune. It is also a time to pray for health and bountiful harvests. Vietnam celebrates a similar festival known as Thất Tịch. It is believed that, on the day of That Tich, if two people fall in love with each other looking at the Ngưu Lang-Chức Nữ stars, they will be together forever. In recent years, a rumor began circling amongst Vietnamese youth that eating red beans on this day will help couples remain together, while single people who consume it will soon meet their fated one. Cultural performances, traditional games, and family gatherings are common ways to celebrate Thất Tịch.

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Love on Qixi

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In 2024, the Qixi Festival falls on August 10th, marking a special day for lovers and couples to celebrate their own stories of love and commitment. Join us in commemorating this timeless legend as we celebrate our wedding, embracing the spirit of Niulang and Zhinü's enduring love. Love is patient, love is kind. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.