Qixi Festival: China's Ancient Valentine's Day

The Qixi Festival (七夕节, Qīxī Jié), celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, is China's traditional day of love. Known as "Double Seventh Festival" and often called "Chinese Valentine's Day," Qixi is rooted in a celestial love story that has inspired poets, artists, and lovers for over two millennia.

The Cowherd and Weaver Girl

According to Chinese legend, the weaver fairy Zhinü fell in love with a mortal cowherd named Niulang. They married in secret and lived happily for years until the Queen Mother of the West discovered their union and separated them forever — transforming them into the stars Vega (the Weaver Girl) and Altair (the Cowherd) on opposite sides of the Milky Way. Their one annual reunion falls on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, when magpies form a bridge across the stars so the lovers can meet for a single night.

Ancient Customs

Historically, young women observed the festival by displaying offerings — fruits, flowers, red candles, and needlework — on an altar to the Weaver Girl. They would then make wishes for skill in needlework and domestic arts, symbolized by threading needles through the holes of a thimble while gazing at the constellation.

Modern Celebrations

Today, Qixi has evolved into a major commercial holiday in China, with couples exchanging gifts, booking wedding ceremonies, and restaurants offering special romantic menus. In some cities, couples apply for marriage licenses together on this date, believing their union will be blessed by the celestial lovers.

Sources: China Daily, China Cultural Heritage Administration, CGTN, Folk Belief and Customs Research Center