MAIN Home Life Holidays Chinese Valentines Day 2007

The feast of Qi Qiao Jie is the seventh day of the seventh lunar month on the Chinese lunar calendar. It is China's version of Valetine's Day, and in 2007 it falls on August 19 in the Western solar calendar.

Qixi or Double Seventh Festival is the traditional China's Valentine's Day. Although young Chinese couples today are more likely to celebrate a traditional Valentine's Day with the rest of the world on February 14th, those who celebrate Chinese culture may exchange gifts on both days.

The Chinese Valentines Day Story

As any Chinese grandmother will tell you, the ancient celebration of true love dates back centuries when Zhinu (Weaving Girl) fell in love with a young farmer named Niulang. Sadly, there is a classic complication - our heroine is the granddaughter of the Lady Queen Mother!

Even though the law strictly forbids relationships between mortals and immortals, the rebellious young couple fall in love and eventually marry anyway - when the unthinkable happens. Upon the discovery of their relationship, the Lady Queen Mother forces Zhinu to return to heaven, never to see Niulang again.

Steadfast and true, Niulang refuses to give up. He flies to Zhinu's side (with the help of a magic ox) only to have the Lady Queen Mother step in once again. She uses a hairpin to draw the Milky Way across the sky to separate the couple forever.

And there Zhinu and Niulang remain, separated for 364 days of the year - except for Chinese Valenine's Day - when the Lady Queen Mother takes pity on them by sending a flock of magpies to bridge the gap between the lovers and reunite them.

Today, on Chinese Valentine's Day, school children are asked to search the heavens where Zhinu can be found in the star Vega east of the Milky Way, and for her beloved Niulang, who steadfastly waits for her in the constellation Aquila, west of the Milky Way.

According to legend, on Chinese Valentines Day magpies can scarcely be seen, since they are spreading their wings to form the bridge in the heavens to reunite the couple once again. The evening of Chinese Valentine's Day is traditionally reserved for star gazing, and the classic retelling of the tale of Zhinu and Niulang ....

More About Chinese Valentine's Day

On the Web, discover more about the ancient tale, along with additional customs, superstitions & traditions that have become part of Chinese Valentine's Day ....

It's Chinese Valentines Day - The full text of "Fairy Of The Magpie Bridge" and the romantic legend that inspired it the classic poem, plus information on ceremonies & customs of a modern Chinese Valentine's Day.

Double Seventh Festival - The illustrated tale, from China.org.

Qixi -- the Chinese Valentine's Day - Archived feature with colorful photos & illustrations with stories of old and new traditions surrounding the holiday.

Qi Xi - Chinese Valentines Day - Interesting background on the holiday with facts on a similar Japanese custom that arose from Chinese Valentines Day, the complete retelling of the tale, classic variations and related traditions, from Wikipedia.

Chinese Valentine's Day Greeting Cards - A contemporary selection of animated e-cards from 123Greetings.com.

also see -> Dragon Boat Festival | Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

Chinese New Year