### Chinese Qixi Festival: Origin and Customs with Poems
#### Origin of Qixi Festival
The Qixi Festival, also known as Chinese Valentine's Day, is traditionally celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, which falls in July or August. It originated from a legendary love story.
According to the story, there was a god who turned himself into a swan and swam around the heavens. His name was Qiu, and he met a weaver girl named Xi. The two fell deeply in love but were separated by the celestial river. Only once a year could they reunite during the night when the magpies formed a bridge to cross the river. Since then, people began to celebrate their love and loyalty by celebrating the Qixi Festival.
#### Customs of Qixi Festival
1. **Offerings to the Heavens**: People would place offerings, such as fruits, tea, and flowers, at home to pay homage to the sky gods.
2. **Making "Qingming Zao"**: A traditional candy called Qingming Zao is made, which symbolizes love and affection.
3. **Listening to Love Poems**: Young people would listen to love poems, hoping to find a match or inspire their own love stories.
4. **Staring at the Stars**: It is believed that on this night, the Milky Way can be seen more clearly, symbolizing the love of the god and the weaver girl. Couples often look at the stars together to express their love and loyalty.
5. **Marriage Proposal**: Young women would write their names on pieces of paper and throw them into the river, hoping for a sign from their future husbands.
#### Poems about the Qixi Festival
1. **"Qixi Festival" by Su Shi (苏轼)**
```
The stars in the sky are clear, the Milky Way visible.
Swans fly, and magpies form a bridge for lovers to cross.
May our love be like the celestial couple,
Eternally in love and ever faithful.
```
2. **"On Qixi Night" by Du Fu (杜甫)**
```
The celestial couple is together on Qixi night,
Separated for a whole year by the Milky Way.
Tonight, under the stars, I wish to express my love,
Just like the celestial couple, my love will never fade.
```
3. **"Qixi Night" by Li Bai (李白)**
```
Tonight, under the Qixi night sky,
The weaver girl and god are in love, the Milky Way bright.
I wish for the love between us,
Just like the celestial couple, strong and pure.
```
By celebrating the Qixi Festival with these customs and reciting love poems, people hope to inspire and preserve the values of loyalty, love, and affection in their lives.
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