The Qixi Festival, also known as Chinese Valentine's Day, is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. It is a romantic occasion that honors the love story of two ancient Chinese lovers, Zhinü and Niulang.
**Origins and Customs of the Qixi Festival:**
**Origins:**
The Qixi Festival has its roots in a romantic legend. According to the story, Zhinü, the daughter of the Queen of Heaven, fell in love with Niulang, a cowherd. Despite the celestial and earthly divide, their love was strong. The Queen of Heaven, however, was against their union. She separated them by placing a vast river, the Milky Way, between them. The only way they could meet was once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, when magpies would form a bridge across the river for them.
**Customs:**
1. **Star Gazing:** On the evening of the Qixi Festival, young women would look up at the sky to find the stars Vega and Altair, which represent Zhinü and Niulang. They would wish for a happy marriage and a good husband.
2. **Bridal Altar:** Couples would set up a bridal altar in their homes, where they would offer fruits, tea, and incense to Zhinü and Niulang. They would also leave out shoes for the couple to wear, symbolizing their wish for a harmonious marriage.
3. **Qixi Lanterns:** Young women would write their wishes on lanterns and release them into the sky, hoping their dreams would come true.
4. **Love Games:** Various love-related games would be played, such as "Finding Your Love," where young women would try to guess their future husband's name from a list.
5. **Qixi Ballads:** People would sing and recite Qixi ballads, which tell the story of Zhinü and Niulang, to express their love and longing.
The Qixi Festival is a time for celebrating love, and it remains a popular tradition in China, especially among young people who look forward to this romantic occasion.
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