Qixi Festival Customs: Detailed Introduction in English
The Qixi Festival, also known as Chinese Valentine's Day, is an ancient Chinese traditional festival celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. It has a long history, dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty. The festival is centered around the romantic legend of the Cowherd and the Weaving Girl, Zhinü, who were separated by the Milky Way and were only allowed to meet once a year, on this day.
Here is a detailed introduction to the customs and activities of the Qixi Festival:
1. **Origin Story (牛郎织女传说)**: The most popular story is about the Cowherd, a poor boy who falls in love with the Weaving Girl, a celestial maiden. They get married against the gods' wishes and are separated by the Milky Way. However, the gods show compassion and allow them to meet once a year on the Qixi Festival.
2. **Red and Green Foods**: During the Qixi Festival, people often eat red and green foods to symbolize the love of the Cowherd and the Weaving Girl. These include things like red bean porridge, sweet rice balls, and green vegetables.
3. **Making and Offering "Qingmingzhai" (七夕斋)**: Women in ancient China would prepare "Qingmingzhai," a special offering to Zhinü. It consists of seven types of fruits, seven types of vegetables, and seven types of grain. The offerings are believed to express women's wishes for a good marriage and a son.
4. **Sewing and Making "Hebei" (乞巧针)**: Young girls would sew and make "Hebei" (乞巧针), a small needle with a thread, on the evening of the Qixi Festival. They would try to pull the thread through a needle eye as many times as possible, believing that the more successful they were, the more skillful they would be in needlework and their future marriages would be happy.
5. **Looking at the Stars**: According to the legend, on the night of the Qixi Festival, the Weaving Girl and the Cowherd can be seen as two bright stars, Vega and Altair, across the Milky Way. People would look up at the sky and make wishes, especially young women hoping for a good marriage.
6. **Burning Paper Offerings**: Some people would burn paper offerings in the form of clothing, jewelry, and food, symbolizing their wishes for the Cowherd and the Weaving Girl to have a happy life.
7. **Peach Blossom Banquet**: In some regions, people would celebrate the festival with a peach blossom banquet, enjoying the beauty of peach blossoms while eating festive dishes.
The Qixi Festival is a significant day for many Chinese people, especially women and young girls, as it is believed to bring good luck in love and marriage. Today, the festival has also taken on a modern twist, with couples celebrating their love and presenting gifts to each other, much like Valentine's Day in Western countries.
「点击下面查看原网页 领取您的八字精批报告☟☟☟☟☟☟」