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. Here are some of the customs and activities associated with this romantic occasion:
1. **Star Gazing**: On Qixi, people look up at the sky to see the stars Vega and Altair, which are believed to be the celestial lovers,牛郎织女 (Niulang and Zhi Nu). They cross the Milky Way with a magpie bridge, which is made of the stars and can only be seen on this day.
2. **Begging for Love**: Young women traditionally perform the "Begging for Love" ritual. They would tie their hair with a red ribbon and place their shoes under their pillows, hoping to dream of their future husband.
3. **Making Paper Cranes**: Couples and families make paper cranes, symbolizing their wish for a long and prosperous relationship. They often string these cranes together and hang them in their homes or gardens.
4. **Listening to Love Stories**: It's common for people to gather and listen to the legendary story of Niulang and Zhi Nu, which is a beautiful tale of love and perseverance.
5. **Gift-giving**: Young women receive gifts from their crushes or potential suitors, which might include chocolates, flowers, or other romantic items.
6. **Making and Offering Ripe Fruits**: People prepare a dish called "Seven Kind of Fruits" (七夕果子), which includes seven different types of ripe fruits. This is offered to the celestial lovers as a form of respect and gratitude.
7. **Writing Love Poems**: Young people often write love poems or couplets, known as "Qixi couplets," to express their feelings for each other.
8. **Dancing and Singing**: In some regions, people organize dances and singing events to celebrate the festival, often involving traditional Chinese music and dances.
The Qixi Festival is a time for celebrating love and romance, and it has become a significant cultural event across China and among Chinese communities around the world.
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