By now, you’re bound to have heard someone mention Qixi or Chinese Valentine’s Day. It’s not a made-up holiday (like 11.11) that’s created to encourage you to shop. Qixi Festival is actually rooted in Chinese folklore. It’s a day dedicated to love, romance and a timeless tale of devotion.
Falling on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, this year’s Qixi falls on Fri, Aug 29. Qixi’s origins are far more ancient than those of its Western counterpart. Its story begins over 2,000 years ago with a magical love story. It’s the tale of Zhinü, a skilled weaver and the daughter of the Jade Emperor, and Niulang, a humble but kind-hearted cowherd.
Their paths crossed, love blossomed, and they married, living happily together. But their joy was short-lived. Zhinü’s mother, furious that her daughter had married a mortal, forced her to return to the heavens. Using her hairpin, she scratched a wide river – the Milky Way – across the sky, separating the lovers for eternity.
However, true love has a way of moving the heavens. Moved by the lovers’ devotion, the Jade Emperor took pity on them. He decreed that once a year, on the seventh night of the seventh moon, all the magpies in the world would fly up to form a bridge across the Milky Way, allowing the weaver girl and the cowherd to be reunited for a single, precious night. This is the bridge of stars we see arching across the night sky.
This poignant story of perseverance and annual reunion is why Qixi is celebrated. It’s a day to honor the unwavering bond between Zhinü and Niulang, and by extension, to celebrate one’s own relationships. It’s a reminder that love can bridge any distance.
At its heart, Qixi is a celebration of hope. It’s the belief that no separation is too vast, and that love, in its purest form, will always find a way. So, whether you’re in a relationship or simply a dreamer at heart, take a moment this Qixi to look up at the night sky. Somewhere, high above, two stars are finally meeting again on a bridge built by kindness, reminding us all of the magic that devotion can bring.
To find the perfect Qixi event in Beijing to celebrate this special day, visit our events section by scanning the QR code below.
Images: Freepik
