Above the Milky Way, A Tale of Love: Romance of the Qixi Festival

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  In the vast starry sky, Altair and Vega are extremely bright. There is a faintly visible Milky Way in between. Niulang stands on one side with his children, and Zhinv stands on the other side, looking at each other from afar.
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  There are various exquisite pastries in different shapes and rich colors on a plate, with some fruits as decorations beside.
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  A group of women in ancient costumes are sitting around in the yard. In front of them are items such as needles and threads. They are concentrating intently and praying to Vega in the sky.
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  By a small river, people have built a bridge decorated with flowers and incense. There are some people standing on the bridge, and the river flows slowly under the bridge.
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  At night, several women are sitting quietly in the yard, looking up at the sky with concentrated and expectant expressions.
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  A group of scholars are sitting around in a pavilion. There are writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones on the table. They are either deep in thought or chanting with their heads up.
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  In the shopping mall, heart-shaped balloons and ribbons are hung everywhere. The shelves are filled with various commodities related to love. Salespersons are enthusiastically introducing products to customers.
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  A couple is sitting in a romantic restaurant. There are candles and flowers on the table. They look at each other and smile, with love in their eyes.

The Qixi Festival, also known as the Chinese Valentine's Day, is one of the most romantic traditional Chinese festivals, celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month each year. This festival originates from the beautiful legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, symbolizing an unswerving love.

I. The Historical Origin of Qixi Festival

The Qixi Festival originated in the Han Dynasty and is related to the worship of the stars Altair and Vega. Over time, this festival has gradually evolved into a special day to celebrate love.

II. Traditional Customs of Qixi Festival

1. Pleading for Skillfulness: Women pray to the Weaver Girl for deft hands and a happy marriage on the night of Qixi.

2. Qixi Delicacies: Various exquisite pastries and fruits are made as offerings to the Weaver Girl and as a treat to enjoy.

3. Qixi Fragrance Bridge Gathering: In some areas, people build a fragrance bridge by the river to symbolize the magpie bridge meeting of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.

4. Listening to Heavenly Whispers: Quietly listening at night, it is said that one can hear the whispers of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.

5. Qixi Poetry Gathering: Literati would hold poetry gatherings to eulogize love and praise the Weaver Girl.

III. Modern Evolution of Qixi Festival

With the development of society, the ways of celebrating Qixi Festival are also continuously evolving:

1. Commercial Promotions: Many businesses take advantage of this festival for promotional activities, launching products related to love.

2. Online Confessions: The internet has become a new platform for expressing love, where people confess to their crushes online.

3. Couples' Activities: Couples celebrate together, enjoying a romantic dinner or watching a love movie.

IV. Cultural Significance of Qixi Festival

Qixi Festival is not only a festival celebrating love, but it also reflects the Chinese culture's aspiration for beautiful emotions and the importance of family harmony.