The Adventures of Mari-Grace

In honor of Valentine's Day, I thought I'd post a little about the Chinese equivalent of Valentine's Day. I hope you enjoy !!!

Festival of Qi Xi Lie

This festival is similar to Valentine's Day in the UnitedStates.
Qi Xi Jie is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of Chinese calendar.
This festival is usually celebrated in late July or early August.
Offerings, consisting of fruit, flowers, tea, and facial powder are presented to Niulang and Zhinu either by a single woman or a newly married lady of the house.
There is a story behind this festival.
Niulang, the star Altair, was a young cowherd.
He came across seven fairy sisters bathing in a lake.
He, along with his ox, steals their clothes.
Zhinu, the star Vega, who is the youngest sister, is sent to look for their clothes.
While looking for their clothes, she comes in front of Niulang without her Clothes on.
As a result, she has to agree to marry him.
They prove to be a great couple after marriage and stay happy.
Destiny has - something else in store for them.
The Goddess of Heaven, after finding a mere mortal married to a fairy, scratches a wide river in the sky with her hairpin to separate them.
This river is known as the "Milky Way", which separates the two stars, Altair and Vega.
Zhinu sits beside the river and keeps sobbing.
Niulang takes care of their two children -- on the other side of the river.
Seeing this, the Goddess of Heaven, out of pity, lets them see each other for one night every year.
This night is celebrated as the Festival of Qi Xi Jie or theValentine's Day in China.