Qixi Festival

Category: Folk
Qixi Festival around the world in 2023
Image: Chinese Dragon Statue. from Deposit Photos. Royalty free

About Qixi Festival

How long until Qixi Festival?
Qixi Festival .
Dates of Qixi Festival
2024 Various Aug 11
ChinaSun, Aug 11Observances Holiday
TaiwanSun, Aug 11Observances Holiday
2023 Various Jul 23
ChinaSun, Jul 23Observances Holiday
TaiwanSun, Jul 23Observances Holiday
2022 Various Aug 4
ChinaThu, Aug 4Observances Holiday
TaiwanThu, Aug 4Observances Holiday
2021 Various Aug 14
ChinaSat, Aug 14Observances Holiday
TaiwanSat, Aug 14Observances Holiday
2020 Various Aug 25
ChinaTue, Aug 25Observances Holiday
TaiwanTue, Aug 25Observances Holiday
Summary
The seventh day of the seventh month is the most romantic day in the Chinese calendar.
Where is Qixi Festival observed in 2023?
ChinaJul 23
TaiwanJul 23

In China, the double-seventh festival is observed in a similar fashion to Valentine’s Day — it is even dubbed China’s Valentine’s Day. However the Qixi Festival dates back more than 2,000 years ago, to the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD). And it has its roots in ancient Chinese mythology.

The Qixi Festival commemorates the love of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl.

According to Chinese myth, seven goddesses who lived in heaven secretly ventured to the mortal world one night to do some exploring. The seven sisters were bathing together in a lake when a nearby Cowherd spotted one of the goddesses, a skilled weaver who wove colourful clouds in heaven. It was love at first sight for the two, and she stayed behind in the mortal world, marrying the Cowherd and bearing two children.

But for a goddess to marry a mortal man was blasphemy, and when the Goddess of Heaven discovered the transgression, she was enraged and ordered Weaver Girl to return to Heaven and resume her weaving duties. Weaver Girl had no choice but to obey and leave, heartbroken.

The Cowherd was devastated and could not imagine a life without his beloved. One day, seeing his pain, the Cowherd’s ox began to speak, telling him that if he killed him and wore his hide, he could fly up to heaven and see Weaver Girl again. The ox’s sacrifice reunited the two, but the Goddess of Heaven would not stand for it. She furiously created a river of stars in the sky, separating the lovers for eternity. A flock of magpies, moved by the purity of the couple’s devotion, joined together to form a bridge between the two.

Even the Goddess of Heaven was touched, and she agreed to allow the Cowherd and their children to remain in heaven, to be reunited with Weaver Girl only once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.

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