Chinese Valentine’s Day – Do modern people still celebrate Chinese Valentine’s Day?

Article published at: Mar 29, 2024 Article author: Alex Hui
七夕情人節 – 現代人還慶祝七夕嗎?
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Chinese Valentine's Day in 2019 falls on August 7, the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. Chinese Valentine's Day is also known as Qijie's Birthday, Qiqiao Festival, Qiqiao Festival, and Girls' Festival. In English, it is Qixi Festival. Qixi Festival is one of the four great love legends in China, telling a poignant story of two lovers: the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. In 2006, China included the Chinese Valentine's Day in its national intangible cultural heritage list.

Chinese Valentine's Day allusions

It is said that the allusion of the Chinese Valentine's Day probably took place in the Western Zhou Dynasty, and there are many different versions of the story about the Chinese Valentine's Day. One of them is that the Cowherd was kicked out of the house by his family, and he only got an old cow. The Weaver Girl is the daughter of the Jade Emperor. Later, the two met among the people, fell in love, and even got married. They had a son and a daughter and lived a happy life. Later, the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother were very angry when they found out about their marriage, and took the Weaver Girl back to heaven by force. The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl were forced to separate. The Cowherd caught up with him in heaven, but the Queen Mother suddenly pulled out the golden hairpin from her head, and a Milky Way appeared between the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. From then on, the two could only look at each other across the river and cry at each other.

Later, their loyal love of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl finally moved the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother, and allowed them to meet every year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. Tens of millions of magpies built magpie bridges on both sides of the Tianhe River, so that the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl could meet at the Magpie Bridge. Therefore, the day when the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl meet every year is the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, which is now the Chinese Valentine's Day.

Poems about Chinese Valentine's Day

The poignant story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl has been the subject of many poems by poets throughout the ages, which have been passed down to this day.

"Chinese Valentine's Day" Bai Juyi's smoke in the sky and the moonlight in the sky,
The autumn periods of Yin and Han are the same throughout the ages.
How much joy and separation,
Every year and in this night.

"Chinese Valentine's Day in a Foreign Country" Meng Haoran
On Chinese Valentine's Day in a foreign country, the hotel becomes more and more sad.
There is no needle-piercing woman, and the building is full of empty thoughts about the homeland.
The wind is beginning to reduce the heat, and the new moon is approaching autumn.
Who can bear to peek into the river and ask about bullfighting from afar?

The most famous among the poems is "Magpie Bridge Immortal" by Qin Guan
Thin clouds make tricks, flying stars spread hatred, and silver men are far away in darkness. As soon as the golden wind and jade dew meet, they will defeat countless people in the world.
Tenderness is like water, good times are like dreams, and I can’t bear to look at the Magpie Bridge on my way back! If the love between two people lasts for a long time, how can it last day and night?

Chinese Valentine's Day traditional customs

The following are some of the traditional customs of Chinese Valentine's Day, but today, many traditional customs of Chinese Valentine's Day have disappeared. But the legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl is still passed down to this day.

Begging for cleverness

Watch Altair and Vega on the night of Chinese Valentine's Day. Young girls and women should prepare seasonal fruits and offer sacrifices to the sky. There is also a skill-begging ceremony, where they devoutly beg the Goddess Weaver to bestow them with smart and skillful hands, and pray for a happy marriage and a good match.

Swim Qijie water

According to folklore, seven fairies from heaven came down to earth to take a bath in the river. The water in the river was imbued with fairy spirit. Taking a bath would not only bring good luck to people, but also prevent diseases. Folks in Guangxi believe that the water on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month is very holy and clean, can drive away evil spirits and avoid diseases, and also has the meaning of perfect love and happiness.

Knot red rope

One of the folk customs of Chinese Valentine's Day. If there are frail and sick children at home, parents will tie seven knots on the red rope on this day and hang it around the child's neck. The intention is to pray to God to bless the child's health and longevity.

Do modern people still celebrate Chinese Valentine’s Day?

In mainland China, Qixi Festival is known as "Chinese Valentine's Day", but nowadays it is more popular for the younger generation to celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14th. However, in today's commercialized society, some people still give Chinese Valentine's Day gifts to their partners. They like to send flowers, chocolates, accessories, small gifts, etc.

Send flowers on Chinese Valentine's Day - What flowers are good to send on Chinese Valentine's Day?

  • The flower language of 5 roses: I am sincerely happy to meet you

5 roses

  • 20 roses represent: I will love you forever (one of the most popular same-day flower bouquets)

20 roses

  • Bouquet of 99 roses: everlasting love that lasts forever

99 roses

  • Mixed color rose bouquet

Mixed color rose bouquet


Whether it’s the Chinese Valentine’s Day, the Lantern Festival, Valentine’s Day on February 14th in the West, or 520 Online Valentine’s Day, as long as you’re with the right person, it’s Valentine’s Day every day.

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