The Magic of Qixi Festival: 3 Simple Steps to Year-Long Fortune

11 September, 2024

When is the Qixi Festival in 2024?

The Qixi Festival, also known as the Seventh Night Festival, is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. It is associated with the romantic tale of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl, known as Ngau Lang and Chuc Nu in Vietnamese folklore. This festival is considered the Asian equivalent of Valentine’s Day, commemorating the love between the cowherd and the weaver girl.

As such, singles often pray for love and luck during the Qixi Festival, while married couples wish for family harmony and happiness. Lovers often visit temples to pray for a lasting relationship.

In 2024, the Qixi Festival falls on Saturday, August 10th, 2024, in the Gregorian calendar.

Performing Good Deeds on Qixi Brings Luck for the Year

What should you do on Qixi Festival for good luck?

Visit temples to pray for love and peace

According to Vietnamese beliefs and feng shui principles, many people visit temples on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month to pray for peace and well-being for their loved ones and families. Additionally, after periods of stress and fatigue from work or studies, visiting a temple can help calm the mind and bring a sense of tranquility and serenity.

Qixi is also an opportunity for couples to pray for a stronger bond and for singles to wish for better luck in finding their soulmates.

Eat red bean dessert

According to tradition, eating red bean dessert during the Qixi Festival is believed to bring singles good luck in finding their soulmates. For couples, consuming this dessert is thought to enhance their romance and happiness. The red color of the beans also symbolizes luck and prosperity.

Perform good deeds and accumulate virtues

Qixi Festival holds special spiritual significance. To attract good luck and peace, it is advisable to engage in charitable acts. Performing good deeds will also help accumulate virtues for the future. On this day, consider doing charitable acts such as releasing captive animals or donating to the less fortunate to accumulate blessings and invite luck and a smooth life ahead.

This information is for reference only.

Frequently asked questions

The Qixi Festival, also known as the Chinese Valentine’s Day, is a traditional holiday celebrating the annual meeting of the cowherd and weaver girl in Chinese mythology. It is a romantic and cultural event, often marked with romantic gestures and wishes for lasting love.

There are a few simple steps you can take to attract good fortune during this festival. Firstly, write down your wishes and tie them to a tree using a red string. This symbolizes your hopes and desires taking root and growing. Secondly, light incense and offer sweet treats to the Weaver Maid and Cowherd stars. This traditional offering is believed to bring good luck and fortune. Lastly, spend time with loved ones and share your wishes with them, as the festival is also about strengthening bonds and creating lasting memories.

The festival has a strong astronomical significance. The Weaver Maid and Cowherd stars, representing the weaver girl and cowherd in the myth, are two stars in the Milky Way galaxy. On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, these stars are at their closest point, creating a ‘bridge’ in the sky, which is said to allow the lovers to meet.

Traditional activities include stargazing, as the festival coincides with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, often referred to as the ‘Tears of the Weaver Maid’. People also exchange gifts, particularly fans and handkerchiefs, which are believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. Writing poetic wishes and participating in temple fairs are also common practices during this festival.

The Qixi Festival is celebrated by Chinese communities around the world. You can participate by learning about the myths and legends associated with the festival, decorating your space with red and pink colors, and organizing a stargazing event to observe the Milky Way and the Perseid meteor shower. You can also join in the spirit of love and romance by spending time with loved ones and exchanging well-wishes.