Girls demonstrate their sewing and embroidery skills
It has become a fascinating tradition in China for girls to showcase their sewing and embroidery skills on the night before Qi Xi Festival.
Girls will toss a needle into a bowl of water on the sewing night. If the needle stays on the water surface instead of sinking, it indicates that the girl has exceptional sewing skills and will become a capable woman in the family.
Single women gather to pray together
The Chinese and Japanese people firmly believe that offering prayers for love, marriage, and family on Qi Xi Festival brings about spiritual and successful outcomes.
Therefore, on this day, single women often come together to pray for finding their ideal partner. Engaged or married women pray for the early birth of a son.
The legend behind Qi Xi Festival in China
The origin of Qi Xi Festival is derived from a touching love story between Zhinu – a heavenly weaver fairy – and Niulang, a cowherd.
Their peaceful love was abruptly interrupted by the disapproval of the celestial court regarding the union of beings from heaven and mortals. The couple was separated and compelled to live on opposite sides of the Milky Way.
Niulang and Zhinu can only reunite once a year on Qi Xi Festival when magpies form a bridge across the Milky Way to bring them together.
A historic event
Qi Xi Festival is a traditional event in China that has been celebrated since approximately 207 BC to 220 AD, originating during the Han dynasty. This festival holds significant historical importance within Chinese culture.
The largest constellation
The Vega constellation represents the fairy Zhinu in the legend of Qi Xi Festival and is one of the five largest stars in the sky.
In comparison to the Sun, this constellation is 16 times larger, with a temperature of about 10,000 degrees, and is 25 times brighter than the Sun.
The festival dedicated to daughters
Qi Xi Festival in China has always been dedicated to daughters since ancient times. According to folklore, Chinese girls have been taught sewing and embroidery from a young age.
On Qi Xi Festival, girls also pray to the fairy Zhinu for intelligence and skillfulness like hers.
Preventing misfortune
In many regions of China, it is believed that adorning the house with ox horns and flowers on Qi Xi Festival will protect the entire family from unfortunate events.
Additionally, on the night of the lunar July 7th every year, Chinese women cleanse themselves, and children wash their faces in the backyard with water, hoping to become more beautiful.
Sharing blessings
After being offered to Niulang and Zhinu, ritual items such as fruits, tea, and cosmetics are given back to young women.
Especially, the cosmetics are sprinkled on the roof, while the remaining half is distributed evenly among other women. It is believed that this gesture brings beauty to girls, resembling Zhinu.
Inspiring other festivals
Based on the significance of Qi Xi Festival in China, many countries worldwide have also organized similar events on this day.
Some of these similar festivals include Tanabata in Japan, Chilseok in Korea, and Qi Xi Festival in Vietnam, all celebrating love on this special occasion.
Various customs in different regions
What makes Qi Xi Festival intriguing is that each region in China has different customs, contributing to the festival’s unique cultural features.
For example, in the southwestern region of China, women paint their toenails and wash their hair with wooden leaves to enhance their beauty and attract true love on Qi Xi Festival.
Above are ten intriguing facts about Qi Xi Festival that may not be widely known. Share this information about this special holiday with everyone!
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