Source: CCTV.com

08-02-2006 10:51

Just like the Valentine's Day in the West, China also has a day devoted to love. Qi Xi Festival, or the seventh eve of the seventh month on the Lunar calenda, falls on the 31st of July this year. There may not be chocolate or cards, but the Chinese have many charming customs associated with this romantic day for lovers.

Grandma Chen said："We've been making these since April. It's fun to do it together with lots of pepole."Grandma Wang said:"The young people prefer some modern models. Like the World Cup, or spacecraft."

The year 2006 is a special year with two Lunar months of July. Therefore the couples can celebrate two Qi Xi Festivals. Such a case only occurs every 38 years.

The actives of Chinese Valentine's Day Today

Yesterday, experts from the Chinese Folk Literature & Arts Society, the China Federation of literary and Art Circles and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences gathered in Xingtai in North China's Hebei Province for a declaration on protecting the individuality of Qixi culture.

In Nanjing in East China's Jiangsu Province, a total of 770,000 coloured paper birds decorated the castle of the Zhonghua Gate yesterday, wishing the city good luck in love.

And nearly 40 young people in traditional Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220) costumes, gathered in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province yesterday to celebrate the festival.

Three couples made a "Magpie Bridge" to help the Cowherd and Weaving Maid cross the Milkyway and be reunited. In the ancient story, magpies spread their wings to form a bridge across the Milkyway on July 7, enabling the couple to meet at night in heaven.

According to the Chinese lunar calendar, there will be two Qixi festivals this year. So the Cowherd and Weaving Maid can meet again, when the next festival falls on August 31

 

Editor:Chen Minji