It’s Cindy.
It’s Chinese Valentine’s Day, so wish all of you a very happy day today!
Some of my students/friends told me, it’s lucky to be a Chinese because you celebrate special days such as birthday and Valentine’s Day twice a year!
Hehe…
I have to say, yes, it’s lucky being a Chinese because it not only means I celebrate Valentine’s twice a year but also I don’t need to struggle for learning characters!
Since it is Chinese Valentine, let me tell you the beautiful story behind this special day.
Chinese Valentine’s Day is on the 7th day of the 7th month in lunar calendar, so it’s also called Double 7th Festival.
A long time ago…
The Emperor of Heaven had seven daughters. One day they went down to the Earth and played around a clear river.
When they bathed themselves in the river, there was a Cowherd happened to pass by the river.
He saw these beautiful girls bathing and playing in the river.
He couldn’t help thinking if he could marry one of them…
So he decided to hide one of the girls’ fairy clothes.
After bathing, the youngest sister couldn’t find her fairy clothes…
Without the fairy clothes, she wouldn’t be able to return back to heaven.
The Cowherd turned up, and asked her to marry him.
She saw all her sisters flying back to heaven, and then looked at the Cowherd, she agreed with the marriage.
The youngest fairy sister, who is also called Wave Maid, and the Cowherd fell in love and had a very happy life together.
However, when Emperor of Heaven knew their marriage, he was very angry.
He ordered his youngest daughter back to heaven, and decided to separate them.
Emperor put Wave Maid on one side of Milky Way and Cowherd on the other to punish them.
(So the star which Wave Maid represents is Vega, and the one represents Cowherd is Altair)
The Cowherd and Wave Maid were very sad because of their separation, but they can only look at each other cross the Milky Way.
Finally the Emperor of Heaven was touched by their love and allowed them to meet once a year.
This fell on the 7th day of the 7th month.
The magpies gather to form a bridge on this day, so the couple can cross the Milky Way to spend time together.
It is said that it’s always rainy on the 7th day of the 7th month because the rain is the tears from the couple.
This story is very well-known in Chinese community.
As we have an extra Valentine’s Day, the flower shop and restaurant owners are very happy to celebrate it the most!
It just means buying more flowers and dining out in fancy restaurant with your lover!
In ancient time, when girls were not allowed to work like men could do.
They had to master their waving and embroidering skills as these skills can bring them money.
When men were choosing their wives, the girls’ skills became one of the most important considerations.
So some young girls catch spiders on Double Seventh Festival and worship the Vega.
They hope the spiders and fairies can help they improve their waving and embroidering skills.
(Maybe they were secretly hoping that the fairy can help them find their Mr. Right?)
This festival has been celebrated since Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220).
The Chinese name of the festival is called ‘Qi Xi’, means the 7th night.
Nowadays, people don’t celebrate it in the traditional way, but the legend of Cowherd and Wave Maid is deeply inside everyone’s heart.
If you are interested in this legend, google it!
You will find more versions of the same story with different details.
I will talk about lunar calendar, and how we count days next time.
Hope you all like the romantic legend, and enjoy the romantic day!
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Regards
Cindy
