Qixi, also known as the Qiqiao Festival or the Seventh Night Festival, is a Chinese festival celebrating the annual meeting of the cowherd Niulang and weaver girl Zhinu in mythology. It falls on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month on the Chinese calendar. This year it falls on Wednesday, August 7.

Customs

In bygone days, Qixi was not only a special day for lovers, but also for girls. It is also known as the "Begging for Skills Festival" or "Daughters' Festival."

In this day, girls will throw a sewing needle into a bowl full of water on the night of Qixi as a test of embroidery skills. If the needle floats on top of the water instead of sinking, it proves the girl is a skilled embroiders.

Single women also pray for finding a good husband in the future. And the newly married women pray to become pregnant quickly.

Tradition transformed

Qixi is nowadays referred to as the "Chinese Valentine's Day." More and more young Chinese people begin to celebrate this day in a very similar way as that in western countries.