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Chinese Valentines Day |
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The Chinese Valentines Day dispels the idea that Valentines Day is a Western celebration. While it doesn’t occur in February, nonethless there is a day that the Chinese have set aside to celebrate lasting, romantic love. Celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, the Magpie Festival is based on the love story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. The story goes that seven fairy sisters were bathing in a lake when they were spotted by the young cowherd, Niulang. Urged on by his mischievous ox, the young man steals the young beauties clothes. When the fairy sisters realize what’s happened, they send the youngest, most beautiful of the sisters, Zhinü, to get back their clothes. Although she’s able to get back their clothes, because Niulang has seen her naked she must agree to marry him. From such an inauspicious beginning real love develops and they have two children. Unfortunately, the Goddess of Heaven is upset that a human has married a fairy girl and demands that Zhinü return to heaven where she must go back to weaving the clouds. Her husband is devastated when his wife has to leave, so when his cow tells him that if he kills him and cons his hide he’ll be able to sneak into heaven and get his wife. Believing his favorite cow, Niulang does as he was told, then gathers his two children and goes to find Zhinü. Unfortunately his disguise isn’t enough and the Goddess finds out what he’s done and she uses her hairpin to draw an uncrossable river (the Milky Way) between them. Forever Niulang and Zhinü are separated by the vast river, with Zhinü (the star Vega) at her loom weaving, and Niulang taking care of their two children (the star Altair’s two flanking stars). 
The legend goes on to say that once a year, magpies fly to the stars and use their wings to form a bridge so that the two lovers may be reunited. This occurs on the seventh night of the seventh moon and is the Chinese Valentines Day. The “Night of the Sevens” or the “Magpie Festival” is traditionally celebrated by young girls and isn’t a time of hearts, flowers and chocolate like it is in the West. Instead it is celebrated by melon carving and involves wishing for a husband. An offering by the single women or new brides in the household to Niulang and Zhinü is placed in the yard and is made up of tea, flowers, fruit and facial powder. When the offering is completed half of the powder is tossed on the roof and the rest of distributed among the young ladies. This act is believed to imbue the women with the beauty of Zhinü. While the Chinese Valentines Day is observed a bit differently than in the West, it is still a time to celebrate romantic love. Happy Valentines Day, no matter on what side of the world or on which day of the year you celebrate!
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