Chinese people love celebration. Some are more important than others. Traditional festivals are important parts of the life and even

become the customs, such asSpring Festival 春節 or the Chinese Lunar New Year

(Lunar Calendar January 1)Pure and Brightness Festival ( 清明節 ):

(Gregorian Calendar April 5)The Dragon Boat Festival( 端午節 )

(Lunar Calendar May 5)Chinese Valentine’s Day (七夕 )

(Lunar Calendar July 7)The Mid-Autumn Festival ( 中秋節 )

(Lunar Calendar August 15)

The Love Story

Chinese Valentine’s

Day

Mary Tian, Ph.D.

Th e Love S toryTh e Love S tory

• Chinese Valentine's Day is on the 7th Chinese Valentine's Day is on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month in the day of the 7th lunar month in the Chinese calendar. A love story for this Chinese calendar. A love story for this day is about the 7th daughter of day is about the 7th daughter of Emperor of Heaven and an orphaned Emperor of Heaven and an orphaned cowherd. The Emperor separated cowherd. The Emperor separated them. them.

• The 7th daughter was forced to move The 7th daughter was forced to move to the star Vega and the cowherd to the star Vega and the cowherd moved to the star Altair. They are moved to the star Altair. They are allowed to meet only once a year on allowed to meet only once a year on the day of 7th day of 7th lunar month.the day of 7th day of 7th lunar month.

The story began from….The story began from….• The good-looking poor orphaned boy The good-looking poor orphaned boy

living with his elder brother and sister-in-living with his elder brother and sister-in-law. After his parents past away, his law. After his parents past away, his brother inherited the house and the land. brother inherited the house and the land. The boy owned an old ox. He needed to The boy owned an old ox. He needed to work on the farm‘s field with the ox work on the farm‘s field with the ox everyday. So he was called a cowherd everyday. So he was called a cowherd ((牛郎牛郎 )) His daily life was just like in a His daily life was just like in a Cinderella story.Cinderella story.

• The 7th daughter of Emperor is good at The 7th daughter of Emperor is good at handcrafting, especially weaving clothing. handcrafting, especially weaving clothing. So she was called a Weaving MaidSo she was called a Weaving Maid((織織女女 )). The Emperor likes her skill to weave . The Emperor likes her skill to weave clouds and rainbows to beautify the clouds and rainbows to beautify the world.world.

The Ox…The Ox…

• was actually an immortal from the Heaven. was actually an immortal from the Heaven. He made mistakes in the Heaven and was He made mistakes in the Heaven and was punished as an ox in the Earth. One day, the punished as an ox in the Earth. One day, the ox suddenly said to the cowherd, "You are a ox suddenly said to the cowherd, "You are a nice person. If you want to get married, go nice person. If you want to get married, go to the brook and your wish will be come to the brook and your wish will be come true." The cowherd went to the brook and true." The cowherd went to the brook and saw all 7 pretty daughters of Emperor came saw all 7 pretty daughters of Emperor came down from Heaven and took a bath in there. down from Heaven and took a bath in there.

Fascinated by the youngest and also the most Fascinated by the youngest and also the most beautiful one, he took away her fairy clothes secretly. beautiful one, he took away her fairy clothes secretly. The other six fairies went away after bath. The The other six fairies went away after bath. The youngest couldn't fly back without her fairy clothes. youngest couldn't fly back without her fairy clothes. Then the cowherd appeared and told her that he Then the cowherd appeared and told her that he would not return her clothes unless she promised to be would not return her clothes unless she promised to be his wife. After a little hesitation and with a mixture of his wife. After a little hesitation and with a mixture of shyness and eagerness, she agreed to the request from shyness and eagerness, she agreed to the request from this handsome man. So they married and had two this handsome man. So they married and had two children two years later.children two years later.

One day, the old ox was dying hide for and told One day, the old ox was dying hide for and told the cowherd that he should keep his emergency the cowherd that he should keep his emergency purpose.purpose.

• While the 7th princess was flying While the 7th princess was flying to the Heaven with her to the Heaven with her grandmother, the cowboy wore grandmother, the cowboy wore the ox hide, took his children in the ox hide, took his children in two bamboo baskets with his two bamboo baskets with his wife's old fairy clothes and wife's old fairy clothes and chased after his wife in the sky. chased after his wife in the sky.

•The Emperor found the sky's The Emperor found the sky's not that beautiful as before not that beautiful as before without the 7th daughter weaving without the 7th daughter weaving clouds and rainbows. He wanted clouds and rainbows. He wanted his daughter's grandmother to his daughter's grandmother to find the missing daughter and to find the missing daughter and to bring her back. bring her back.

The Separation of Cowboy & his wife The Separation of Cowboy & his wife

• The grandmother made a milky way in the The grandmother made a milky way in the sky with her hairpin, which kept them sky with her hairpin, which kept them separated. The 7th princess was moved to the separated. The 7th princess was moved to the star Vega (The swooping - Eagle) in the Lyra star Vega (The swooping - Eagle) in the Lyra (Harp) constellation.(Harp) constellation.

• And the cowherd with his two children And the cowherd with his two children stayed in the star Altair (Flying one) in the stayed in the star Altair (Flying one) in the Aquila (Eagle) constellation. The star of Aquila (Eagle) constellation. The star of Vega is also known as the Weaving Maid Vega is also known as the Weaving Maid Star and the star of Altair is as the Cowherd Star and the star of Altair is as the Cowherd Star in China.Star in China.

The Colorful Bridge by the The Colorful Bridge by the Magpies…Magpies…

• Magpies were moved by their true Magpies were moved by their true love and many of them gathered and love and many of them gathered and formed a bridge for the couple to formed a bridge for the couple to meet in the evening of the 7th day of meet in the evening of the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, which is the day the 7th lunar month, which is the day the Emperor allowed them to meet the Emperor allowed them to meet once a year. once a year.

They said that it's hard to find a magpie They said that it's hard to find a magpie on Chinese Valentine's Day in China, on Chinese Valentine's Day in China, because all magpies fly to make the because all magpies fly to make the bridge for the Weaving Maid and bridge for the Weaving Maid and Cowherd. The one thing to prove that is Cowherd. The one thing to prove that is the feathers on the head of the magpies the feathers on the head of the magpies are much lesser after the Chinese are much lesser after the Chinese Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day.

If the night Chinese Valentine's If the night Chinese Valentine's Day rains, the rain are the tears of the Day rains, the rain are the tears of the Weaving Maid and Cowherd.Weaving Maid and Cowherd.

This is a festival for ….This is a festival for ….

young unmarried girls and for young unmarried girls and for young lovers who observe the young lovers who observe the romantic occasion by romantic occasion by exchanging gifts, strolling in exchanging gifts, strolling in moonlit parks, and praying in moonlit parks, and praying in temples for future temples for future matrimonial bliss. matrimonial bliss.