When did Chinese Valentine's Day originate?
The Qixi Festival, also known as the Qiqiao Festival and the Girl's Day, is one of the traditional Chinese festivals, held every year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. There are many theories about the origin of Chinese Valentine's Day, the most widely circulated of which is the legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. This article will give you a detailed introduction to the origin time, historical background and related hot topics of Qixi Festival.
1. The origin time of Chinese Valentine’s Day
The origin of the Qixi Festival can be traced back to ancient Chinese star worship and farming culture. According to historical records, the formation of Qixi Festival went through the following stages:
| period | Records related to Chinese Valentine's Day |
|---|---|
| Pre-Qin period | There are records about Vega in "The Book of Songs·Xiaoya·Dadong", but it has not yet formed a festival. |
| Han Dynasty | The Chinese Valentine's Day began to take shape, and the legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl gradually became popular. |
| Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties | The Chinese Valentine's Day has become a fixed festival, and the custom of begging for clever things is prevalent. |
| Tang and Song Dynasties | The Qixi Festival reaches its peak, with grand celebrations held by both the palace and the people. |
2. Historical background of Chinese Valentine’s Day
The origin of the Qixi Festival is closely related to ancient astronomical observations. The ancients divided the stars in the sky into twenty-eight constellations, among which Vega and Altair (Altair) are located in the constellations of Lyra and Aquila respectively. These two stars stand opposite each other in the night sky and are endowed with a romantic love story.
The legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl was first seen in "Altair" in "Nineteen Ancient Poems", and was later gradually perfected in ancient books such as "Jingchu Age Chronicles". According to legend, the Weaver Girl is the daughter of the Emperor of Heaven and is good at weaving; the Cowherd is a farmer in the world, hardworking and kind-hearted. The two fell in love and got married, but because they violated the rules of heaven, they were separated on both sides of the Milky Way and could only meet once a year on the seventh day of July.
3. Customs and evolution of Chinese Valentine’s Day
The traditional customs of Qixi Festival are rich and colorful, mainly including:
| custom | Description |
|---|---|
| Begging for cleverness | Women pray to the Weaver Girl for skill and wisdom on Chinese Valentine's Day, usually through needle-threading competitions. |
| Worship the Weaver Girl | Women set up incense tables to worship the Weaver Girl and pray for a happy marriage and a happy family. |
| Showing books and clothes | The ancients believed that the sunshine on the Chinese Valentine's Day had a sterilizing effect, so they would dry books and clothes on this day. |
| Eat Qiaoguo | The traditional food of the Chinese Valentine's Day is made of flour into various shapes, which symbolizes skill and happiness. |
With the development of the times, the customs of Qixi Festival are also constantly evolving. The modern Qixi Festival is more regarded as China's Valentine's Day, where young people give each other gifts and express their love.
4. Hot topics in the past 10 days and hot topics related to Chinese Valentine’s Day
The following are the recent hot topics and hot content on the Internet about Chinese Valentine’s Day:
| topic | heat index | Main content |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended Chinese Valentine’s Day gifts | ★★★★★ | Major e-commerce platforms have launched exclusive gift boxes for Chinese Valentine's Day, with jewelry, cosmetics, and electronic products being the most popular. |
| Qixi Festival Travel Guide | ★★★★ | Couples choose romantic destinations for vacation, with ancient towns, coastal cities and theme parks becoming popular choices. |
| Chinese Valentine's Day Traditional Culture Revival | ★★★ | Traditional festival celebrations such as begging activities and Hanfu parades are held in many places to attract young people to participate. |
| The rise of the single economy | ★★★ | The Chinese Valentine's Day consumer market for singles has expanded, such as "single party" and "self-reward" packages. |
5. The modern significance of Chinese Valentine’s Day
The Chinese Valentine's Day is not only the inheritance of traditional culture, but also an important opportunity for modern people to express their emotions. It reminds us to cherish love, family and friendship, while also providing development space for business and cultural and creative industries.
With the global spread of Chinese culture, Qixi Festival has gradually become known to the world. Many countries have begun to hold Chinese Valentine's Day themed activities, further promoting the international influence of Chinese culture.
Although the origin of the Chinese Valentine's Day is ancient, its spiritual core has never changed - that is, the pursuit of beautiful emotions and the yearning for a happy life. No matter how the times change, the Qixi Festival will continue to be full of vitality and vitality as an important part of Chinese culture.
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