Chinese Valentine’s Day in China ― Date, History, and Details
Chinese Valentine’s Day in China may be something you want to learn more about, and we want to help with that.
Let's dive deeper into learning more about the history of Chinese Valentine’s Day in China and why people celebrate or observe it.
History of Chinese Valentine’s Day in China and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
Chinese Valentine’s Day, also known as the “Double Seventh Festival”, is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month of the Chinese calendar. It is a traditional Chinese holiday that celebrates the annual meeting of the cowherd and weaver girl in Chinese mythology.
The holiday is derived from the Chinese folk tale of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. The story tells of the love between Niulang, a poor cowherd, and Zhinü, a fairy who was sent to earth to weave cloth for the gods. They fell in love and married, but Zhinü’s mother, the Queen of Heaven, found out and was enraged. She separated the two lovers by putting the Milky Way between them. Once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month, a flock of magpies would form a bridge over the Milky Way so that Niulang and Zhinü could be together for a single day.
Today, the holiday is celebrated by young couples. On this day, they exchange gifts, usually chocolate or flowers, and spend time together. Many women also wear qipao, a traditional Chinese dress, on this day.