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Chinese Valentine's Day

They may not celebrate with chocolate and flowers, but the Chinese have a day devoted to love.

Valentine's Day, the annual tribute to romantic love, is fast approaching. Florists, card shops, and chocolate vendors are all doing a raging business as lovers rush to purchase tokens of their affection.

Although it is not as popular, the Chinese also have a day devoted to love. Qi Qiao Jie, or the seventh eve, is also called Chinese Valentine Day. While not as lavish, the festival does have its own charming customs.

A bit of History - Qi Qiao Jie

Given its ancient origins, it is not surprising that there is more than one legend associated with this romantic festival. Both involve the position of the stars on the seventh day of the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar (August 22nd in the year 2004).

According to the first version (my favorite), the seven daughters of the Goddess of Heaven caught the eye of a Cowherd during one of their visits to earth. The daughters were bathing in a river and the Cowherd, Niu Lang, decided to have a bit of fun by running off with their clothing. It fell upon the prettiest daughter (who happened to be the seventh born), to ask him to return their clothes.

Of course, since Niu Lang had seen the daughter, Zhi Nu, naked, they had to be married. The couple lived happily for several years, until either the cowherd died or the Goddess of Heaven simply became fed up with her daughter's absence and ordered her return to heaven. In any event, the mother finally took pity on the couple and allowed them to be reunited once a year. Legend has it that on the seventh night of the seventh moon, magpies form a bridge with their wings for Zhi Nu to cross to meet her husband.

In the second story, Niu Lang and Zhi Nu were fairies living on opposite sides of the Milky Way.
Feeling sorry for the two lonely sprites, the Jade Emperor of Heaven actively tried to bring them together. Unfortunately, he succeeded too well - Niu Lang and Zhi Nu became so enraptured with each other that they neglected their work. Annoyed, the Jade Emperor decreed that from that point on, the couple could only meet once a year - on the seventh night of the seventh moon.

Today, star gazers celebrate Qi Qiao Jie by gazing up at the star Vega, east of the Milky Way which represents Zhi Nu, and at the constellation Aquila, on the west side of the Milky Way, where Niu Lang waits for his lover to join him.

"Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction." (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)

In western culture, there are two theories about the origin of Valentine's Day. The first concerns a Roman named Valentine; to make things even more confusing, there are at least three separate versions of who Valentine was. The most romantic portrays him as a physician who lived during the time of Emperor Claudius. A gastronomist, Valentine fell afoul of the Roman authorities when he converted to Christianity, and subsequently began treating the blind daughter of one of the Emperor's prison guards. Discovered, Valentine was arrested and executed when he refused to renounce his religious beliefs. The condemned physician had fallen in love with his blind patient, and just before his death - on February 14, in 269 or 270 AD - he is supposed to have sent her a note, signed "from your Valentine."

In another version, Valentine was a priest who violated Roman law by marrying Christian couples. There was a period of time when marriage was forbidden, as Claudius had decided single men made better soldiers, since they weren't distracted by thoughts of their families back home. Valentine's defiance of the law led to his being beaten and beheaded. Yet another version says Valentine was a bishop of Terni. What is certain is that a person by the name of Valentine existed and was persecuted for his Christian beliefs.

Some of the traditions associated with Valentine's Day can also be traced to the Feast of Lupercalia, a love festival honoring a pagan Roman god. Traditionally held for two weeks beginning on February 15th, in 496 AD Pope Gelasius changed the date of the festival to the 14th, in order to try and limit its more pagan elements. Instead, the celebration of love and the commemoration of Valentine (whom the Pope canonized at the same time) became forever linked.

How Do the Chinese celebrate Qi Qiao Jie?

Unfortunately, festivities surrounding Chinese Valentine's day have fallen off in recent years. In the past, Seven Sisters Associations would put up colorful "shrines" made of paper, fresh fruit, and flowers as a tribute to Niu Lang and Zhi Nu. Today, younger Chinese are often unfamiliar with the holiday, and more likely to celebrate Valentine's day on February 14th. Still, in some cities efforts are being made to bring back many of the traditional festivals - including Qi Qiao Jie - in order to attract tourists.

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