How it was celebrated
The festival is a celebration steeped in customs and traditions that honor love, handicrafts, and beauty. Among the key traditions is “qiqiao,” or “begging for skills,” in which young women showcase their domestic abilities, particularly in needlework. On this day, they might undertake tasks such as threading a needle in dim light or crafting delicate items, hoping to be blessed with enhanced dexterity and wisdom for a better life. Another intriguing custom involves the appreciation of spiders. Women would place small items like paper or silk near a spider overnight, then check the next morning for any webbing. Finding a web was believed to be a sign of skillful weaving, symbolizing the influence of Zhinü, the celestial weaver, and wishes for improved craftsmanship. While many traditions have faded over time, some continue to thrive. “Nowadays people in Longnan, Northwest China’s Gansu Province, still sing for seven days and eight nights to celebrate the festival,” Xiao Fang, head of the Department of Anthropology and Folklore Studies at Beijing Normal University, told the Global Times. This has evolved into the annual “Xihe Qiqiao Festival,” one of the most well-preserved and longest-standing Qixi Festival folk activities in China. Renowned for its long heritage, simple yet profound lyrics, spectacular performances, and large participation, the Xihe Qiqiao Festival was included on the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection List in 2008.
Since the essence of the festival is love and happiness, modern ways of celebrating it also includes young couples sitting out under the clear night sky to observe the Cowherd and Weaver Girl stars (Altair and Vega).
“Many places even decorate local bridges to resemble the ‘Magpie Bridge,’ and young men and women cross these decorated bridges, illuminated with lights, to experience the romantic reunion of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl and to embrace the spirit of their faithful love,” Li Hanqiu, a veteran folk custom expert, told the Global Times.
Special snacks also play a role in the celebration. The “qiaoguo,” a delicately shaped and fried pastry, symbolizes dexterity and skill. Families prepare and share these pastries, which not only align with the festival’s focus on craftsmanship but also emphasize themes of love, creativity, and blessings.
Traditions vary across regions. In southwestern China, young women dye their nails with balsam flower juice, turning them a reddish color. This practice serves both as personal adornment and a celebration of the festival’s romantic and skillful aspects, honoring beauty and femininity.
The Qixi Festival is a vibrant tapestry of customs that celebrate the values of love, skill, and beauty, making it a cherished occasion that honors traditional values and romantic legends.