The tale behind the Qixi festival
The Qixi Festival (七夕) celebrates the annual meeting of the cowherd and the weaver girl in Chinese mythology. It falls on the 7th day of the 7th month on the Chinese calendar. It is sometimes called the Double Seventh Festival or the Chinese Valentine's Day.
Traditionally, people would look up at the sky and find a bright star in the constellation Aquila as well as the star Vega, which are identified as Niulang and Zhinu. The two stars shine on opposite sides of the Milky Way.
Published in Macau Magazine, September 2013
