jixing qiqiao: traditions for china's valentine's day
works produced during the competition in guali town, xiaoshan district, hangzhou [photo/zjol.com.cn]
qixi, also known as china's valentine's day, falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, which was aug 25 this year.
according to tradition in guali town, xiaoshan district, hangzhou, the celebrations for qixi is called jixing qiqiao. this tradition is considered an intangible cultural heritage of zhejiang province.
on this day, girls would wash their hair with juice extracted from willow leaves before being guided by their elders to propose a toast to the weaver girl and the cowherd, whom according to folklore was a couple that was separated by the jade emperor, the ruler of the universe as well as the father of the weaver girl.
after paying homage to the couple, girls would take part in a sewing competition before dropping their needles into water. those whose needles float are considered to have been blessed.
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