關於七夕節的英語作文（精選9篇）
關於七夕節的英語作文 篇1
The Double Seventh Festival, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, is a traditional festival full of romance. It often goes into August in the Gregorian calendar
This festival is in mid-summer when the weather is warm and the grass and trees reveal their luxurious greens. At night when the sky is dotted with stars, and people can see the Milky Way spanning from the north to the south. On each bank of it is a bright star, which see each other from afar. They are the Cowherd and Weaver Maid, and about them there is a beautiful love story passed down from generation to generation.
Long, long ago, there was an honest and kind-hearted fellow named Niu Lang (Cowhand). His parents died when he was a child. Later he was driven out of his home by his sister-in-law. So he lived by himself herding cattle and farming. One day, a fairy from heaven Zhi Nu (Weaver Maid) fell in love with him and came down secretly to earth and married him. The cowhand farmed in the field and the Weaver Maid wove at home. They lived a happy life and gave birth to a boy and a girl. Unfortunately, the God of Heaven soon found out the fact and ordered the Queen Mother of the Western Heavens to bring the Weaver Maid back.
With the help of celestial cattle, the Cowhand flew to heaven with his son and daughter. At the time when he was about to catch up with his wife, the Queen Mother took off one of her gold hairpins and made a stroke. One billowy river appeared in front of the Cowhand. The Cowhand and Weaver Maid were separated on the two banks forever and could only feel their tears. Their loyalty to love touched magpies, so tens of thousands of magpies came to build a bridge for the Cowhand and Weaver Maid to meet each other. The Queen Mother was eventually moved and allowed them to meet each year on the 7th of the 7th lunar monthh. Hence their meeting date has been called "Qi Xi" (Double Seventh).
Scholars have shown the Double Seventh Festival originated from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD220). Historical documents from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD371-420) mention the festival, while records from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) depict the grand evening banquet of Emperor Taizong and his concubines. By the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1279-1368) dynasties, special articles for the "Qi Xi" were seen being sold on markets in the capital. The bustling markets demonstrated the significance of the festival.
Today some traditional customs are still observed in rural areas of China, but have been weakened or diluted in urban cities. However, the legend of the Cowhand and Weaver Maid has taken root in the hearts of the people. In recent years, in particular, urban youths have celebrated it as Valentine's Day in China. As a result, owners of flower shops, bars and stores are full of joy as they sell more commodities for love.
關於七夕節的英語作文 篇2
The Double Seventh Festival， on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month， is a traditional festival full of romance. It often goes into August in the Gregorian calendar.
This festival is in mid-summer when the weather is warm and the grass and trees reveal their luxurious greens. At night when the sky is dotted with stars， and people can see the Milky Way spanning from the north to the south. On each bank of it is a bright star， which see each other from afar. They are the Cowherd and Weaver Maid， and about them there is a beautiful love story passed down from generation to generation.
Long， long ago， there was an honest and kind-hearted fellow named Niu Lang (Cowhand)。 His parents died when he was a child. Later he was driven out of his home by his sister-in-law. So he lived by himself herding cattle and farming. One day， a fairy from heaven Zhi Nu (Weaver Maid) fell in love with him and came down secretly to earth and married him. The cowhand farmed in the field and the Weaver Maid wove at home. They lived a happy life and gave birth to a boy and a girl. Unfortunately， the God of Heaven soon found out the fact and ordered the Queen Mother of the Western Heavens to bring the Weaver Maid back.
With the help of celestial cattle， the Cowhand flew to heaven with his son and daughter. At the time when he was about to catch up with his wife， the Queen Mother took off one of her gold hairpins and made a stroke. One billowy river appeared in front of the Cowhand. The Cowhand and Weaver Maid were separated on the two banks forever and could only feel their tears. Their loyalty to love touched magpies， so tens of
thousands of magpies came to build a bridge for the Cowhand and Weaver Maid to meet each other. The Queen M
關於七夕節的英語作文 篇3
Legend has it that on this evening, Niulang, or the Cowherd, and Zhinu, or the Weaving Maid, meet each other for their annual tryst on a bridge formed by sympathetic magpies over the Milky Way. If it happens to rain that night, a Chinese elder might say it is Zhinu weeping after meeting her husband Niulang on the Milky Way.
This day used to be commemorated as a festival for girls and also for young people in love. As the story goes, there was once a cowherd, Niulang, who lived with his elder brother and sister-in-law. But his sister-in-law disliked and abused him, and the boy was forced to leave home with only an old cow for company.
The cow, however, was a former god who had violated celestial rules and had been sent to earth in bovine form. One day he led Niulang to a lake where fairies came bathe on earth; among them was Zhinu, the most beautiful girl and a skilled seamstress. The two fell in love at first sight and were soon married. They had a son and a daughter, and their happy life was held up as an example for hundreds of years in China.
Yet in the eyes of the Jade Emperor, the Supreme Deity in Taoism, marriage between a mortal and a fairy was strictly forbidden. He sent his empress to fetch Zhinu. Niulang grew desperate when he discovered Zhinu had been taken back to heaven. Driven by Niulang's misery, the cow told him to turn its hide into a pair of shoes after it died.
The magic shoes whisked off Niulang, who carried his two children in baskets strung from a shoulder pole, off on a chase after the empress. The pursuit enraged the empress, who took her hairpin and slashed it across the sky, creating the Milky Way which separated husband from wife. But all was not lost. An army of magpies, moved by their love and devotion, formed a bridge across the Milky Way to reunite the family. Even the Jade Emperor was touchhed and allowed Niulang and Zhinu to meet once a year on the seventh night of the seventh month. It is said that at that night, children can hear the private conversation between the Weaving Maid and the Cowherd under the grape trellis. This is how Qixi came to be.
In actuality, the festival can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). People would traditionally look up at the sky and spot a bright star in the constellation Aquila, as well as the star Vega, identified as Niulang and Zhinu. The two stars shine on opposite sides of the Milky Way.
Qixi is also known as the "Begging for Skills Festival" or "Daughters' Festival." In the past, girls would hold ceremonies on the day and pray to Zhinu for wisdom, dexterity and a satisfying marriage. In some parts of Shandong Province, young women would offer fruit and pastries to her in return for a blessing of intelligence. If spiders were seen to weave webs on sacrificial objects, it was believed that Zhinu was offering positive feedback. In other parts of China, the custom was for seven close friends to gather to make dumplings. They would put into three separate dumplings a needle, a copper coin and a red date, which represented perfect needlework skills, good fortune and an early marriage respectively.
Young women in southern China wove small handicrafts with colored paper, grass and thread. Weaving and needlework competitions would be held to see who had the best hands and the brightest mind, prerequisites for being a good wife and mother.
However, these ancient traditions and customs have been slowly dying out. Fewer people than ever gaze at the heaven on that day to pick out the two stars shining bright on either side of the Milky Way -- that is, if they even know on which day Qixi falls.
關於七夕節的英語作文 篇4
QiQiao needle
This is the earliest QiQiao mode, and later began in han deteriorates. The fissura miscellanea, said: "the Chinese female often in July 7 colour in seven holes, people look to needle with learning." By age LiangZongMou jingchu, said: "the July 7, Pennsylvania is somebody else women wear seven self-expanding floor with gold and silver, or stone for yourself." "And", said: "all topographic exerts on July 7th layer, city of more than GongRen, put a needle. The needle floor." The five WangRenYu YiShi tianbao kaiyuan Tanabata, "said: by jin palace building, forming a hundred yards, high house can be overcome with dozens of people, Chen, fruit wine, with ZuoJu char sacrificial cow female star in nine holes, concubines to wear colors on needle thread for ever, skillfully. Move the hou qing of song, pleasures of people working. Soil is of validity. The correlations TaoZongYi yuan YuanShi records of court said: "the nine lead, QiQiao Tanabata. And, with colorful silk wear lady-in-waiting debut at first, for after finish, who was later lost the contributive to exchange, each person should be."
XiZhu should be perfect
This is a QiQiao earlier, the common later in QiQiao needle, roughly in the southern. In LiangZong deloitte was alarmed by the age of chu said, "Is TingZhong in Pennsylvania, Chen melon QiQiao in hei subnet. In melon is thought operator shall."
The five WangRenYu YiShi tianbao kaiyuan "said: July 7, the spider in a small box in catching, depending on the web to xiao, dilute the secret was thought. The more the loose talk, talk less." SongChaoMeng folk also effect the Tokyo records of wei menghua elder, "said little spider July seventh in the zygote, see, if the net is the circle skillfully." Song min-soon subtle and age, "said "Small spider storage and to wait for the density and net skillfully TianRuCheng" how "of the pleasures of city, said at a small box filled with Tanabata" spider, the "network density earlier." that was Therefore, the method of inspection, and different opportunely, miniaturization of the tang dynasty, miniaturization of thin, circular is miniaturization. Did much later tang
Cast needle. Check
This is the seventh QiQiao needle variants of customs, and different from needle, needle in the Ming and qing dynasties is the popular qixi. LiuDong Ming emperor, YuYi is the scenery of Beijing, said: "the lost 7 July afternoon. Women's aeration opportunely, worthy of the water, the water film pasta, embroidery needle shots at the bottom float, needle. Your heads of birds cloud content, your shoes and scissors, solanaceae water of Kilimanjaro; it refers to the nearest coarse and fine hammer of such as silk, such as axis, the wax on slow." The law also says ZhiShu zhili, liangxiang county (now Beijing southwest) ", July 7, QiQiao women, in water, borrow it needle with inspection work, to QiQiao night still in the fairy "please YuMinZhong has led the jasmine of news agency, said:" YanDou miscellanea, July 7 women with violence, and their respective bowls of water under the small needle shots, xu depending on the float. Or shadows underwater, cloud, and as such, coarse linen as cones, for rent to the woman."
A child born
The old custom, in a few days ago, the seventh in a small planks apply, sow the seeds of corn, let it gives the green seedling, put a small hut, flowers and trees in the above fields, make family small villages, called the "shell", or will mung bean, adzuki bean, wheat dip in magnetic bowl and apply bud, again with the red, blue wire rope a bundle, called "type", also called "five birth basin" or "life flowerpot". Across southern is also known as the "bubble", will grow opportunely opportunely, called the bean sprouts in bud bud needle or replace opportunely, in QiQiao surface. With wax model of image, such as cowboy, fairy tale characters, or the bald eagle, mandarin, etc, in the shape of animals, called "water water floating". And the baby dolls, wax make women buy home soil, the thought is in the son, called "im".
"Drink" enshrined grinding
The old folk music is grinding drink of children's toys, qixi, namely small clay accidentally image to preach the lotus, lotus dress with half an arm. Every year in July 7, "pan of kaifeng building street east song, west door watts beam, north door outside watts, rosefinch outside street and horse street, sold in grinding, but small plastic drink TuOu ear". In the late song dynasty after grinding, is no longer drink a little TuOu, instead, the more delicate as. The size of the music, drink grinding, the biggest different attitude to three feet high, and the child to in real. The materials are made by DiaoLou ivory carvings LongYan or use perfume, berganottin grinding of drink, but as the top, with delicate woodcarving, coloured drawing or pattern for the column with a red or green sand covered when, cage in the toy is more gold jewels adornment, a pair of grinding drink as cost of money. Provides the Tanabata QiQiao figure axis
Worship vega
"The fairy maiden" pure is the worship of the young woman,. They are mostly in advance and his friends and neighbors who are about six good, to 10 people, jointly. The ceremony was held in the moonlight bottom, a table, tea, wine, fruit for abital, longan, red jujube, (hazel, peanuts, melon seeds) offering; There are flowers and a few, red paper, insert the bottle, flower lead a small bowls. Then, a woman to worship the fairy, girls, fast, bath for one time to host the house, in AnQian for religious worship, sitting at the table, together eat peanuts, melon seeds, one side, silently towards vega their mind. Girls like to marry a pretty or young people hope, with precious, early to vega prayed. Play until midnight beginning.
關於七夕節的英語作文 篇5
The Double Seventh Festival, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, is a traditional festival full of romance. It often goes into August in the Gregorian calendar.
在我國，農曆七月初七的夜晚，天氣溫暖，草木飄香，這就是人們俗稱的七夕節，也有人稱之爲“乞巧節”或“女兒節”，這是中國傳統節日中最具浪漫色彩的一個節日，也是過去姑娘們最爲重視的日子。
This festival is in mid-summer when the weather is warm and the grass and trees reveal their luxurious greens. At night when the sky is dotted with stars, and people can see the Milky Way spanning from the north to the south. On each bank of it is a bright star, which see each other from afar. They are the Cowherd and Weaver Maid, and about them there is a beautiful love story passed down from generation to generation.
在晴朗的夏秋之夜，天上繁星閃耀，一道白茫茫的銀河橫貫南北，爭河的東西兩岸，各有一顆閃亮的星星，隔河相望，遙遙相對，那就是牽牛星和織女星。
Long, long ago, there was an honest and kind-hearted fellow named Niu Lang (Cowhand). His parents died when he was a child. Later he was driven out of his home by his sister-in-law. So he lived by himself herding cattle and farming. One day, a fairy from heaven Zhi Nu (Weaver Maid) fell in love with him and came down secretly to earth and married him. The cowhand farmed in the field and the Weaver Maid wove at home. They lived a happy life and gave birth to a boy and a girl. Unfortunately, the God of Heaven soon found out the fact and ordered the Queen Mother of the Western Heavens to bring the Weaver Maid back.
相傳在很早以前，南陽城西牛家莊裏有個聰明.忠厚的小夥子，父母早亡，只好跟着哥哥嫂子度日，嫂子馬氏爲人狠毒，經常虐待他，逼他幹很多的活，一天，天上的織女和諸仙女一起下凡遊戲，在河裏洗澡，牛郎在老牛的幫助下認識了織女，二人互生情意，後來織女便偷偷下凡，來到人間，做了牛郎的妻子。男耕女織，情深意重，他們生了一男一女兩個孩子，一家人生活得很幸福。但是好景不長，這事很快便讓天帝知道，王母娘娘親自下凡來，強行把織女帶回天上，恩愛夫妻被拆散。
With the help of celestial cattle, the Cowhand flew to heaven with his son and daughter. At the time when he was about to catch up with his wife, the Queen Mother took off one of her gold hairpins and made a stroke. One billowy river appeared in front of the Cowhand. The Cowhand and Weaver Maid were separated on the two banks forever and could only feel their tears. Their loyalty to love touched magpies, so tens of thousands of magpies came to build a bridge for the Cowhand and Weaver Maid to meet each other. The Queen Mother was eventually moved and allowed them to meet each year on the 7th of the 7th lunar month. Hence their meeting date has been called "Qi Xi" (Double Seventh).
牛郎上天無路，還是老牛告訴牛郎，在它死後，可以用它的皮做成鞋，穿着就可以上天。牛郎按照老牛的話做了，穿上牛皮做的鞋，拉着自己的兒女，一起騰雲駕霧上天去追織女，眼見就要追到了，豈知王母娘娘拔下頭上的金簪一揮，一道波濤洶涌的天河就出現了，牛郎和織女被隔在兩岸，只能相對哭泣流淚。他們的忠貞愛情感動了喜鵲，千萬只喜鵲飛來，搭成鵲橋，讓牛郎織女走上鵲橋相會，王母娘娘對此也無奈，只好允許兩人在每年七月七日於鵲橋相會。
Scholars have shown the Double Seventh Festival originated from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD220). Historical documents from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD371-420) mention the festival, while records from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) depict the grand evening banquet of Emperor Taizong and his concubines. By the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1279-1368) dynasties, special articles for the "Qi Xi" were seen being sold on markets in the capital. The bustling markets demonstrated the significance of the festival.
七夕乞巧，這個節日起源於漢代，東晉葛洪的《西京雜記》有“漢綵女常以七月七日穿七孔針於開襟樓，人俱習之”的記載，這便是我們於古代文獻中所見到的最早的關於乞巧的記載。後來的唐宋詩詞中，婦女乞巧也被屢屢提及，唐朝王建有詩說“闌珊星斗綴珠光，七夕宮娥乞巧忙”。據《開元天寶遺事》載：唐太宗與妃子每逢七夕在清宮夜宴，宮女們各自乞巧，這一習俗在民間也經久不衰，代代延續。
Today some traditional customs are still observed in rural areas of China, but have been weakened or diluted in urban cities. However, the legend of the Cowhand and Weaver Maid has taken root in the hearts of the people. In recent years, in particular, urban youths have celebrated it as Valentine's Day in China. As a result, owners of flower shops, bars and stores are full of joy as they sell more commodities for love.
直到今日，七夕仍是一個富有浪漫色彩傳統節日。但不少習俗活動已弱化或消失，惟有象徵忠貞愛情的牛郎織女的傳說，一直流傳民間。
關於七夕節的英語作文 篇6
Legend has it that on this evening, Niulang, or the Cowherd, and Zhinu, or the Weaving Maid, meet each other for their annual tryst on a bridge formed by sympathetic magpies over the Milky Way. If it happens to rain that night, a Chinese elder might say it is Zhinu weeping after meeting her husband Niulang on the Milky Way.
傳說每年農曆7月7日的晚上，牛郎(牧牛人)和織女(編織女工)會在由喜鵲搭建在銀河之上的橋上重逢。如果那天下雨，中國的老人就會告訴你，牛郎織女在銀河兩岸流淚。
This day used to be commemorated as a festival for girls and also for young people in love. As the story goes, there was once a cowherd, Niulang, who lived with his elder brother and sister-in-law. But his sister-in-law disliked and abused him, and the boy was forced to leave home with only an old cow for company.
The cow, however, was a former god who had violated celestial rules and had been sent to earth in bovine form. One day he led Niulang to a lake where fairies came bathe on earth; among them was Zhinu, the most beautiful girl and a skilled seamstress. The two fell in love at first sight and were soon married. They had a son and a daughter, and their happy life was held up as an example for hundreds of years in China.
Yet in the eyes of the Jade Emperor, the Supreme Deity in Taoism, marriage between a mortal and a fairy was strictly forbidden. He sent his empress to fetch Zhinu. Niulang grew desperate when he discovered Zhinu had been taken back to heaven. Driven by Niulang's misery, the cow told him to turn its hide into a pair of shoes after it died.
The magic shoes whisked off Niulang, who carried his two children in baskets strung from a shoulder pole, off on a chase after the empress. The pursuit enraged the empress, who took her hairpin and slashed it across the sky, creating the Milky Way which separated husband from wife. But all was not lost. An army of magpies, moved by their love and devotion, formed a bridge across the Milky Way to reunite the family. Even the Jade Emperor was touch
關於七夕節的英語作文 篇7
The Double Seventh Festival, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, is a traditional festival full of romance. It often goes into August in the Gregorian calendar
This festival is in mid-summer when the weather is warm and the grass and trees reveal their luxurious greens. At night when the sky is dotted with stars, and people can see the Milky Way spanning from the north to the south. On each bank of it is a bright star, which see each other from afar. They are the Cowherd and Weaver Maid, and about them there is a beautiful love story passed down from generation to generation.
Long, long ago, there was an honest and kind-hearted fellow named Niu Lang (Cowhand). His parents died when he was a child. Later he was driven out of his home by his sister-in-law. So he lived by himself herding cattle and farming. One day, a fairy from heaven Zhi Nu (Weaver Maid) fell in love with him and came down secretly to earth and married him. The cowhand farmed in the field and the Weaver Maid wove at home. They lived a happy life and gave birth to a boy and a girl. Unfortunately, the God of Heaven soon found out the fact and ordered the Queen Mother of the Western Heavens to bring the Weaver Maid back.
With the help of celestial cattle, the Cowhand flew to heaven with his son and daughter. At the time when he was about to catch up with his wife, the Queen Mother took off one of her gold hairpins and made a stroke. One billowy river appeared in front of the Cowhand. The Cowhand and Weaver Maid were separated on the two banks forever and could only feel their tears. Their loyalty to love touched magpies, so tens of thousands of magpies came to build a bridge for the Cowhand and Weaver Maid to meet each other. The Queen Mother was eventually moved and allowed them to meet each year on the 7th of the 7th lunar monthh. Hence their meeting date has been called "Qi Xi" (Double Seventh).
Scholars have shown the Double Seventh Festival originated from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD220). Historical documents from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD371-420) mention the festival, while records from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) depict the grand evening banquet of Emperor Taizong and his concubines. By the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1279-1368) dynasties, special articles for the "Qi Xi" were seen being sold on markets in the capital. The bustling markets demonstrated the significance of the festival.
Today some traditional customs are still observed in rural areas of China, but have been weakened or diluted in urban cities. However, the legend of the Cowhand and Weaver Maid has taken root in the hearts of the people. In recent years, in particular, urban youths have celebrated it as Valentine's Day in China. As a result, owners of flower shops, bars and stores are full of joy as they sell more commodities for love.
關於七夕節的英語作文 篇8
The Double Seventh Festival， on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month， is a traditional festival full of romance. It often goes into August in the Gregorian calendar.
This festival is in mid-summer when the weather is warm and the grass and trees reveal their luxurious greens. At night when the sky is dotted with stars， and people can see the Milky Way spanning from the north to the south. On each bank of it is a bright star， which see each other from afar. They are the Cowherd and Weaver Maid， and about them there is a beautiful love story passed down from generation to generation.
Long， long ago， there was an honest and kind-hearted fellow named Niu Lang (Cowhand)。 His parents died when he was a child. Later he was driven out of his home by his sister-in-law. So he lived by himself herding cattle and farming. One day， a fairy from heaven Zhi Nu (Weaver Maid) fell in love with him and came down secretly to earth and married him. The cowhand farmed in the field and the Weaver Maid wove at home. They lived a happy life and gave birth to a boy and a girl. Unfortunately， the God of Heaven soon found out the fact and ordered the Queen Mother of the Western Heavens to bring the Weaver Maid back.
With the help of celestial cattle， the Cowhand flew to heaven with his son and daughter. At the time when he was about to catch up with his wife， the Queen Mother took off one of her gold hairpins and made a stroke. One billowy river appeared in front of the Cowhand. The Cowhand and Weaver Maid were separated on the two banks forever and could only feel their tears. Their loyalty to love touched magpies， so tens of thousands of magpies came to build a bridge for the Cowhand and Weaver Maid to meet each other. The Queen Mother was eventually moved and allowed them to meet each year on the 7th of the 7th lunar month. Hence their meeting date has been called "Qi Xi" (Double Seventh)。
關於七夕節的英語作文 篇9
Legend has it that on this evening, Niulang, or the Cowherd, and Zhinu, or the Weaving Maid, meet each other for their annual tryst on a bridge formed by sympathetic magpies over the Milky Way. If it happens to rain that night, a Chinese elder might say it is Zhinu weeping after meeting her husband Niulang on the Milky Way.
傳說每年農曆7月7日的晚上，牛郎(牧牛人)和織女(編織女工)會在由喜鵲搭建在銀河之上的橋上重逢。如果那天下雨，中國的老人就會告訴你，牛郎織女在銀河兩岸流淚。
This day used to be commemorated as a festival for girls and also for young people in love. As the story goes, there was once a cowherd, Niulang, who lived with his elder brother and sister-in-law. But his sister-in-law disliked and abused him, and the boy was forced to leave home with only an old cow for company.
The cow, however, was a former god who had violated celestial rules and had been sent to earth in bovine form. One day he led Niulang to a lake where fairies came bathe on earth; among them was Zhinu, the most beautiful girl and a skilled seamstress. The two fell in love at first sight and were soon married. They had a son and a daughter, and their happy life was held up as an example for hundreds of years in China.
Yet in the eyes of the Jade Emperor, the Supreme Deity in Taoism, marriage between a mortal and a fairy was strictly forbidden. He sent his empress to fetch Zhinu. Niulang grew desperate when he discovered Zhinu had been taken back to heaven. Driven by Niulang's misery, the cow told him to turn its hide into a pair of shoes after it died.
The magic shoes whisked off Niulang, who carried his two children in baskets strung from a shoulder pole, off on a chase after the empress. The pursuit enraged the empress, who took her hairpin and slashed it across the sky, creating the Milky Way which separated husband from wife. But all was not lost. An army of magpies, moved by their love and devotion, formed a bridge across the Milky Way to reunite the family. Even the Jade Emperor was touchhed and allowed Niulang and Zhinu to meet once a year on the seventh night of the seventh month. It is said that at that night, children can hear the private conversation between the Weaving Maid and the Cowherd under the grape trellis. This is how Qixi came to be.
In actuality, the festival can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). People would traditionally look up at the sky and spot a bright star in the constellation Aquila, as well as the star Vega, identified as Niulang and Zhinu. The two stars shine on opposite sides of the Milky Way.
Qixi is also known as the "Begging for Skills Festival" or "Daughters' Festival." In the past, girls would hold ceremonies on the day and pray to Zhinu for wisdom, dexterity and a satisfying marriage. In some parts of Shandong Province, young women would offer fruit and pastries to her in return for a blessing of intelligence. If spiders were seen to weave webs on sacrificial objects, it was believed that Zhinu was offering positive feedback. In other parts of China, the custom was for seven close friends to gather to make dumplings. They would put into three separate dumplings a needle, a copper coin and a red date, which represented perfect needlework skills, good fortune and an early marriage respectively.
Young women in southern China wove small handicrafts with colored paper, grass and thread. Weaving and needlework competitions would be held to see who had the best hands and the brightest mind, prerequisites for being a good wife and mother.
However, these ancient traditions and customs have been slowly dying out. Fewer people than ever gaze at the heaven on that day to pick out the two stars shining bright on either side of the Milky Way -- that is, if they even know on which day Qixi falls.
七夕坐看牽牛織女星，是民間的習俗，相傳，在每年的這個夜晚，是天上織女與牛郎在鵲橋相會之時。織女是一個美麗聰明、心靈手巧的仙女，凡間的婦女便在這一天晚上向她乞求智慧和巧藝，也少不了向她求賜美滿姻緣，所以七月初七也被稱爲乞巧節。
人們傳說在七夕的夜晚，擡頭可以看到牛郎織女的銀河相會，或在瓜果架下可偷聽到兩人在天上相會時的脈脈情話。
女孩們在這個充滿浪漫氣息的晚上，對着天空的朗朗明月，擺上時令瓜果，朝天祭拜，乞求天上的女神能賦予她們聰慧的心靈和靈巧的雙手，讓自己的針織女紅技法嫺熟，更乞求愛情婚姻的姻緣巧配。過去婚姻對於女性來說是決定一生幸福與否的終身大事，所以，世間無數的有情男女都會在這個晚上，夜靜人深時刻，對着星空祈禱自己的姻緣美滿。