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Happy Chinese Valentine's Day 
Qi Xi (literally, "the Night of Sevens"), also known as Chinese Valentine's, takes place on July 7 of the Chinese lunar calendar. This year, it falls on today, August 7. In honor of the holiday, Dalianxpat presents to you the origin of Qi Xi, a good story of overprotective parents, underdressed nymphs, a speaking cow, and intrepid love.
Apparently, millenia ago (as Chinese stories tend to go), a cowherd had the luck of passing by a river where seven beautiful maidens were bathing. Now mind you, these weren't ordinary human maidens, but in fact supernatural deities from the heavens above (think Persephone, or Little Mermaid, for lack of better Western equivalents). They were so godly that the river glittered with their dazzling beauty and needless to say, our boy the cowherd couldn't resist taking the surreptitious peek that was to pre-destine millenia of tragedy to come.
As soon as he looked, the cowherd couldn't take his eyes off one of the girls. He was immediately sick with love. At this very instant, the oldest cow in the herd abandoned the patch of grass that it was chewing and spoke in a whisper to the cowherd: "If you want a wife, just steal one of these girls' clothing!" The cowherd blinked in shock, not believing that his cow of 20 years was capable of speech. The cow repeated its advice patiently, and as soon as the cowherd absorbed these good words of wisdom (as well as the shock of a speaking cow), he resolved to carry out the immoral act with all the intrepidity of a man in love (think Florentino Ariza of "Love in the Time of Cholera").
Long story short. The cowherd stole a silk dress, underpants, and some slippers, and hid himself behind a bush. An hour or so later, the seventh daughter of the Chinese Zeus waded giddily ashore to get dressed with her other sisters, and was near-hysterical when she couldn't find any of her clothes. Naked and ashamed, she entreated the invisible thief to show himself in the name of modesty and good citizenry. The good cowherd remained silent. The goddess, now shivering and in tears, offered the golden bargain of marriage.
Two years later, the cowherd and the goddess, known as weaver girl because of her special skills in weaving, were happily married with two kids. The Chinese Zeus and Hera, realizing belatedly that one of their daughters was missing in action, demanded weaver girl's return. The pious girl returned to the celestial palace, only to find that her overprotective parents have forever barred her return to earth.
Taking pity upon the wailing babies and the devastated cowherd on the verge of suicide, the old cow, repentant of his former insolent advice, spoke up once more. "Kill me, Sir Cowherd, and use my hide to help you fly up to heaven and reunite with your wife." The cowherd refused, for he loved the old cow dearly. But the cow insisted and insisted until the cowherd finally gave in. Carrying his two children with him and crying torrents of tears for his cow friend, the cowherd flew upwards towards heaven on the cow's hide (think Aladdin and the magic carpet). But alas, news travel quickly and grand goddess (weaver girl's mother) learned of the cowherd's plans before he could reach the celestial palace. Using a hair pin, this woman of tremendous strength, determination and cruelty scratched a river in the sky (now known as the Milky Way) to separate the ill-fated lovers (represented by the stars Altair and Vega).
July 7 of every lunar calendar year is celebrated because the legend goes that this is the day that all the magpies in the world, taking pity upon the the cowherd and the weaver girl, form a bridge with their compassionate little bodies so that the lovers could meet. Switching gear to modern day, today, August 7, is the day this bridge will form! If you've got a little time tonight, gaze up at the Milky Way and see if you can catch a glimpse of this amazing sight. If not, there might always be the lovers kissing under trees of magpies to watch out for.
Happy Chinese Valentine's!
Note: There are different versions of Qi Xi, and this is by no means the most accurate or culturally correct one. If you have your own version of the story to tell, feel free to send submissions to
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