The Double Seventh Festival

The Double Seventh Festival, which falls on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, has been celebrated by people in China for thousands of years. In ancient times, girls would lay out a variety of offerings and pray for wisdom and ingenuity. Then, they would gather together with their loved ones admiring the two stars, Altair (Niu Lang) and Vega (Zhi Nu).

There is a romantic tale about the two stars, Niu Lang and Zhi Nu, mentioned above. It is said that Niu Lang, a poor man losing both of his parents during his childhood, made a living by farming with an old cow. It was not until he met Zhi Nu that his life was significantly changed. However, God of Heaven discovered them and separated them on two sides of a river. Fortunately, the magpies were touched by their loyalty and would gather yearly on the 7th day of the 7th lunar year to build a bridge over the river for them to be able to meet.

As a result, this festival came into being. Until now, the festival still enjoys popularity among Chinese people. Passed from generation to generation, it was finally listed as part of China’s intangible cultural heritage on 20th May, 2006. It’s believed that its importance should be held not only in the past, but also in the future.