A young Cow herd who lived alone, met Weaver Girl and fell in love with her, which is also the Goddess's seventh daughter, who had just escaped from boring heaven to look for fun. Soon, they got married without the knowledge of the Goddess. They lived happily and had two children. But the Goddess found out that Weaver Girl, a fairy girl, had married a mere mortal. The Goddess was furious and ordered Weaver Girl to return to heaven. (Alternatively, the Goddess forced the fairy back to her former duty of weaving colorful clouds, a task she neglected while living on earth with a mortal.) On Earth, Cowherd was very upset that his wife had disappeared. Suddenly, his ox began to talk, telling him that if he killed it and put on its hide, he would be able to go up to Heaven to find his wife. Crying bitterly, he killed the ox, put on the skin, and carried his two beloved children off to Heaven to find Weaver Girl. The Goddess discovered this and was very angry. Taking out her hairpin, the Goddess scratched a wide river in the sky to separate the two lovers forever, thus forming the Milky Way between Altair and Vega. Weaver Girl must sit forever on one side of the river, sadly weaving on her loom, while Cowherd watches her from afar while taking care of their two children (his flanking stars β and γ Aquilae). But once a year all the magpies in the world would take pity on them and fly up into heaven to form a bridge (the bridge of magpies) over the star Denebin the Cygnus constellation so the lovers may be together for a single night, which is the seventh night of the seventh moon. However, sometimes in the year, there are no stars regarding to the mythology appearing in the sky.
Nowadays, girls take part in worshiping the celestials during rituals. They will go to the local temple to pray to Weaver Girl for wisdom. Paper items are usually burned as offerings. Girls may recite traditional prayers for dexterity in needlework, which symbolize the traditional talents of a good spouse. Divination could take place to determine possible dexterity in needlework. They make wishes for marrying someone who would be a good and loving husband. During the festival, girls make a display of their domestic skills. Traditionally, there would be contests amongst those who attempted to be the best in threading needles under low-light conditions like the glow of an ember or a half moon. Some girls also gather toiletries in honor of the seven maidens.
The festival also held an importance for newlywed couples. Traditionally, they would worship the celestial couple for the last time and bid farewell to them. The celebration stood symbol for a happy marriage and showed that the married woman was treasured by her new family.
During this festival, a festoon is placed in the yard. Single and newlywed women make offerings to Cowherd and Weaver Girl, which may include fruit, flowers, tea, and face powder. After finishing the offerings, half of the face powder is thrown on the roof and the other half divided among the young women. It is believed that, by doing this, the women are bound in beauty with Weaver Girl. Tales say that it will rain on this fateful day if there's crying in heaven. Other tales say that you can hear the lovers talking if you stand under grapevines on this night.
On this day, the Chinese gaze to the sky to look for Vega and Altair shining in the Milky Way, while a third star forms a symbolic bridge between the two stars. It was said that if it rains on this day that it was caused by a river sweeping away the magpie bridge or that the rain is the tears of the separated couple. Based on the legend of a flock of magpies forming a bridge to reunite the couple, a pair of magpies came to symbolize conjugal happiness and faithfulness.
On this day too, it is known as Chinese Valentine Day! Have you prepared gift for your love one?
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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qixi_Festival
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