The Qiqiao Festival, also known as the Qixi Festival, is a traditional folk festival in China, which originated from the worship of the stars in ancient times. This festival has been passed down to the present day for thousands of years. The Qiqiao Festival is located on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, and the folk have the name of "Qiqi Incident". On this special day, there are a variety of folk customs and activities in various places. Let's take a look at the customs of the Begging Festival.
1. Beggar. Begging is one of the most important customs and activities of the Begging Festival. Ancient women would pray to the Weaver Girl on this day for wisdom and craftsmanship, hoping that they would become intelligent and hard-working women. They will hold various activities such as needle threading, saiqiao, begging cakes, etc., to show their skills. Nowadays, this custom has gradually faded, but some areas still retain the tradition of begging.
2. Stargazing. Stargazing is one of the important activities of the Qiqiao Festival. On the night of Qixi Festival, people will look up at the starry sky in search of the Cowherd and Vega. Legend has it that the Cowherd and Vega are the representative constellations of the Begging Festival. The stargazing custom not only has a strong folk belief color, but also implies people's yearning for a better life.
3. Begging for rice.
Begging rice is a unique food custom during the Begging Festival. People prepare hearty food before the festival, including grains, fruits, fish, etc. On the day of the festival, the whole family shares these delicacies together, symbolizing a happy reunion.
Fourth, weaving. Weaving is a traditional handicraft of the Begging Festival. Ancient women would demonstrate their weaving skills during festivals as a way to pray for wisdom and craftsmanship. Nowadays, this custom is no longer limited to women, and more and more people are beginning to pay attention to and pass on this traditional skill.
5. Queqiao Club.
The Queqiao Festival is the most romantic custom of the Qiqiao Festival. Legend has it that the Cowherd and Vega would meet on the night of Tanabata via the Magpie Bridge. This beautiful legend implies that lovers will eventually become married, and they are deeply loved by people.
6. Ornaments. During the festival of begging for good fortune, people wear a variety of auspicious ornaments. Such as tangrams, sachets, bracelets, etc., to pray for good luck and happiness.
7. Blind date. The festival is also a good time for single men and women to find a partner. On this day, young men and women will look for their perfect match in various ways, implying that they can find their ideal partner.
Summary: The Qiqiao Festival is an important traditional festival in China, which has rich cultural connotations and unique customs and Xi habits. Although the development of modern society has caused some traditional customs to gradually disappear, the beautiful meaning and traditional spirit contained in the Qiqiao Festival are still worth inheriting and carrying forward. On this special day, let us feel the beautiful atmosphere of the Qiqiao Festival and inherit the excellent traditional culture of our country.