In the 5,000-year-long civilization of China, traditional festivals carry profound cultural heritage, among which the Qixi Festival and the Lantern Festival are particularly eye-catching. However, in the long course of history, the true meaning of these two festivals is very different from the modern understanding. Today, let's trace the origin and development of these two festivals and reveal the misunderstanding of "Valentine's Day" among modern people.
The Qixi Festival, also known as the "Qiqiao Festival", originated in the Han Dynasty and is a festival dominated by women. According to the record of "Tokyo Huaji", on the night of Qixi Festival, women tie colorful threads and needles, and Chen melons and fruits beg in the court. The main customs of the Qixi Festival include needle-threading and begging, worshipping the Seven Sisters, burning incense and praying for blessings, etc., all of which reflect the ancient women's pursuit of wisdom and skillful hands. In the development of history, the Qixi Festival gradually combined with the love story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, forming the legend of the Qixi Festival that we are familiar with today. However, despite its association with love, Qixi Festival is not for lovers, but rather a festival to pray for wisdom and a happy marriage.
In contrast, the Lantern Festival is a veritable "Valentine's Day". Originating in the Han Dynasty, the Lantern Festival is the first full moon night of the Lunar New Year, which began as a day to worship the god Taiyi, and has gradually evolved into a festival celebrated by the whole people. On this day, people hold activities such as viewing lanterns, guessing lantern riddles, and eating lantern festivals, which provide opportunities for young men and women to meet and fall in love. In ancient times, it was believed that worshipping the moon god was a way to pray for a good harvest and peace. And the Lantern Festival, as the festival of the last full moon night of the lunar calendar, is also endowed with romantic feelings related to the moon, and many love stories take place on this day. Therefore, the Lantern Festival is the real "Valentine's Day".
So, why do modern people mistakenly think that Qixi Festival is Valentine's Day? This is mainly related to the cultural diffusion and commercial hype of modern society. With the introduction of Valentine's Day in the West, people began to compare Qixi Festival with Valentine's Day in the West, considering it as Valentine's Day in China. Merchants also took the opportunity to hype up the Qixi Festival into a love-themed festival. However, this understanding does not conform to the original meaning of the Qixi Festival, but is just a misreading of the festival in modern society.
In short, the Qixi Festival and the Lantern Festival are both treasures of traditional Chinese festivals, and they carry rich cultural connotations and historical heritage. We should correctly understand and inherit the true meaning of these festivals, so that they can shine with new brilliance in modern society. At the same time, we should also be vigilant against the erosion of traditional festivals by commercial speculation, and protect the purity and authenticity of these cultural heritages. Only in this way can we truly inherit and carry forward the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation.