The Chinese Valentine's Day is coming soon. As our own Valentine's Day in China, we must spend this day with our girlfriends. So how should we celebrate the Chinese Valentine's Day? You might as well try the following traditional programs of the Chinese Valentine's Day.
What to do on Chinese Valentine’s Day?
1. Eat Qiqiao fruit
During every traditional festival, food must be an indispensable part. Just like the Spring Festival and dumplings, the Dragon Boat Festival and rice dumplings, the Mid-Autumn Festival and moon cakes, etc., the Chinese Valentine's Day naturally has its own unique delicacy - Qiqiao fruit. Qiqiao fruit is also known as "Qiqiao fruit" and "Xiaoyaner" in "Tokyo Menghualu". The main materials are oil, flour, sugar and honey, and can be made into shapes such as melons, fruits, flowers and plants. According to records, Qiqiao fruit was already sold on the streets in the Song Dynasty.
2. Planting seeds
This is an older custom, also known as "Five-life Pot" or "Flower Pot". In some places in the south, it is also called "Paoqiao" . A few days before the Chinese Valentine's Day, people will spread several layers of soil on wooden boards, plant corn, let it grow green seedlings, and then put some small thatched houses with flowers and plants on them to make it look like a small village. Called "shell plate". Sometimes mung beans, adzuki beans, wheat, etc. are also planted into the bowl, and when they grow sprouts, they are tied into a bunch with red and blue threads.
3. Congratulate the Cowherd
In the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, in order to help the Cowherd cross the Tianhe River, the old cow asked the Cowherd to peel off his skin so that the Cowherd could use the cowhide. Crossing the Tianhe River to see the Weaver Girl. In order to commemorate the self-sacrifice of the old cow, on the Qixi Festival, children will pick wild flowers and hang them on the horns of the cow to pay homage to the old cow and show their respect for the old cow.
4. Worshiping the Weaver Girl
This activity is basically attended by women. On the night of the Chinese Valentine's Day, Set up tables and chairs under the moonlight, and place tea, wine, fruits, nuts (longan, red dates, hazelnuts, peanuts, melon seeds) and other items on the table. Everyone sat around the table, eating melon and fruit snacks, and making silent wishes to the Weaver Girl.
5. Threading a needle to beg for skills
This should be the earliest way of begging for skills, and it was recorded in the Han Dynasty. "Xijing Miscellaneous Notes" mentioned: "Hancai women often wear seven holes in the Kaijin Tower on July 7th, and people get used to it." On the Qixi Festival, women from every household will go out of their homes, gather together, take out their needlework needlework, and beg for skills by threading needles.
6. Drying books and clothes
Drying books and clothes was very popular in ancient times. There is a record of Sima Yi He originally pretended to be crazy to avoid trouble, but was caught for posting books. This shows how popular it was in ancient times to post books and clothes. However, in the Wei and Jin Dynasties, this custom became an opportunity for wealthy families to show off their wealth, so it also attracted a lot of attention.The contempt of many men of letters.
7. Worship Kuixing
This custom has nothing to do with the romantic Chinese Valentine's Day. According to folklore, July 7th is Kuixing's birthday. In ancient times, scholars who won the first prize in the examination would be called "Dakui Tianxiashi" or "won the first prize in one fell swoop." Kuixing here refers to Kuixing. According to the ancients, Kuixing was the presiding examiner. On this day, scholars would worship Kuixing in order to get a spot on the gold medal list.
