All ethnic groups and regions have their own festivals. Over time, the meaning and ways of celebrating these festivals have also changed. On the Qixi Festival, can a married daughter return to her parents' home? Follow Huayi Network to learn more about the Qixi Festival.
Qixi Festival: Can You Return to Your Parents' Home?
Whether or not you can return to your parents' home on the Qixi Festival depends on local customs.
In some places, it is considered inappropriate for a married daughter to return to her parents' home on the Qixi Festival. This is because the Qixi Festival is a day to pray to the Seven Sisters for blessings. A married daughter belongs to her husband's family, and returning to her parents' home on this day would be disrespectful to her husband's family and disrupt the atmosphere of blessing at her parents' home. Moreover, on the Qixi Festival, women pray for skilled craftsmanship and happy marriages. If a woman returns to her parents' home on this day, she might be seen as having an unhappy marriage or poor skills, which is considered very unlucky. However, modern society no longer follows such beliefs. Whether or not you can return to your parents' home on the Qixi Festival should be determined based on the customs of both your parents' and your husband's family. It is best to avoid any taboos.
In some places, it is considered inappropriate for a married daughter to return to her parents' home on the Qixi Festival. This is because the Qixi Festival is a day to pray to the Seven Sisters for blessings. A married daughter belongs to her husband's family, and returning to her parents' home on this day would be disrespectful to her husband's family and disrupt the atmosphere of blessing at her parents' home. Moreover, on the Qixi Festival, women pray for skilled craftsmanship and happy marriages. If a woman returns to her parents' home on this day, she might be seen as having an unhappy marriage or poor skills, which is considered very unlucky. However, modern society no longer follows such beliefs. Whether or not you can return to your parents' home on the Qixi Festival should be determined based on the customs of both your parents' and your husband's family. It is best to avoid any taboos.
Is the Qixi Festival Exclusive to Women?
The Qixi Festival has never been exclusively a festival for women, either in the past or today.
In ancient times, men had the custom of worshipping the魁星 (Kui Xing) on July 7th. The first star of the Big Dipper is called Kui Xing, also known as Kui Shou, a deity in Chinese mythology who controls the rise and fall of literary talent. In the hearts of ancient scholars, Kui Xing held the highest status. It is said that July 7th is also Kui Xing's birthday, and those who sought success in exams particularly revered Kui Xing, offering prayers for good exam fortune on the Qixi Festival. In ancient times, when someone became a top scholar, they were called "Da Kui Tianxia Shi" or "Yiju Dukui," both referring to Kui Xing's control over exam luck. In the eastern part of Fujian, students greatly respected Kui Xing, and on the Qixi Festival, there was a custom of "Worshipping Kui Xing."
Worshipping Kui Xing was also performed under moonlight, similar to worshipping Zhinu (the Cowherd). In villages in the eastern part of Fujian, if a family had many members, on the night of the Qixi Festival, two altars were often set up in the courtyard: one for worshipping Zhinu and another for worshipping Kui Xing. Women gathered in one area, while men gathered in another, creating a lively and interesting scene. Before worshipping Kui Xing, a paper figure was made to represent Kui Xing and placed on the altar. The essential offerings included a cooked ram's head (a male sheep with a beard and horns), wrapped in red paper on its horns, and placed on a tray before the Kui Xing image. Other offerings such as tea and wine were optional. During the worship, people would light incense and firecrackers, then gather around the altar for a meal under the candlelight and moonlight.
In ancient times, men had the custom of worshipping the魁星 (Kui Xing) on July 7th. The first star of the Big Dipper is called Kui Xing, also known as Kui Shou, a deity in Chinese mythology who controls the rise and fall of literary talent. In the hearts of ancient scholars, Kui Xing held the highest status. It is said that July 7th is also Kui Xing's birthday, and those who sought success in exams particularly revered Kui Xing, offering prayers for good exam fortune on the Qixi Festival. In ancient times, when someone became a top scholar, they were called "Da Kui Tianxia Shi" or "Yiju Dukui," both referring to Kui Xing's control over exam luck. In the eastern part of Fujian, students greatly respected Kui Xing, and on the Qixi Festival, there was a custom of "Worshipping Kui Xing."
Worshipping Kui Xing was also performed under moonlight, similar to worshipping Zhinu (the Cowherd). In villages in the eastern part of Fujian, if a family had many members, on the night of the Qixi Festival, two altars were often set up in the courtyard: one for worshipping Zhinu and another for worshipping Kui Xing. Women gathered in one area, while men gathered in another, creating a lively and interesting scene. Before worshipping Kui Xing, a paper figure was made to represent Kui Xing and placed on the altar. The essential offerings included a cooked ram's head (a male sheep with a beard and horns), wrapped in red paper on its horns, and placed on a tray before the Kui Xing image. Other offerings such as tea and wine were optional. During the worship, people would light incense and firecrackers, then gather around the altar for a meal under the candlelight and moonlight.
Why Do People Collect Dew on the Qixi Festival?
On the Qixi Festival, in some local customs, people collect dew. It is said that the dew on this day is the tears of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, or the tears of the gods. If you apply the dew from the Qixi Festival to your eyes or hands, it can make your eyes sharp and your hands quick.
Another belief is that the dew collected on the Qixi Festival is called "water without roots." There is a folk saying that says, "The water of the Qixi Festival has no roots, and even without illness, it brings joy." Therefore, applying the dew from the Qixi Festival can ward off evil spirits, ensure safety, and bring blessings and happiness.
Another belief is that the dew collected on the Qixi Festival is called "water without roots." There is a folk saying that says, "The water of the Qixi Festival has no roots, and even without illness, it brings joy." Therefore, applying the dew from the Qixi Festival can ward off evil spirits, ensure safety, and bring blessings and happiness.
