Chinese traditional festivals, as the seasons change and the needs of crop arrangements, gradually formed a series of rich and colorful festival customs. Huayi Network has prepared articles related to the Qixi Festival. Come and browse them now.
Qixi's Five Taboos
1. Marriages are taboo on the Qixi Festival. The folk believe that getting married on the Qixi Festival is very unlucky. Although Niulang and Zhi女 meet on this day, they still have to part ways after the Qixi Festival, so it is not suitable for marriage, otherwise it may lead to divorce in the future.
2. Doing bad things is taboo on the Qixi Festival. Because the "seven" in the Qixi Festival is homophonic with "good luck", "seven seven" means double good luck, which is a lucky day. Therefore, the ancients believed that "on the seventh day, do not think of evil things", otherwise it would destroy this good luck and bring trouble.
3. Giving shoes is taboo on the Qixi Festival. On the Qixi Festival, many couples exchange gifts, but you must never give shoes. Giving shoes implies separation and running away, which is unfavorable for love and marriage. Singles may break up, and married people may get divorced.
4. Eating poultry is taboo on the Qixi Festival. In the legend of Niulang and Zhi女, they can only meet through the magpie bridge. Since the magpie bridge belongs to birds, eating chicken, duck, or goose on this day would be equivalent to destroying the bridge leading to love and marriage, which is very unlucky.
5. Having sex is taboo on the Qixi Festival. July 7th is one of the five sacred days in religion, called "the Day of Morality," and it is also the day when the folk worship the Seven Mothers. If having sex on this day, which is closely related to deities, it would be an insult to the deities and could cause harm to one's lifespan.
2. Doing bad things is taboo on the Qixi Festival. Because the "seven" in the Qixi Festival is homophonic with "good luck", "seven seven" means double good luck, which is a lucky day. Therefore, the ancients believed that "on the seventh day, do not think of evil things", otherwise it would destroy this good luck and bring trouble.
3. Giving shoes is taboo on the Qixi Festival. On the Qixi Festival, many couples exchange gifts, but you must never give shoes. Giving shoes implies separation and running away, which is unfavorable for love and marriage. Singles may break up, and married people may get divorced.
4. Eating poultry is taboo on the Qixi Festival. In the legend of Niulang and Zhi女, they can only meet through the magpie bridge. Since the magpie bridge belongs to birds, eating chicken, duck, or goose on this day would be equivalent to destroying the bridge leading to love and marriage, which is very unlucky.
5. Having sex is taboo on the Qixi Festival. July 7th is one of the five sacred days in religion, called "the Day of Morality," and it is also the day when the folk worship the Seven Mothers. If having sex on this day, which is closely related to deities, it would be an insult to the deities and could cause harm to one's lifespan.
What Are the Traditional Foods of the Qixi Festival
Candied Cookies
In some places of China, on the Qixi Festival, pastries shops make some candy-shaped figures of the Weaving Maid, commonly known as "Qiao Ren" or "Qiao Su," and when sold, they are called "Song Qiao Ren." Folklore believes that people who eat this "candy" will become clever and skilled.
Fruits and Vegetables
In Fujian, during the Qixi Festival, it is customary to offer fruits and vegetables for the Weaving Maid to admire and taste, in order to pray for a bountiful harvest of fruits and vegetables next year. The offerings include tea, wine, fresh fruits, five kinds of seeds, flowers, and flower powder used by women for makeup. Usually, after fasting and bathing, everyone takes turns burning incense and praying at the offering table, silently making their wishes.
Qiaoqiao Rice Balls
In Shandong, on the Qixi Festival, people eat "Qiaoqiao Rice Balls." Seven close girlfriends collect grain and vegetables to make dumplings, and separately wrap a copper coin, a needle, and a red date into three dumplings. After the qiqiao activity, they gather together to eat the dumplings. It is said that those who eat the coin will be blessed, those who eat the needle will be skillful, and those who eat the date will marry early.
Qiao Guo (Skillful Pastries)
In the traditional foods of the Qixi Festival, Qiao Guo is the most famous. Qiao Guo is also called "Qiqiao Guozi," which is a traditional offering and delicacy for the Qixi Festival. On the evening of the Qixi Festival, people bring "Qiqiao Guozi" to the courtyard and sit together to taste "Qiao Guo." This custom has been lost in many places today, and the traditional food "Qiqiao Guozi" has evolved into various types of pastries with different flavors.
In some places of China, on the Qixi Festival, pastries shops make some candy-shaped figures of the Weaving Maid, commonly known as "Qiao Ren" or "Qiao Su," and when sold, they are called "Song Qiao Ren." Folklore believes that people who eat this "candy" will become clever and skilled.
Fruits and Vegetables
In Fujian, during the Qixi Festival, it is customary to offer fruits and vegetables for the Weaving Maid to admire and taste, in order to pray for a bountiful harvest of fruits and vegetables next year. The offerings include tea, wine, fresh fruits, five kinds of seeds, flowers, and flower powder used by women for makeup. Usually, after fasting and bathing, everyone takes turns burning incense and praying at the offering table, silently making their wishes.
Qiaoqiao Rice Balls
In Shandong, on the Qixi Festival, people eat "Qiaoqiao Rice Balls." Seven close girlfriends collect grain and vegetables to make dumplings, and separately wrap a copper coin, a needle, and a red date into three dumplings. After the qiqiao activity, they gather together to eat the dumplings. It is said that those who eat the coin will be blessed, those who eat the needle will be skillful, and those who eat the date will marry early.
Qiao Guo (Skillful Pastries)
In the traditional foods of the Qixi Festival, Qiao Guo is the most famous. Qiao Guo is also called "Qiqiao Guozi," which is a traditional offering and delicacy for the Qixi Festival. On the evening of the Qixi Festival, people bring "Qiqiao Guozi" to the courtyard and sit together to taste "Qiao Guo." This custom has been lost in many places today, and the traditional food "Qiqiao Guozi" has evolved into various types of pastries with different flavors.
