Detailed Explanation of the Origin of the Qixi Festival
"Qixi" originally came from people's worship of nature.According to historical records, at least three or four thousand years ago, with the development of people's understanding of astronomy and the emergence of textile technology, there were records about the stars Altair and Vega. People's worship of stars was not limited to Altair and Vega. They believed that in the east, west, south, and north there were seven stars representing directions, collectively known as the 28 lunar mansions. Among them, the Big Dipper was the brightest, used for determining direction at night. The first star of the Big Dipper is called the "Kui Star", also known as the "First Star". Later, with the establishment of the imperial examination system, passing the imperial examination was called "Winning the First Place in the World", and scholars referred to Qixi as the "Kui Star Festival", also known as the "Exposing Books Festival", preserving the traces of the earliest origin of Qixi from the worship of constellations.
The Meaning and Symbolism of Celebrating Qixi
Meaning:The Qixi Festival symbolizes that the power of love is eternal, and that there exists love that does not change in this world. Originally, the Qixi Festival symbolized the meeting of the Cowherd and the Weaving Maid on the Milky Way, which only happens once a year. Therefore, it later symbolizes that boys and girls meet despite many obstacles and finally manage to see each other.
Symbolism:
The activities of begging for skill and praying for blessings in Qixi culture reflect the spirit of the Chinese nation—diligence, wisdom, self-reliance, courage to create, and the continuous pursuit of a happier and better life.
