Shandong Culture

Culture Insider: Qixi - the Chinese Valentine's Day

(chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-08-09

Culture Insider: Qixi - the Chinese Valentine's Day

Folk handicrafts on display to welcome the Qixi Festival, or Daughters' Festival in Shanghai, August 6, 2016. [Photo/IC]

Customs

In bygone days, Qixi was not only a special day for lovers, but also for girls. It is also known as the "Begging for Skills Festival" or "Daughters' Festival."

In this day, girls will throw a sewing needle into a bowl full of water on the night of Qixi as a test of embroidery skills. If the needle floats on top of the water instead of sinking, it proves the girl is a skilled embroiders.

Single women also pray for finding a good husband in the future. And the newly married women pray to become pregnant quickly.