Magpie bridge on Qixi 七夕鹊桥会 (qi xi que qiao hui)

As the Chinese equivalent of Valentines' Day, Qixi is an important festival that celebrates love and devotion. It falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the Chinese calendar. This year it was celebrated on Aug 13. The festival has its origins in a mythological story of star-crossed lovers, Niulang (cowherd) and Zhinu (weaver maid). They are separated by circumstances and can meet only once a year - on the seventh night of the seventh lunar month.

It is said that after hearing their story, some magpies were so touched that they flew into the sky and formed a bridge on which the lovers could unite for the night. A magpie bridge in China thus symbolizes love and conjugal happiness.

In recent years, different people have been celebrating Qixi in different ways. For example, some people have organized grand matchmaking events for young men and women. Sales of gifts have gone up as many young people make it a point to buy presents for their lovers. And shopping malls across China offer special prices on many items during Qixi to attract more customers.

Many critics, however, say that Qixi has become "Westernized" and "commercialized", and is no longer a tribute to traditional culture. And they fear that the love story that dates back to more than 2,000 years could soon fade away from young people's memory.

(China Daily USA 08/16/2013 page16)