Traditionally Qi Xi (Double Seventh Festival) was a time for couples to spend time together and for everyone to gaze at the Milky Way and recount the story of the Cowherd and the Weaving Maid. Here are three activities that were practised in China and still being practised by some Chinese families here in Malaysia.
Maintaining fair and lovely skin
One method that Chinese girls use to keep the skin fair and glowing is by using (flower) blossoms. On the night of double seventh, the girls would put the blossoms into a copper basin of water. They believe that the water would absorb the essence of the blossoms plus the magical aura emitting from the sky on tht night. Washing their faces with the water containing the essence is said to be good for the girls' skin.
One method that Chinese girls use to keep the skin fair and glowing is by using (flower) blossoms. On the night of double seventh, the girls would put the blossoms into a copper basin of water. They believe that the water would absorb the essence of the blossoms plus the magical aura emitting from the sky on tht night. Washing their faces with the water containing the essence is said to be good for the girls' skin.
The Maid "Shrine"
Girls would also put up colourful "shrines" made of paper, fresh fruit, flowers, and incense as a tribute to the Weaver Girl and the Cowherd. In some parts of Shandong Province (in East China), young women offered fruit and pastries to pray for a bright mind. If spiders were seen weaving webs on sacrificial objects, it was believed the Weaving Maid was giving a positive reply to the prayers.
Making Offerings
In some areas in China, seven close girlfriends would gather to make dumplings. They put into three separate dumplings a needle, a copper coin, and a red date, which represented perfect needlework skills, good fortune, and an early marriage. But the festival celebrations were not confined to girls. It is also a day for people, young and old, men and women, to make offerings. It's said if an offering was made for three consecutive years, the wish, would come true.
In some areas in China, seven close girlfriends would gather to make dumplings. They put into three separate dumplings a needle, a copper coin, and a red date, which represented perfect needlework skills, good fortune, and an early marriage. But the festival celebrations were not confined to girls. It is also a day for people, young and old, men and women, to make offerings. It's said if an offering was made for three consecutive years, the wish, would come true.
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