CHINESE VALENTINE'S DAY
On the east bank of the Heavenly River lived a
weaving maiden. The Heavenly Mother made her work day and night weaving
cloth for gods and goddesses. Since the weaver lived all alone, the Heavenly
Mother took pity on her and allowed her to marry a cowherd boy who lived
on the west bank of the Heavenly River. The weaver enjoyed her marriage
so much that she stopped weaving. This angered the Heavenly Mother, so she
kidnapped the weaver, took her back across the river, and allowed her to
see the cowherd only once a year over a bridge formed by magpies.
Chinese Valentine's Day falls on the 7th day of
the 7th lunar month. According to Chinese folklore, when you look up in
the sky on this day, you can see the Vega Star crossing the Milky Way to
meet the Altair Star. Chinese believe that it is the weaver crossing the
Heavenly River to meet the cowherd over the magpie bridge on this Valentine's
Day.
[Song of a Traveling Son][Fairy of the Magpie Bridge][Chinese
Valentine's Day]
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