Crystal Bracelet For Chinese Valentine's Day Gifts
Did you miss out on expressing your feelings to your loved one or someone special on February 14th, Valentine's Day in the Western world? Half a year later, in the midst of summer, there comes Qixi festival, which provides another great opportunity for those in love to actively express themselves. This Eastern festival comes with beautiful stories that many are familiar with.
Dating back to the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the seventh day of the seventh lunar month marks the annual reunion of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, known as "Qixi." Over time, Qixi has evolved into a Valentine's Day for lovers to exchange tokens of affection and convey their emotions.
How to express love on Qixi? Qixi Valentine's Day is a folk festival shared by China, Japan, and Korea. Let's delve into the stories behind the festival to deepen the transmission of our sentiments.
The Transnational Spread of Qixi: Myths and Customs
Qixi Festival in China - Longing for Love
Firstly, let's journey to China, where Qixi originates from the ancient legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. This tale narrates the love between a human cowherd and a celestial weaver fairy. Despite enduring hardships, they deeply love each other. However, they are separated due to the boundary between heaven and earth. They can only meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month by crossing a bridge of magpies (or swans) built in the starry sky.
The story is poignant as it reflects people's profound yearning for genuine emotions. On Qixi, many young Chinese women pray together, hoping to possess the dexterity of the Weaver Girl's hands to weave dreams and pursue unwavering love.
Furthermore, Qixi coincides with the birthday of the Heavenly King Star (the star governing academic success and official ranks). Thus, some individuals aspiring for academic success choose to worship the Heavenly King Star on Qixi, praying for smooth academic performance and career success.
Qixi Festival in Japan - Carrying Wishes
Qixi in Japan is known as”たなばた" Tanabata, which also carries the romantic alias of "Star Festival." Similarly originating from the Chinese legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, Tanabata was introduced to Japan during the Heian period. Initially enjoyed by the elegant nobility, who adorned themselves in splendid attire and gathered in gardens to admire the starry sky while composing poetry under the moonlight, Tanabata gradually seeped into the folk culture during the Edo period, imbuing it with unique Japanese customs and traditions.
On Tanabata, people write their wishes on colorful strips of paper and hang them on bamboo branches, allowing the gentle breeze to carry these wish-bearing strips to the gods above, hoping for their wishes to come true. Today, Tanabata has become a vibrant folk festival in Japan, with renowned shrines hosting various customs and celebrations related to Tanabata. The most famous of these is the Osaka Tenjin Matsuri, where colorful strips of paper adorn bamboo leaves, accompanied by lively summer festivals, all reflecting the locals' aspirations for a better life.
Qixi Festival Festin Korea - Love and Wisdom
In Korea, Qixi is known as "Chilseok" and shares a similar origin with the Chinese Qixi, revolving around the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. However, unlike China and Japan, Qixi in Korea is not primarily a festival celebrating love through songs and poetry.
Looking back to the Goryeo Dynasty, King Gongmin (equivalent to the late Yuan Dynasty) held grand ceremonies to worship the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl on the night of Qixi, symbolizing the royal court's emphasis on agriculture and weaving. Later, this tradition continued into the Joseon Dynasty but underwent a transformation. Sungkyunkwan, the highest educational institution in the country, became a special place during Qixi. On this day, the court implemented the so-called "festival system," gathering Confucian scholars from all over the country for examinations, symbolizing the transmission of knowledge and wisdom.
On Qixi, women on the Korean Peninsula focus their prayers on needlework, hoping to improve their sewing skills. Villagers also offer sacrifices to the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, symbolizing not only endowing love but also respecting knowledge and eagerly anticipating bountiful harvests from farming and weaving.
Qixi Festival in Taiwan - Westernized Valentine's Day
Taiwan once had traditional cultural customs such as girls competing in weaving and showcasing their needlework skills. Women hoped to obtain the dexterity and skills of the Weaver Girl and would engage in stargazing and worship activities, praying for good luck. In some places, young girls would conduct dream-seeking rituals on the night of Qixi, hoping to learn about their future partners or destinies.
With the development of the times, Qixi in Taiwan gradually became similar to Valentine's Day. Couples exchange gifts such as bouquets, chocolates, and cards. Many businesses and restaurants also offer special discounts or activities for Qixi.
Choosing Qixi Valentine's Day Gifts: A Reference Guide
Regardless of the type of gift given on Valentine's Day, the most important thing is the thought behind it. Each gift represents shared memories, and some customers visit Tainan's stores to customize special designs with significant meanings. Besides romantic love, Qixi is also a day for stories of familial love, friendship, and gratitude.
Apart from jewelry, various types of gifts carry different meanings, hiding the giver's emotions and blessings. Here are some interesting and meaningful gifts worth considering:
Gift Type - Meaning Scarf - Forever love Flowers, Everlasting Flowers - Hoping to keep my name in your heart Ring - You belong to me forever Necklace - I want you by my side Chocolate - I love you Pen - Treasure love in your heart Wallet, Purse - I am willing to accompany you forever Belt - Surround you for a lifetime Watch - Together every second Bracelet - Holding hands for a lifetime Every relationship is precious, so cherish those who have appeared in your life. If you don't have a significant other, why not gift yourself something you've been wanting on Qixi and appreciate yourself for being there all along, giving yourself blessings.
Qixi Gift - Crystal bracelets Recommendations
On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, Qiqiao Festival! On this classical Valentine's Day, Slow Tempo's special design meanings and carefully selected crystal bracelets can also express your emotions. Here are some Valentine's Day gift recommendations from Slow Tempo.
✦ Rose Quartz - Wishing Hearts Connect ✦
"Far apart are the Cowherd and Weaver, shining brightly like the stars." This signifies the longing between the Cowherd and Weaver during Qixi Festival, their thoughts connecting across the vast expanse of space. Rose Quartz shares the same warmth as a lotus flower, symbolizing intimacy and closeness. It's suitable for single women to wear to enhance their charm. For couples, exchanging Rose Quartz jewelry represents harmony and a bright future together. Wearing it regularly also symbolizes good relationships and karma.
✦ Moonstone - Love Knows No Distance ✦
As the moonlight shines on the evening of Qixi Festival, have the Cowherd and Weaver met in the distant sky? Moonstone symbolizes love and is exchanged by many couples worldwide. In India, it's often given as an engagement gift to express deep love. Wearing Moonstone feels like having your partner by your side, no matter how far apart you are. It's a romantic symbol of eternal companionship, just like the enduring presence of the moon.
✦ Ruby - Fearless Love ✦
In ancient China, rubies were called "light pearls," symbolizing brightness and hope. Queens throughout history adorned their crowns with exquisite rubies, representing their status and aspirations. Ruby holds deep historical significance, believed to be blessed by gods. The Bible mentions rubies as the first gemstone on the priest Aaron's breastplate, symbolizing their high status and value. Ruby emits a vibrant red glow, symbolizing love, culture, family, and health.
✦ Pearl - Cherished Affections ✦
"Amidst the starry skies, pearls gleam. On Qixi, palace ladies pray for skill." This poetic line likens the stars during Qixi to pearls, reflecting the scene of palace ladies praying for skill under the Cowherd and Weaver stars. In Western mythology, pearls are said to form from the tears of the moon goddess, Venus, giving them a divine origin. Pearls have existed on Earth for millions of years, symbolizing love and devotion. The process of nurturing pearls within oysters mirrors the union of lovers, making pearls a symbol of treasured affection.
✦ Garnet - Guardianship and Commitment ✦
From the blush of budding affection to the vibrant red of passionate love, garnets capture every moment of a couple's journey. Garnet symbolizes commitment, belonging to the first chakra (the root chakra), representing a woman's guardian stone. It ignites feelings of love and dedication, smoothing over emotional conflicts. Garnet symbolizes stable, mature relationships, ideal partners, and wonderful love stories. Whether in the early stages of love or long-term relationships, garnet is perfect as a token of affection between lovers.
✦ Amethyst - Soulmates ✦
During Qixi, as the Cowherd and Weaver meet on the Magpie Bridge, hydrangeas bloom. Hydrangeas, also known as "ball flowers," bloom during the rainy season, making Qixi Festival also known as the "Purple Romance Festival." Hydrangeas come in various colors, symbolizing a colorful and happy life. Complementing this is the majestic amethyst, representing sincerity, passion, resilience after hardship, hope, and wisdom in relationships. Amethyst stands as a beacon of love.
Final
In this ancient and elegant festival of Qixi festival, we can express profound emotions through specially designed and carefully selected gemstones. Rose quartz represents the connection of hearts, moonstone symbolizes love that knows no distance, while ruby embodies fearless love. Pearls are seen as symbols of cherishing and treasuring, and garnet signifies guardianship and commitment. Lastly, amethyst, as a soulmate, represents sincerity, passion, wisdom, and the strength and hope found in love. These various gemstones reflect different emotions and values within love, offering rich and meaningful options for Qixi gifts. They remind us to focus on emotional expression, commitment, and appreciation when choosing gifts, making them symbols of the connection and communication between hearts.
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