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While Western countries have the globally renowned Valentine's Day, the East also has its own equivalent known as the Weaver and Cowherd Festival or the Seventh Night. Join us to explore more about this special celebration in the following article!
What day is the Weaver and Cowherd Festival celebrated in East Asia?
'Autumn breeze whispers, the Milky Way divides the sky into two. A celestial love story, the tale of the Seventh Night, has been passed down through centuries. A love as enduring as iron and as vast as the Seventh Night's expanse...'
What day is the Weaver and Cowherd Festival celebrated in East Asia?
Perhaps the best saying about the special Valentine's Day in the East. From this saying, we learn that the Weaver and Cowherd Festival falls on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month each year. On this day, the heavens often send down rain as a sign of the traditional celebration praising the love between men and women.
To look up the date of the Weaver and Cowherd Festival in the Gregorian calendar, visit our perpetual calendar for useful information.
Why is the 7th of July every year considered the Weaver and Cowherd Festival?
This celebration goes by various names like the Seventh Night, the Forbidden Day, the Seven Sisters Festival, and Xao Tiet. In Vietnam, it's also known as Mr. Ngau and Mrs. Ngau Day, a beautiful name brought to Vietnam by the Chinese during their migration. Many fascinating stories surround this special day dedicated to love.
Weaver and Cowherd, two souls separated by distance, can only gaze at each other with tears in their eyes.
The first tale
This story recounts the life of a poor and kind buffalo herder named Weaver and a beautiful fairy, the youngest daughter of the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother of the West, named Cowherd. Captivated by her beauty, the buffalo herder took the fairy's celestial robe, preventing her return to the heavens. Touched by his love, the fairy agreed to stay with him, hoping for a hundred years of shared destiny. They lived happily and had two children. However, their happiness was short-lived as the Queen Mother of the West discovered the situation and, in anger, sent celestial soldiers to take the fairy back to the heavens.
Due to immense love for his wife, Weaver and his two children ascended to the heavens with her. When they almost touched each other, the Queen Mother of the West used her magic staff to draw a straight line, transforming it into a river to separate them. They sat on opposite riverbanks daily, longing to reunite.
After enduring many trials, the couple's love finally moved the Queen Mother of the West. She ordered the Jade Hare to decree that the two could meet once every 7 days. Due to old age, the Jade Hare mistakenly stated once a year on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. On this day, they reunited on the Magpie Bridge, and their tears of joy fell to Earth, creating what is known as the Rain of Magpies.
The second tale
This story narrates the life of the Jade Emperor's daughter named the Weaver - a beautiful, graceful girl residing in the eastern part of the Milky Way. Remarkably skilled in weaving, she diligently created celestial garments every year, showcasing her artistry. The Jade Emperor, concerned about his lonely daughter, promised her hand in marriage to a buffalo herder named Weaver on the western side of the Milky Way.
After marriage, the Weaver was consumed by love, neglecting her weaving talents. No longer the diligent Weaver creating exquisite garments for the heavenly court, she resembled a fallen celestial maiden. Outraged, the Jade Emperor blamed and commanded her to return to the eastern part of the Heavenly River. He decreed that the two could only meet once a year, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, at the Magpie Bridge.
The Magpie Bridge
In both stories above, we see the presence of the Magpie Bridge - the bridge where Weaver meets Cowherd. Similar to the tale of 7/7, this bridge has many legends surrounding it.
One legend says: the Jade Emperor commissioned earthly carpenters to build this bridge. However, due to their constant bickering, the carpenters didn't focus on their work, causing delays. Enraged, the Jade Emperor transformed them into magpies and arranged them into a bridge for Weaver and Cowherd to cross.
These magpies continued to squabble, preventing the two spouses from reaching each other. The Jade Emperor ordered them to shed all their feathers. Hence, to this day, during the lunar July, we can witness many magpies flying in the sky, their feathers drifting down.
Another tale suggests that the Magpie Bridge was formed from the heavenly bird named Magpie, transformed by the Jade Emperor to create a bridge for Weaver and Cowherd to meet.
Significance of the Weaver and Cowherd Festival
- Every 7th day of the 7th lunar month is designated as the Day of Love in many Asian countries.
- The Weaver and Cowherd love story is extremely famous in Eastern countries when discussing tales of love. They symbolize enduring, long-distance love. Some say the rain on the Seventh Night is tears of joy from their reunion, while others believe it's the heavens shedding tears out of sympathy.
- This day is known by various names in different countries: in China, it's the Qixi Festival; in Japan, it's Tanabata; in Korea, it's the Chilseok Festival. When introduced to Vietnam, it became the Seventh Night Festival, also known by other names such as 'Day of Sevens,' 'Festival of Young Girls,' 'Seventh Fairy's Birthday,' 'Skills Festival,' or 'Magpie Bridge Festival.'
- Similar to Western countries, this day is also for couples in love, but in the East, it leans more towards spirituality.
- On this day, couples visit temples, making vows for eternal, loyal love.
- During the Weaver and Cowherd Festival, the constellation of the Weaver (Vega) shines brightly. Lovers believe that they will be together forever.
- As the Weaver is skilled in handcraft, unmarried girls pray for dexterity in household chores, especially in embroidery and weaving.
What to Do on the Weaver and Cowherd Festival?
As the Eastern Valentine's Day, it's truly special when you can be with your loved one. Take a stroll on the streets, visit a temple together, or gaze at the stars. It's incredibly romantic!
Gift-Giving on the Weaver and Cowherd Festival
The Seventh Night is also a celebration for long-distance lovers, those who are in love but can't be together. On this day, they exchange gifts, send cards, wishes, or surprise each other with small gestures to nurture their love.
On this day, girls often craft handmade items to give to their beloved boys.
Alternatively, couples can find places with the brightest stars to sit together and enjoy stargazing. They exchange gifts like chocolates or Western-style red roses.
Things Not to Do on the Weaver and Cowherd Festival
According to spiritual beliefs, on the Seventh Night, two things should be avoided: marriage and house construction.
Marriage is a significant aspect of one's life. Tradition discourages weddings on 7/7, and people refrain from discussing marriage proposals. Despite the deep love between Weaver and Cowherd, they couldn't lead a happy married life because they could only meet once a year on the unique Seventh Night.
Another reason is the frequent appearance of the Rain of Magpies during this period, causing inconvenience for both families. The rainy weather dampens the atmosphere, lacks joy, and complicates the celebration.
Regarding house construction, people believe that in the seventh lunar month, there's also the Ghost Month on the full moon of the seventh lunar month – a time when wandering spirits are active. Building a house during this time could adversely affect the family's spiritual space. Additionally, the rainy weather can impede the construction process.
These are just a collection of things to avoid on this day, based on spiritual and cultural beliefs. It's essential not to overly dwell on these matters.
Feast for the Weaver and Cowherd Festival
Significance of the Feast on the Weaver and Cowherd Festival
Originating from Chinese customs and traditions, the anticipation for this festival is lively in some places in Vietnam. The expressions, however, vary based on the ethnic diversity in each region.
Feast for the Weaver and Cowherd Festival
People believe that Weaver, a skilled fairy, and Cowherd, a virtuous shepherd, deserve an evening feast. As deities personified from ancient beliefs in worshiping natural phenomena, in this case, the reverence for the stars Vega and Altair. The most suitable time to observe these stars is during the evening.
They set up a feast to offer, hoping that Weaver will bestow her artistic skills upon the girls, and Cowherd will grant boys his robust health. Simultaneously, they pray for smooth love stories for both girls and boys, as well as for singles to find their life partners swiftly.
What does the ritual feast include?
In the ceremonial feast, people should prepare fresh flowers and fruits.
Alongside these fruits, there are some distinctive items for this day such as:
- Young rice ears: This is a unique offering on this day. Bunches of green rice ears are sold in many markets, wrapped in red paper. According to folk beliefs, these bunches will be dried after the ritual. When a child in the family is unwell, they will use it to make water for the child to drink, wishing for the child's quick recovery. However, with the advancement of medical conditions today, hardly anyone believes in this anymore.
Phuc Linh Cake - a special cake for the Weaver and Cowherd Festival
- There are also some special cakes for this day such as Phuc Linh cake, coconut-filled vegetarian cake, roasted peanuts with shells, or young taro.
- And a particularly indispensable item on the feast table is the 'Thau That Ty'. A bamboo tray woven with bamboo strips, papered. Inside, there are images of the Ô Thước Bridge, the figures of Ngưu Lang, shoes, clothes, and jewelry.
Thus, we have presented you with some information about the Weaver and Cowherd Festival. We hope our article can provide you with valuable insights into this festive day. Wishing you and your loved one a romantic, warm, and joyful Valentine's Day!
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