七夕节 (Qīxī Jié)(Festival Qixi)

The Qixi Festival falls on the 7th day of the 7th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. In the Gregorian calendar, this typically occurs in August, between late July and late August.

Qixi (七夕), often called the Chinese Valentine's Day, is a romantic festival based on the legend of the Cowherd (Niulang) and the Weaver Girl (Zhinü), two star-crossed lovers represented by the stars Altair and Vega who meet once a year across the Milky Way.

The Qixi Festival is celebrated in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. Similar festivals based on the same legend exist in Japan (Tanabata, on July 7), South Korea (Chilseok), and Vietnam (Thất Tịch), each with its own local traditions.

No, the Qixi Festival is not a public holiday in China or other countries where it is observed. Schools and businesses remain open. It is primarily a romantic and cultural observance similar to Valentine's Day in Western countries.

Qixi traditions include couples exchanging gifts and going on romantic dates, young women traditionally praying for skills in needlework and for good marriages, making wishes under the stars, and writing wishes on colorful paper strips. In modern China, it has become a major commercial holiday for flowers, jewelry, and chocolates.