The Double-Seventh Day
篇一
The Double-Seventh Day, also known as Chinese Valentine's Day, is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. It is a day that celebrates the love story between the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, two mythical lovers who were separated by the Milky Way and could only meet once a year on this special day.
On this day, people in China celebrate love and romance in various ways. One popular tradition is to make and display colorful paper decorations, such as paper cows and paper weavers, to symbolize the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. These decorations can be seen hanging in homes, streets, and public places, creating a festive atmosphere.
Another common activity on the Double-Seventh Day is for young girls to pray for skillful hands and clever minds, hoping to become as skilled as the Weaver Girl in weaving beautiful fabric. They also pray for finding a good husband and a happy marriage. Many girls visit temples and make offerings to the Weaver Girl, asking for her blessings.
In recent years, the Double-Seventh Day has become increasingly commercialized. Many businesses take advantage of this festival to promote their products and services. Special sales, discounts, and promotions are offered to attract couples who are looking for romantic gifts for their loved ones. It has become a popular day for couples to go out on romantic dates, exchange gifts, and express their love for each other.
However, despite the commercialization, the essence of the Double-Seventh Day still lies in the celebration of love and the longing for a happy and fulfilling relationship. It serves as a reminder for people to cherish their loved ones and to make efforts to maintain a strong and loving bond.
In conclusion, the Double-Seventh Day is a special festival in China that celebrates love and romance. It is a day for people to express their love and appreciation for their partners. Whether through traditional customs or modern activities, the spirit of love is at the heart of this festival.
篇二
The Double-Seventh Day, also known as Chinese Valentine's Day, is a festival that holds great significance for lovers in China. It is celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, and it is believed to be the only day when the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl can meet each other.
According to the legend, the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl were once a couple who were deeply in love. However, due to their different backgrounds and social status, they were forbidden to be together. The Weaver Girl was a fairy from the heavens, while the Cowherd was a mortal living on earth. In order to keep them apart, the Queen Mother of the Western Heavens created the Milky Way, a river of stars that separated the two lovers.
On the Double-Seventh Day, it is said that magpies form a bridge with their wings over the Milky Way, allowing the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl to meet. This romantic legend has been passed down through generations, and the Double-Seventh Day has become a day for lovers to express their love and longing for each other.
One popular activity on this day is for couples to write their wishes on colorful strips of paper and tie them to bamboo branches. The bamboo branches are then placed in water, symbolizing the hopes and dreams of the couples floating towards the heavens. This tradition is believed to bring good luck and blessings to the couples.
Another tradition on the Double-Seventh Day is for couples to go out at night and watch the stars. It is believed that the stars are the souls of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, and by looking at them, couples can feel their eternal love and be reminded of the importance of cherishing their relationship.
In recent years, the Double-Seventh Day has gained more popularity, especially among young people. It has become a day for couples to exchange gifts, go on romantic dates, and spend quality time together. Many businesses also take advantage of this festival to promote their products and services, offering special deals and discounts to attract couples.
In conclusion, the Double-Seventh Day is a festival that celebrates love and romance in China. It is a day for couples to express their love and appreciation for each other. Whether through traditional customs or modern activities, the spirit of love and longing is at the heart of this festival.
七夕英语作文The Double-Seventh Day 篇三
七夕英语作文The Double-Seventh Day
The Double-Seventh Day refers to the seventh day of the seventh month on the Chinese lunar calendar. The day is not as well known as many other Chinese festivals. But almost everyone in China, young and old, is very familiar with the story behind this festival.
A long long time ago, there was a poor cowherd, Niulang. He fell in love with Zhinu, “the Girl Weaver". Virtuous and kind, she was the most beautiful being in the whole universe. Unfortunately, the King and Queen of Heaven were furious finding out that their granddaughter had gone to the world of Man and taken a husband. Thus, the couple was separated by a wide swollen river in the sky and can only meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.
The poor couple of Niulang and Zhinu each became a star. Niulang is Altair and Zhinu is Vega. The wide river that keeps them apart is known as the Milky Way. On the east side of the Milky Way, Altair is the middle one of a line of three. The end ones are the twins. To the southeast are six stars in the shape of an ox. Vega is to the west of the Milky Way; the star around her form in the shape of a loom. Every year, the two stars of Altair and Vega are closest together on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.
This sad love story has passed down from generation to generation. It is well known that very few magpies are seen on the Double-Seventh Day. This is because most of them fly to the Milky Way, where they form a bridge so that the two lovers might come together. The next day, it is seen that many magpies are bald; this is because Niulang and Zhinu walked and stood too long on the heads of their loyal feathered friends.
In ancient times, the Double-Seventh Day was a festival especially for young women. Girls, no matter from rich or poor families, would put on their holiday best to celebrate the annual meeting of the cowherd and the Girl Weaver. Parents would place an incense burner in the courtyard and lay out some fruit as offerings. Then all the girls in the family would kowtow to Niulang and Zhinu and pray for ingenuity.
In the Tang Dynasty about 1,000 years ago, rich families in the capital city of Chang'an would set up a decorated tower in the courtyard and name it Tower of Praying for Ingenuity. They prayed for various types of ingenuity. Most girls would pray for outstanding sewing or cooking skills. In the past these were important virtues for a woman.
Girls and women would gather together in a square and look into the star-filled night sky. They would put their hands behind their backs, holding needle and thread. At the word “Start”, they would try to thread the needle. Zhinu, the Girl Weaver, would bless the one who succeeded first.
The same night, the girls and women would also display carved melons and samples of their cookies and other delicacies. During the daytime, they would skillfully carve melons into all sorts of things. Some would make a gold fish. Others preferred flowers, still others would use several melons and carve them into an exquisite building. These melons were called Hua Gua or Carved Melons.
The ladies would also show off their fried cookies made in many different shapes. They would invite the Girl Weaver to judge who was the best. Of course, Zhinu would not come down to the world because she was busy talking to Niulang after a long year of separation. These activities gave the girls and women a good opportunity to show their skills and added fun to the fesstival.
Chinese people nowadays, especially city residents, no longer hold such activities. Most young women buy their clothes from shops and most young couples share the housework.
The Double-Seventh Day is not a public holiday in China. However, it is still a day to celebrate the annual meeting of the loving couple, the Cowherd and the Girl Weaver. Not surprisingly, many people consider the Double-seventh Day the Chinese Valentine's Day.