Qixi Festival, also known as the Begging for Dexterity Festival or Maiden's Day, is a traditional festival in China and some other East Asian countries, deeply intertwined with the beautiful legend of the Cowherd and the Weaving Maid. Celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month every year, this festival is not only a romantic celebration akin to Valentine’s Day but also an expression of longing for beautiful love and family reunion. Origins of Qixi The origins of the Qixi Festival can be traced back to the Han Dynasty, or possibly earlier. According to records in The Book of Songs ("Shijing"), there is mention of "the fire of July, clothes given in September," suggesting a possible connection to what would later become the Qixi Festival. By the Eastern Han period, the "Miscellaneous Records of the Western Capital" ("Xijing Zaji") clearly documented celebratory activities associated with the Qixi Festival, marking its formal establishment as a recognized holiday. Legend of the Cowherd and the Weaving Maid The most famous traditional story associated with the Qixi Festival is that of the Cowherd and the Weaving Maid. It is said that the Heavenly Weaver Girl (Vega) fell in love with the earthly cowherd, but their love violated celestial rules and they were separated by the Milky Way by the Empress of Heaven. They are allowed to meet once a year on the magpie bridge, which forms on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. On this day, thousands of magpies fly to create a bridge, enabling the lovers to reunite briefly. This story expresses people’s yearning for pure love and sympathy for the pain of separation. Celebration Customs The traditional customs of the Qixi Festival are rich and varied, reflecting ancient Chinese women's pursuit of wisdom and skill. Most representative among these is the "Begging for Dexterity." Ancient maidens would pray to the Weaving Maid on this day for the acquisition of dexterous skills, demonstrating their abilities through threading needles and crafting handicrafts. In addition, people would eat Qiaoguo (cakes), release river lanterns, stargaze, recite poetry, paint, and hold various gatherings and games. Cultural Significance The Qixi Festival is more than just a festival about love; it carries profound cultural significance. It emphasizes the values of family harmony, marital affection, and also embodies the ancients' reverence for nature and curiosity about the mysteries of the universe. Over time, the Qixi Festival has become an emotional bond that transcends time and space, connecting love stories from ancient to modern times, becoming part of humanity's shared cultural heritage. In modern society, while many traditional customs have faded, the Qixi Festival remains an important moment for Chinese people to express affection. Couples exchange gifts and spend quality time together, while families and friends take the opportunity to deepen relationships and enjoy the joy of togetherness. During the ...

Qingming Festival, also known as taqingjie, falls on the 104th day after the winter Solstice. It is one of the traditional Chinese festivals and one of the most important sacrificial festivals. It is a time for ancestor worship and tomb sweeping. The traditional Tomb-sweeping Day of The Han nationality in China began about the Zhou Dynasty, which has a history of more than 2,500 years ago. Influenced by the Han culture, China's Manchu, Hezhen, Zhuang, Oroqen, Dong, Tujia, Miao, Yao, Li, Shui, Jing, Qiang and other 24 ethnic minorities also have the custom of Qingming Festival. Toner bottle Although customs vary from place to place, tomb sweeping, ancestor worship, outing is the basic theme. In some areas of southern China, it is the custom to eat green dumplings at Tomb Sweeping Day. Green dumplings are also called The Dumplings of Qingming Festival cake, cotton steamed dumplings, tzi-shell cakes, Qingming Cake, Mugwormwood leaves baba, Aiming Dumplings, Fruit of Qingming Festival, Pineapple cake, Qingming Festival cake, wormwood leaves glutinous rice cake, Rice dumplings, Wormwood cake, and so on. In the hometown of overseas Chinese in southern Fujian, every Qingming Festival must make some cakes, kuiji and rice brown, before and after the qingming Festival for the family to eat. According to an old Shanghai custom, people can prepare steamed cakes for sacrifice on lixia day by hanging them on wicker sticks. On lixia day, they can fry them in oil and give them to children. It is said that eating them can prevent them from getting summer disease. In Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, every family wraps zongzi on Tomb-sweeping Day, which can be used as a sacrifice to go to the grave or as dry food for spring outing. As the saying goes :" Qingming Zongzi firmly." Around qingming festival, snails are fat and strong. Eating lotus root is to wish the silk of silkworm baby is long and good. Eating faye beans is to win the word "rich". When eating fresh vegetables such as malan, the word "green" is taken to match the "green" of "Qingming festival". More info at www.qiaonengpackaging.com