Family-friendly Guide to Qixi Festival in Singapore (4 August 2022)

All you need to know about the Qixi Festival 2022 in Singapore aka Double Seventh Festival or Chinese Valentine’s Day which falls on 4 August 2022!

Looking for another day to celebrate love? The Qixi Festival 2022 in Singapore is the perfect day to do just that! Originating in China, the Qixi festival is otherwise known as the Chinese Valentine’s Day and stems from the story of two star-crossed lovers, which is also why it is often referred to as Chinese Valentine’s Day. Over the years, the Qixi festival has faded into obscurity outside of China with many unaware of its existence or the meaning behind its traditions. Let’s take a look at Qixi, a festival that is full of history, culture and the celebration of love!

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When is the Qixi Festival 2022?

Falling on the seventh day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar, the Qixi Festival takes place every year between July 31 and August 29. This year the Qixi Festival will be celebrated on the 4th of August 2022.

What is the Qixi Festival aka Chinese Valentine’s Day?

Also known as the Qiqiao Festival, Chinese Valentine’s Day or the Double Seventh Day, the Qixi Festival is based on the star-crossed love story between Zhinu, a weaver girl who is the daughter of a goddess and Niulang, a mortal cowherd. Legend says that the two of them fell in love, got married and had two kids before Zhinu’s mother found out about the couple. Enraged that her daughter fell in love with a mere mortal, Zhinu’s mother dragged her back to the heavens and created the Silver River also known as the Milky Way to block Niulang from chasing after Zhinu. Touched by their love story, the magpies on land formed a bridge across the river so the two could reunite. Eventually, their love story also moved Zhinu’s mother and she permitted them to meet once a year on the same day hence the celebration of the Qixi Festival on the seventh day of the seventh month every lunar year.

Traditions for Qixi Festival

Traditionally, women would pray to Zhinu on the day of the Qixi Festival with offerings such as tea and fruits. Single women would pray for a good spouse and newly wed couples would pray for a good marriage. In the night, the Qixi Festival celebrations would continue with women competing in a needle work contest to see who can thread the best in low light.

Feasting for Qixi Festival: Qi Qiao Festival

Another way people traditionally celebrate Qixi is by making ‘Qiao Foods’, so called because Qixi Festival is also called Qi Qiao Festival. Qiaoguo (Qixi Pastry) is the ultimate Qixi Festival food. The main ingredients are flour, sesame, sugar and honey. Qiaoguo is a traditional fried thin pastry that comes in various different shapes sometimes made with a wooden mold. Qixi pastries gained popularity during the Song Dynasty and are believed to help reunite couples on the magpie bridge during the Qixi Festival.

How to celebrate Qixi Festival in Singapore 2022?

Many of the younger generations don’t celebrate the traditional Qixi Festival at all anymore and those that do celebrate this Chinese Valentines Day may swap out the traditional Qixi celebrations for more modern traditions like giving flowers, chocolates and other Valentine’s day gifts.

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