Guide To 2024 Qixi Festival In Singapore

All you need to know about the 2024 Qixi Festival in Singapore. Falling on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month on 10 August 2024, the Qixi Festival is also known as the Double Seventh Festival, Chinese Valentine’s Day or Qiqiao Festival.

The Qixi Festival 2024 in Singapore is being revived after being almost forgotten for decades — it is said to have been grander than Chinese New Year and one of eight staple Chinese festivals celebrated in Singapore since the mid-1800 originating in China. The Qixi Festival (七夕节) is centred on the practice of participants wishing upon the stars under the night sky — it is apparently not as many believe, the Chinese version of Valentine’s Day despite the Qixi origin story of two star-crossed lovers. 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 and culture and we’ll see how it is celebrated in Singapore. Read till the end for Qixi Festival events happening in Singapore this year.

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When is the Qixi Festival 2024?

Falling on the seventh day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar, the Qixi Festival takes place every year between 31 July and 29 August. This year the Qixi Festival will be celebrated on 10 August 2024. In Singapore, it is often celebrated over many weekends from July until August.

Qixi Festival: Chinese Valentine’s Day/Qiqiao Festival/Double Seventh Festival

Also known as the Qiqiao Festival or the Double Seventh Day (and some even say Chinese Valentine’s 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 needlework 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 2024 Qixi Festival in Singapore?

According to Qixi Fest (七夕乞巧嘉年华) festival director Lynn Wong who is reviving the Qixi Festival celebration in Singapore, the Qixi Festival is not a Chinese Valentine’s Day but centred on the practice of wishing upon the stars under the night sky. Qixi was brought over to Singapore as a celebration by women pioneers as early as the 19th century. The women formed sisterhood organisations called Seven Sisters’ Associations, or Milky Way Associations, to celebrate Qixi festival together. Customs include Qiqiao (乞巧), which is the practice of wishing upon the stars to become skillful in the arts, such as needlework and handicrafts. Qixi Festival was marked by grand public displays of handicrafts in Chinatown – especially those that involved Majies (妈姐, domestic servants) from the Shuntak region – but these traditions have disappeared since the 1970s as many Majies began to retire and returned to their hometown.

Some say that Qixi is a day to spend time with one’s partner or even get hitched – as some couples choose the Qixi Festival as a date to get married (though some still hold superstitions around the day regarding separation!). Rather than the traditional ways of celebrating Qixi, many go the Western route and swap out the traditional Qixi celebrations for more modern Valentine’s Day traditions like giving flowers, chocolates and other Valentine’s day gifts.

Read More: Gifts for Chinese Valentine’s Day Singapore

Qixi Festival 2024 events in Singapore

Qixi Festival Street Party & Fest Village

Kick off the celebration for Qixi Festival 2024 at the Street Party @ Keong Saik. It’s located between Jiak Chuan Road and Teck Lim Road, and you’ll be in for a treat as history comes to life through lively performances. Plus, you can shop gorgeous cultural items, food and more at the Fest Village at Kreta Ayer Square.

Qixi Festival 2024 Street Party @ Keong Saik
When: 3 August 2024, 5pm – 9pm
Where: Between Jiak Chuan Road and Teck Lim Road

Fest Village @ Kreta Ayer Square
When: 4 – 11 August 2024, 2pm – 9pm
Where: Kreta Ayer Square, In front of Chinatown Complex

Qixi Festival 2024: Qiqi & Friends Scavenger Hunt

Let the kids embark on an exciting cultural learning journey through Qiqi & Friends’ Scavenger Hunt. Kids (and grown-ups) of all ages are invited to try seven activities to redeem a Qixi Fest goodie bag (worth over $77!). Test your speed at threading a needle; create artwork on water; design your own Qiqi cap; try Chinese Calligraphy and more.

When: 4 August 2024, 2pm – 9pm
Where: Kreta Ayer Square, in front of Chinatown Complex), 21 Banda Street Singapore, Singapore 050005
How much: $7.70. Click here to get tickets.

Qixi Festival 2024: Poetry Workshops with Cultural Medallions Recipients

Want to find out how a Chinese Cultural Medallion poet crafts beautiful poetry? Choose from two Mandarin workshops led by Cultural Medallion poets: Xi Ni Er and Lin Gao. Both will be accompanied by a talented guzheng player. Find out how they craft the scene and be treated to a guzheng performance. Plus, try it out for yourself and get tips on composition, so you can write your own Chinese poem.

Poetry Workshop with Cultural Medallion Recipient: Xi Ni Er
When: 3 August 2024, 7:30pm – 9pm
Where: Kong Chow Wui Koon, 321 New Bridge Road Singapore, 088758
How much: $81.78. Click here to purchase tickets.

Poetry Workshop with Cultural Medallion Recipient: Lin Gao
When: 3 August 2024, 7:30pm – 9pm
Where: Association of Wong Clan of Toishan, Jiak Chuan Road Singapore, Singapore 089266
How much: $81.78. Click here to purchase tickets.

Qixi Festival 2024: (Her)Story of the Samsui Women Tour

Curious to learn about Samsui women? Join a walking tour around Chinatown led by a Samsui descendent, Pauline Fun, who will share about the Samsui women and where she comes from.

When: 4 August 2024, 4pm – 5:30pm
Where: TBC
How much: TBC. Check back again for more deets.

Qixi Festival 2024: Qiao Guo Pastry Making Workshop

Qiao Guo is usually made and gifted by children to other children to strengthen friendships. Kids can get hands-on with a Qiao Guo-making workshop. Learn how to create Qiao Guo in the shape of Qiqi, the Qixi Festival mascot, to gift to friends or take home as a souvenir.

When: 4 & 11 August 2024, 2pm – 3pm
Where: TBC
How much: TBC. Check back again for more deets.

Check out the upcoming Qixi Festival events in Singapore here.

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