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Qixi Chinese Valentine’s Day Embroidery Handkerchief Workshop
| Celebrate the romantic tale of Qixi, the Chinese Valentine’s Day, with a special touch of creativity. Join us for a special Chinese embroidery workshop where you’ll have the chance to craft a personalized handkerchief for yourself or a loved one. Learn the art of embroidery and let your hands weave a story of love. |
Event Invitation
The legend behind Chinese Valentine’s Day revolves around two star-crossed lovers, Zhinhu, a weaver girl and daughter of a powerful goddess, and Niulang, a humble cowherd. For the two, it was love at first sight. However, when Zhinhu’s mother discovered that her daughter married a mere mortal, she brought her back to heaven and casted a massive river between earth and heaven to separate the couple – which is now referred to as the Milky Way. Touched by the love between Zhinhu and Niulang, the magpies on land flew up to heaven and helped the couple by forming a bridge across the river, allowing the two to reunite. Their love moved Zhinhu’s mother, who eventually permitted the couple to meet once a year on that very same day, which is the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.
The Qixi Festival is celebrated with various customs, including activities such as embroidery. In this workshop, you will have a handkerchief as a canvas for your creativity. Express your feelings and personalise the handkerchief through embroidery patterns, initials as we guide you alongside. Craft a one-of-a-kind gift for yourself or a special someone.
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Cultural introduction
Qixi Festival, also known as the Double Seventh Festival or Chinese Valentine’s Day, is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. Originating from the romantic legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, the festival celebrates the annual meeting of two star-crossed lovers, represented by the stars Vega and Altair, who are separated by the Milky Way and allowed to reunite only once a year on Qixi. Traditionally, Qixi Festival is observed with various customs and rituals centered around love and romance. Young women pray for skill in needlework and embroidery, while couples exchange gifts and express their affection for one another. In recent years, Qixi has evolved into a modern celebration of love, with couples going on romantic dates, exchanging gifts, and professing their love for each other. The festival holds cultural significance beyond romantic love, symbolizing the enduring power of love, loyalty, and devotion. Qixi Festival serves as a reminder to cherish and appreciate the loved ones in our lives, fostering a sense of connection and gratitude among family and friends.