Bracelets made by girls in villages of Nanyang in celebration of Qixi Festival. [Photo by Chen Feifei in Nanyang Daily]

Qixi, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar, will be celebrated on Aug 7 in 2019. Dubbed the Chinese Valentine's Day in modern times, the festival's origin in Chinese mythology suggests it was observed as a day when the separated couple of Niulang, a Cowherd and Zhinyu, a Weaver Maid, reunited once a year.

Many women in villages of Nanyang make colorful bracelets in celebration of Qixi Festival. [Photo by Chen Feifei in Nanyang Daily]

Now, it is also a day to showcase handicrafts such as making bracelets or other objects made of colorful threads.

During the celebration, many women in villages of Nanyang make colorful bracelets into a pair pattern and use them to decorate their rooms. Such things express people’s feelings and deep friendship.

As the Qixi Festival draws close, in recognition of it as the day that Niulang and Zhinu met at the Queqiao, or the pie bridge, the girls in villages of Nanyang dress in new clothes and pray for a happy marriage from the Milky Way, which was considered a love bridge in ancient times. Visitors to Nanyang can experience folk handicrafts like knitting all kinds of bracelets. Many cultural souvenirs will also be available to them.