Chinese Valentine’s Day is rooted in legend and tradition, not just romance

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese Valentine’s Day is not all about flowers and chocolates. Beyond the romance embraced by some contemporary couples, Qixi is an ancient tradition rooted in legend, prayer and cultural activities that survive to this day.

The festival is observed on the seventh day of the seventh month of the Chinese calendar , which fell on Aug. 19 in 2026. Celebrations are also held in Singapore , Vietnam and other Asian countries.

Beijing’s Folk Custom Museum hosted activities on Wednesday under a program called “Asking for Skills,” reflecting a tradition at the heart of Qixi in which women historically prayed for skillfulness and displayed their abilities through crafts.

“We especially hope that young audiences can understand the meaning of our traditional festivals through interactive and engaging experiences,” said Jia Juan, who works in the museum’s Public Education Department.

The museum, housed in Beijing’s Dongyue Taoist Temple, has been hosting Qixi-related activities for the last 14 years, drawing about 500 people each time.

Old practices become hands-on

Wednesday’s program began with a performance of Chinese classical music, followed by hands-on…