CHINA> National
When modernity dates tradition and East meets West
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-07 20:50

In old days, Qixi was more of a festival for girls. It was also known as the "Begging for Skills Festival" or "Daughters' Festival." Girls would conduct a ceremony to beg Zhinu for wisdom, dexterity and a happy marriage in future by offering the goddess fruit and pastries; in southern China, young women used to hold weaving and needlework competitions.

As modern China has put more emphasis on the Valentine's Day function of Qixi, critics are scolding such a trend; they called it ignorance and abuse of history and ancient heritage.

Liu Zongdi, a Chinese Academy of Social Sciences researcher, said in ancient times, Qixi had forbidden marriages at this time as it was in autumn, when trees started shedding leaves and flowers withered; it wasn't the time for romance.

He said all the hype from opportunists had pushed this ancient heritage far from its original meaning. Today, it is used for profit by a range of businesses, far beyond the ordinary florist.

Meanwhile, there were rival groups who either approved or opposed the profit-driven notion of the so-called Qixi China's Valentine's Day.

"Even though the Niulang Zhinu legend has with it a tragic color, it otherwise represents the ultimate devotion and pursuit of love, " said Cao Baoming, the Chinese Folk Literature and Art Society vice chairman. "It should be celebrated among Chinese lovers."

A survey on the website People's Net recently showed 74.2 percent of those polled approved making Qixi China's Valentine's Day.

"More people have shown the enthusiasm for Qixi, and are willing to know about it, to celebrate it. It indicates the revival of Chinese traditions and customs," said Yu Xianyan, a Renmin University of China sociology professor.

In recent years, the Internet has been developing fast in China. Online media had played a significant role in making more people know about Qixi. "How to spend the Qixi night" was the hot topic on online forums, and in online chat-rooms. The prevalent text messages of cell phones are another way to publicize the Qixi night among friends, colleagues and students.