Tomorrow is 6th August 2011. It is equivalent to the seventh day of the seventh month in the Chinese Lunar calendar. Wishing everyone a Happy Cowherd and Weaver Girl Festival !
In the late summer, on the seventh night of the seventh moon, in the Chinese lunar calendar, try to gaze up high into the night sky. You could see two very bright stars called Altair (Cowherd Star 牵牛星) and Vega (Weaver Girl Star 织女星), separated by the Milky Way. Near Altair were two smaller stars ………………………………………
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Cowherd and Weaver Girl
每年农历七月初七是传统节日“七夕节”，也叫“东方情人节”。
祝愿天下有情人都能有长长久久
七夕东方情人节快乐！
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188 Hugh Low Street, Ipoh 
Your reminiscence of the past speaks volumes of the way Chinese culture and traditions are passed on from generation to generation. Just like most other immigrant Chinese, your grandparents arrived in Malaya in the 19th century, bringing with them ‘the spirit of the Chinese people’ (read the treatise by GuHongMing – a scholar in the Ching dynasty http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Spirit_of_the_Chinese_People/The_Spirit_of_the_Chinese_People) . You have rendered vivid accounts of the many festivals celebrated in your hometown, the Zhongzi festival, the cowherd & weaver girl, etc. I tend to believe that the significance of Chinese culture is amply demonstrated in the celebration of such festivals.
There are many folklores related to the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. In southern China, this is a significant event for celebrating boys and girls coming of age. The Teochews call it “出花園” (emerging from the garden). The Cantonese celebrate it in a more elaborate manner – called “七姐诞”。The maidens would display their domestic skills in handicraft, dress-making, face make-ups, food delicacies, and most of all a gathering of maidens so that young men can take a look at those ‘available’, so to speak. This is actually a manifestation of the deep rooted Chinese philosophy – the three obedience and the four virtues (三从四德)。The female gender must learn to extol the four virtues – morality, proper speech, modest manner and diligent work. “七姐诞”is an opportunity for the maidens to display the stuff they have learnt regarding the four virtues.
It is a pity the local Chinese do not pay much attention to keeping proper records of our Chinese culture in Malaysia. But your firsthand accounts are important resource materials for some future historians!
Hi Uncle Kelvin,
Thanks for your thoughts on this festival which sadly, is getting less popular by the year. Why are the younger generations not keen to celebrate this romantic festival anymore? Maybe they are too busy making money to give a care. That is very sad. We are losing our identity very fast.
I remember when I was a little girl, my family, poor as we were then, still observed it in a simple way. We offered some fruits, flowers and incense and begged for happiness. When it rained, we collected the rain water using pails, believed to be the tears of the unlucky lovers and grandma will later used them to make “bedak sejuk.” Nobody does that anymore but I still do and please don’t laugh!
Reblogged this on 188 Hugh Low Street, Ipoh and commented:
Tomorrow is the day when the cowherd boy and weaver girl will meet again. It is a sad but romantic day……