August 19 marks the Qixi Festival. Also known as the Qiqiao (Begging-for-Skill) Festival, its most representative traditional custom is for women to pray to the Weaver Girl for cleverness and craft, echoing the imagery of the 'weaver's shuttle' — and it was not solely about love.
As the legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl spread widely, Qixi gradually took on more romantic hues. From the earliest prayers for skill to later expressions of love, people's longing for the starry sky has remained constant throughout.
