 Festival Qi Xi 2016

 A boy-meets-girl story with a supernatural twist, the romantic legend

behind Qixi Festival dates back to the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE).
In recent times, Qixi Festival, also called Double Seventh Festival or
Magpie Festival, has become known as Chinese Valentine’s Day.

Cupid plays no part in this tale. Instead, the myth involves Zhi Nu, a fairy
weaver maid, and Niu Lang, a cow herder. They, a devoted couple with
two children were torn apart by the goddess of heaven who can’t fathom
why a fairy would marry a mere mortal. The goddess whisks Zhi Nu back
to heaven and separates the heartbroken lovers forever by a river, later
known as the Milky Way. Moved by their tears, the goddess allows the
lovers to reunite once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar
month of the traditional Chinese lunar calendar.

Their meeting spot, a bridge formed by magpies, is the inspiration for

today’s Doodle. This year, Qixi Festival falls on August 9th.