The 15th Hebei Province Qixi Couple's Festival and the 6th Hebei Province "Searching for Today's Weaver Star" event award ceremony was grandly held

Our traditional Chinese festival, the Qixi Festival, is about to arrive. This ancient festival was designated as one of the first national-level intangible cultural heritage projects by the State Council in June 2006. It is one of China's seven major traditional festivals, along with the Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, Qingming Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Double Ninth Festival. The Qixi Festival falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month each year. It has been passed down through the ages as the day when the Cowherd and Weaver Girl from the heavens reunite by crossing the Milky Way. It is also known as the Begging for Skills Festival, the Daughter's Festival, the Young Girl's Festival, the Double Seventh Festival, the Seventh Sister's Meeting, and the Craftsmanship Festival. This ancient festival was inspired by the prominent constellations in the sky, the Cowherd Star (Altair) and the Weaver Girl Star (Vega), which were thought to represent the wishes for an ideal life of "men plowing and women weaving." The concept of this festival dates back to the Spring and Autumn period, and it's mentioned in the ancient Chinese Classic of Poetry in the poem "Da Dong." It gained further popularity during the Western Han Dynasty, as "magpies fill the bridge to help the Cowherd and Weaver Girl cross the Milky Way." Over time, the stories of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl became more detailed, and the framework for the Qixi Festival developed. This festival is marked by various customs and activities for young women, including seeking skills, love, marriage, and children. It has long been a significant point in history where our ancestors showed respect for women.

In 2002, the famous author and Vice Chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Feng Jicai, heard that Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei Province, was planning to host a Qixi Love Festival. He willingly penned the words: "Seek the true essence of love, and ask about the Cowherd and Weaver Girl in the stars." These lines have since become a widely circulated and classic expression during the Qixi Festival. Since 2006, the Hebei Province has been organizing the Hebei Qixi Couple's Festival. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the festival. Over the past 15 years, the festival has received substantial support from various sectors of society, especially from renowned tourist attractions like the Tianhe Mountain in Xingtai, known as "China's Love Mountain." In 2014, the "Tianhe Mountain Cup" Hebei Province "Loving Couples and Harmonious Families" selection and award ceremony was held on the Qixi Festival. Starting in 2015, the province has consecutively held the large-scale cultural activity called "Searching for Today's Weaver Star," which is now in its sixth edition.

The main purpose of this activity is to promote the traditional virtues of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl, such as faithful love and family harmony. It seeks to recognize and reward outstanding women who contribute to their harmonious families, as well as skillful, talented, virtuous, and dutiful women. So far, more than 320 women have been or will be recognized. Their contributions to promoting the core socialist values and traditional views on love, family, and career have played an important role in supporting the development of a comprehensive well-off society and a harmonious society through the promotion of socialist spiritual civilization.

Ms. Cui Huijun, Vice President of the Hebei Folk Culture Association and Chairwoman of the Tianhe Mountain Scenic Area, delivered an important speech

On the morning of August 24, 2020 (Monday, the sixth day of the seventh lunar month), a small-scale ceremony for the 15th Hebei Province Qixi Couple Festival and the 6th Hebei Province "Searching for Today's Weaver Star" event was grandly held on the fourth floor of the Cihang Group in Shijiazhuang. The event was organized by the Hebei Province Qixi Couple Festival Organizing Committee, Hebei Culture Exchange Association, Hebei Folk Culture Association, Tianhe Mountain Scenic Area, and Yanzhao Urban Daily. Attendees included leaders and experts such as Yuan Xuejun, Advisor to the Chinese Folklore Society and President of the Hebei Folk Culture Association, Cui Huijun, Vice President of the Hebei Folk Culture Association and Chairwoman of the Tianhe Mountain Scenic Area, Zhang Hongjie, Deputy Chief Editor of Yanzhao Urban Daily, Zhou Zhiguo, representing the Hebei Women's Federation, Chen Xuxia, Yang Xiuling, and Hu Haixia, Vice Presidents of the Hebei Folk Culture Association, and Yuan Chenqing, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Provincial Folk Culture Association. Also in attendance were Liu Yuying, a member of the Chinese Folklore Society and an associate professor with a Ph.D. from Hebei Normal University, who served as an expert. The event brought together gold and silver medal recipients, title winners, outstanding nominees, and reporters from the provincial media.

A group photo of the award recipients

The meeting was warmly conducted under the moderation of Wen Hongyi, Vice President of the Hebei Culture Exchange Association. Cui Huijun, Vice President of the Hebei Folk Culture Association and Chairman of the Tianhe Mountain Scenic Area in Xingtai, delivered the opening speech. Yuan Xuejun, Vice Chairman of the Hebei Folk Culture Association and President of the Hebei Qixi Couple Festival Organizing Committee, announced the list of winners for the 6th Hebei Province "Searching for Today's Weaver Star" event. A total of 61 people received awards, including Wang Wenhua from Cangzhou and Gao Zhiyong from Neiqiu, who received the gold award, and Li Qiaoling from Quzhou County and Fan Lingzhi from Xinji City, who were among the 5 recipients of the silver award. Zhang Kun from Bazhou, Han Tongtong from Shijiazhuang, and 10 others received the title of "Clever Girl Star." Zhang Meiying from the Provincial Government, Liu Langan from Jizhou, Liu Anchun from Luannan County, and 16 others were honored with the title of "Talented Girl Star." Yang Chunxia from Guyuan County, Yang Wendong from Gucheng County, Huo Baoru from Cheng'an County, and 15 others received the title of "Virtuous Girl Star." Wang Jing from Guangzong County, Liu Litao from Yongnian District in Handan, and five others were named "Filial Daughter Stars." Zhao Chunhua, Liu Tao, Fang Hongxia, Liu Shifen, Fu Zhiwei, Zhao Yuzhi, Ma Ji, Chang Yunfeng, Chen Ye, and others were recognized as outstanding recommenders.

A group photo of the award recipients

At the event, medals and certificates were presented to the awardees. Awardees like Wang Wenhua and Fan Lingzhi shared their feelings and thoughts upon receiving the awards. Following this, the silver award recipient, Zhang Liyu, showcased her traditional Chinese painting, while the talented girl star, Li Yuqiao, displayed her new rural painting artwork. Clever girl star Han Tongtong exhibited her dough sculpture creation, and clever girl star Yan Minzhen showcased her embroidery work. Zhang Meiying and Liu Langen presented their newly published books.

Display of work of award-winners

Display of work of award-winners

During the event, in the enthusiastic atmosphere, everyone expressed their determination to take today's Qixi Festival as a new starting point. They pledged to work hard under the guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping's speech on vigorously promoting the excellent traditional Chinese culture. They are committed to making new contributions to the building of a comprehensive well-off society and preparing for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party.

Group photo

Organized by:
Hebei Provincial Cultural Exchange Association  

Hebei Provincial Folk Culture Association

Tianhe Mountain Scenic Area

Yanzhao Metropolitan Newspaper

Co-organized by:

Cihang Group