Culture Insider: Qixi - the Chinese Valentine's Day

An elderly woman shows a handmade artwork made of grains in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Aug 27, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Customs

In bygone days, Qixi was not only a special day for lovers, but also for girls. It is also known as the "Begging for Skills Festival" or "Daughters' Festival."

In this day, girls will throw a sewing needle into a bowl full of water on the night of Qixi as a test of embroidery skills. If the needle floats on top of the water instead of sinking, it proves the girl is a skilled embroiders.

Single women also pray for finding a good husband in the future. And the newly married women pray to become pregnant quickly.