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What is Qixi Festival? How It's Celebrated, Gift Ideas, Greetings, and More

What is Qixi Festival? How It's Celebrated, Gift Ideas, Greetings, and More
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Author: Jo

Publication date

August 05, 2026

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Have you ever heard of Qixi Festival? If not, perhaps this other name of it is much more familiar to you: Chinese Valentine's Day! Even if you've never heard of it, you can already probably guess what this celebration is all about, and you're right, it's love and romance.

Interested in learning more about the romantic story that originated this festival? Let's delve into what Qixi Festival is all about and how you can weave your own tale of love!

Qixi Festival celebration: When is it celebrated? What's it all about?

The Qixi Festival is held every seventh day of the seventh lunar month, which on 2026, falls on Wednesday, August 19th. Earning the title of Chinese Valentine's Day, this celebration is a tribute to a pair of lovers from Chinese mythology, Zhinü and Niulang. Their story is not only that of just love, but also of sacrifice, devotion, and yearning. It's no wonder it came to be known as the Chinese equivalent of Valentine's Day!

In the Philippines, the Qixi Festival is not as celebrated as it is in other Asian countries like China, Singapore, Hong Kong, and more. However, it's also a nice time to remind your special someone of how much you love them just as Zhinü and Niulang love each other. Keep reading to learn more about their story—one that might just make you believe in forever.

A young man in a blue polo shirt gently kisses a woman on her forehead outdoors at night. The woman smiles happily with her eyes closed while holding a large bouquet of vibrant red roses wrapped in white paper. Warm string lights glow softly among garden plants and dark foliage in the background.
Featuring our True Love bouquet.

Qixi Festival origins: The tale of the star-crossed lovers

The Qixi Festival originates from the famous Chinese legend of the The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. Niulang was the cowherd on Earth, who, by chance, came across the beautiful fairy Zhinü, a weavergirl from the heavens. They fell in love, got married, and had two children, but because they came from different worlds, this upset Zhinü's parents, and their love was deemed forbidden.

Zhinü was escorted back to heaven, but this did not stop Niulang; he chased after her, flying across the heavens. Furious, the Goddess of the Heavens drew the Silver River (the Milky Way) across the sky, blocking his path. Their devotion moved the magpies, who formed a bridge over the river, where the lovers would meet. The sight touched the Emperor of Heaven, allowing the couple to meet on the bridge once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, when the Qixi Festival is now held.

A guide to celebrating your own love story this Qixi Festival

This beautiful legend is a great reminder of how powerful love can be. Even though the Philippines might not celebrate this festival as much, this country of romantics can still take inspiration and use this opportunity para pakiligin ang ating mga pinakaminamahal.

The Qixi Festival in the past was typically celebrated with different traditional activities, but in our modern age, it has become a day for couples to express their love and spend time with each other.

For a simple guide to celebrating Qixi, you can start the day by saying something sweet, then plan a date together by choosing an activity for the both of you to enjoy, and surprising them with a small gift once you meet each other! Looking to send them a greeting inspired by the story behind the Qixi Festival? Check out these ideas below:

Qixi Festival-inspired message for the one you love

  • Like the Cowherd and the Weavergirl, our love was written in the stars.
  • No matter what separates us, I'd still choose to wait every year just so I can hold you in my arms.
  • I'm truly lucky that I get to love you every day.
  • Kila Cowherd and Weavergirl may forever; sana sa'tin din.
  • I can't even imagine a day without you, let alone a whole year. Mahal na mahal kita.
  • If we ever have to part ways, you don't have to worry. Know that you'll always be worth the wait.
  • Come what may, we'll always find our way back to each other.

For a gift that's guaranteed to warm your lover's heart, our top recommendation is no other than a lovely bouquet of fresh flowers! No one can resist being given these precious blooms. Here are our top flower bouquet suggestions:

Qixi Festival flower bouquets to express love

1. Red rose bouquets

Red roses are kind of a cliché pick, sure, but they're a classic for a reason! They're the ultimate symbol of love, the most recognizable image of romance out of all the flowers. Let your rose bouquet gift convey your feelings, expressing what words cannot.

A young woman with dark hair rests her hands and head on a wooden table, gazing warmly at an illuminated glass dome beside her. Inside the clear cloche, a single vibrant red rose with green leaves is wrapped in delicate, glowing LED fairy lights on a dark base, casting a soft, golden light across her face in an intimate setting. A person wearing a light beige shirt holds a bouquet featuring bright red roses and green eucalyptus stems. The arrangement is wrapped in soft white tissue paper and layered brown kraft paper, tied neatly at the base with a maroon ribbon printed with white text. In the softly lit background, a wooden table holds a small dish with keys alongside letters against a neutral wall. A young couple sits together at an outdoor table at night, gazing warmly at each other. The woman wears a white puff-sleeve top and holds a small bouquet of red roses tied with a yellow ribbon. The man, wearing a dark t-shirt, rests his arm on the wooden table, which holds grilled food skewers, dipping sauce, and a cold drink in a clear plastic cup under soft ambient streetlights.
Beauty & The Beast My Love My Romance

2. Sunflower bouquets

For a love that brings light and joy to your life, a vibrant bouquet of sunflowers is a great way to express how happy your sweetheart makes you! Brighten their  day just like they brighten yours.

A couple walks hand-in-hand along a paved street at night, framed from the waist down. The woman wears a satin gold midi skirt with black canvas sneakers and carries a brown gift basket filled with bright yellow sunflowers tied with a yellow ribbon. Beside her, the man wears khaki pants and white sneakers under warm evening streetlights. A floral bouquet rests horizontally on a rustic wooden surface in soft evening lighting. The arrangement features a prominent yellow sunflower surrounded by small white filler flowers and pink blossoms, neatly wrapped in light pink paper with dark-trimmed borders.
Be Happy Sun Blush

3. Carnation bouquets

The soft shape of carnations make it perfect for showing your affection, while offering a gentler expression of love than roses.

A young man stands with his arm wrapped around a woman as they both look down at a bouquet of pink, white, and green carnations wrapped in light pink paper. He wears a black jacket and dark shirt, while she wears a purple floral-patterned blouse and smiles softly at the arrangement in her hands. A young man stands with his arm wrapped around a woman as they both look down at a bouquet of pink, white, and green carnations wrapped in light pink paper. He wears a black jacket and dark shirt, while she wears a purple floral-patterned blouse and smiles softly at the arrangement in her hands.
Blush in Love Color Me Sweet

This August 19, 2026, join in the Qixi Festival celebration and honor your own bond that's hopefully as everlasting as Zhinü and Niulang's! Their story might seem quite tragic at first glance, but ultimately, it's a heartening tale about how love conquers all. So take this chance to go out on a simple date with your partner or to surprise them with a floral gift—appreciate them as much as you can.

If it's a surprise present for them that you're seeking, then let us at FlowerStore.ph help! We've got an extensive variety of not just affordable flower bouquets, but also other kinds of gifts like chocolates and keepsakes perfect for showing your loved ones how much you care! We also have free, same-day delivery across the Philippines, so even if your order is last-minute, we'll make sure that it reaches your special person in picture-perfect condition.

Celebrate love that lasts this Qixi Festival with FlowerStore.ph!

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