Life in China 2016: A Picture A Day, August 9 – Today is Chinese Valentine’s Day, called 七夕节“Qixijie” or “Double Seventh Festival.” It is always celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar, and has been for about 2000 years! In modern times, it is celebrated much like the Western Valentine’s Day, which is also celebrated in China. Quoted from www.chinahighlights.com , here is the quick version of the legend behind the holiday:
“An oxherd, Niulang, with the help of his ox (the demoted cattle god) married a fairy, Zhinü, who became a weaver girl. Zhinü's mother, a goddess, returned Zhinü to heaven. Niulang pursued using the ox's hide. The goddess separated them by a river of stars (the Milky Way), but magpies were allowed to form a bridge for them to meet once a year (Qixi).”
So, how does the picture tie in? This morning, I saw an elderly lady walking, then she stopped and chose a long piece of bamboo from a pile of scaffolding on the ground and proceeded to carry it across the street. Then she started beating the branches of a tree with it! I HAD to find out what she was doing so walked over to her. I could see something reddish-orange, with black centers in the tree. She came over and showed me, talking the whole time, but all I understood as she pointed at the black centers, was that they were good to eat! So, I sent a picture to our young friend in the nearby town and she didn’t know, but found out from her grandmother what they were. They are “Ping Po” or “Chinese chestnuts! Also called “seven sister’s fruit” because it turns out that they are a traditional food of the qixijie or Chinese Valentine’s Day! When the black husk is broken open, the fruit/nut inside is a yellowish color (see upper right picture where she opened one) and can be eaten raw or cooked. They are different from the chestnuts roasted in winter time though, these ones are “Sterculia monosperma,” a tree native in this area. Quite a lot of information for one day! www.myownchinesebrocade.com