China also has its Valentine's Day: the "Qixi festival" dates back to 2 thousand years ago and has its roots in a fairy tale. A fairy – Zhi Nu – married a mortal – Niu Lang. They had two children, but the Sky Goddess, who was against the marriage, separated them with the Milky Way after the couple went to heaven as two stars. But, according to the story, the magpies took pity on the two lovers and flew to the sky every year forming a bridge so that Zhi and Niu could reunite for at least one night.
Chinese couples, especially those who are separated because they work or study in different cities, celebrate this story every year. But they complain about the commercialization that has invaded this moving tale: the paradox of tears and money. The most recent tradition has it that on this day (today, Thursday) couples celebrate with a candlelit dinner before going to the cinema, but, as Fu Lei (a recent graduate from Jinan) observes, "a single candle per restaurant costs me more than a monthly electricity bill”.
The most extravagant gadgets they are marketed to extract money from couples – the latest being a bottle containing fireflies. The glitter, says the advertisement, creates a romantic atmosphere…
However, many of those who oppose a money-tinged Qixi confess – and herein lies the paradox – that Qixi would be forgotten if there weren't all this commercialization.
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-08/22/content_15699018.htm
