The Qixi Festival in 2026 falls on August 19. The sense of time around this traditional holiday is actually quite unique: it follows the lunar calendar, so it won’t always fall on the same day of the Gregorian calendar. Originally, Qixi was associated with star-and-constellation worship and the folk custom of making wishes for skill; only later did it gradually take on the symbolism of love through the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. Today, when people debate whether Qixi should be like Valentine’s Day, the real question behind it is how tradition can enter modern life. A festival doesn’t have to be only check-ins and gifts—it can also be a family dinner, a moment to buy yourself flowers, or an opportunity to rediscover an old custom. In your view, what should Qixi keep most of: a sense of ritual or cultural memory? #TodayQixi