Today is the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, so according to the Chinese calendar, it's 'Chinese Valentine's Day.' The legend states that if you look carefully at the sky tonight you will see The Cowherd and the Weaving Maid stars appear closer together than at any other time of the year. In Eastern cultures it's believed that these two stars are lovers. According to lore, the Weaving Maid, the seventh daughter of the Jade Emperor, fell in love with and married a cowherd. The tale continues that these two were so in love that they neglected their daily duties and angered the Emperor, who then exiled them to opposite ends of the Milky Way. He allowed them to meet only one night of each year, the night of the 'double seventh,' or tonight. The legend say that the two met by traversing a bridge made of magpies. These birds believe in true and lasting love and would arrange themselves like a flight of stairs so the star-crossed lovers could fall into each other's arms. This is also why Feng Shui says that magpies help build solid love affairs. The ancient Chinese believed that the presence of a magpie brings happiness, unlimited opportunities and success in funding new ventures or finding a new job. They also consider the magpie to be the best connector for strengthening the love relationship of anyone living apart. The magpie also creates an unbreakable bond for those who experience resistance from family members regarding their choice of a loving mate. Display an image or small statue of a magpie in the living room facing inwards if you want to garner the goods from all the aforementioned marvelous energies. You can also put the magpie in the 'Fame' area to gain rewards and a faboo reputation, or you can carry this little birdie if you need something special whispered in your ear while taking important tests or exams. And, lastly, put a pair of magpie in the 'Romance and Relationship' area of your bedroom to bring the perfect partner who will allow your love to take wing!
By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

History of Chinese Valentine Day:

As far as the legendary tale is concerned it is shrouded with many assumptions and there are variations too. But, it centers on the two lovers Niu Lang and Zhinu. The romantic story runs as follows. The handsome Niu Lang happens to be an orphan. His only companion is an old ox who is endowed with some magical power. Zhinu is the youngest of the seven daughter of the Goddess of Heaven. One day Zhinu accompanied by her sisters was taking a bath in a lake. Instigated by the old ox, Niu Lang stole their clothes. Zhinu was ordered by the other sisters to retrieve their clothing. Niu Lang took this opportunity and proposed marriage to Zhinu. Zhinu accepted the proposal. The two got married and eventually Zhinu bore two children.
When the Goddess of Heaven learnt about the whereabouts of the missing Zhinu, she ordered her to return to heaven. Niu Lang was heartbroken when he came to know about his missing wife. The old ox came to his rescue and it was with the help of his hide that Niu Lang went up to heaven in search of his wife. When this was discovered by the Goddess of Heaven, she took out her hairpin and scratched a wide river thus forming the Milky Way. Her main intension was to separate the two lovers. The magpies took pity on the two lovers and they decided to reunite them once a year. So on the 7th day of the 7th lunar the magpies build a bridge over the milky way with their wings to help the two lovers get together.

However as said already there are certain variations in the story. Some are of the opinion that it was the Goddess of Heaven; the mother of Zhinu who took pity on the two lovers and decided to unite them once a year. There are some who opines that it was not the Goddess of Heaven but the Emperor of Heaven who was responsible for separating the two lovers.

Li Bingxiang (L), 101, presents his 97-year-old wife Zhang Liying a bouquet of roses in Jinan, Shandong Province on Valentine's Day. The couple have been married for 73 years.

Li Bingxiang (L), 101, presents his 97-year-old wife Zhang Liying a bouquet of roses in Jinan, Shandong Province on Valentine's Day. The couple have been married for 73 years.