Qixi Festival 2025: Gifts & Traditions
This year Qixi falls on August 29, 2025. Known as the Double Seventh Festival or Chinese Valentine’s Day, Qixi lifts the curtain on one of China’s most romantic folktales and a handful of lovely traditions you can celebrate anywhere in the world.
The Story That Started It All: The Weaver Girl and the Cowherd
At the heart of Qixi is the ancient, bittersweet tale of Zhinü (the Weaver Girl) and Niulang (the Cowherd). Separated by the Milky Way, the two lovers are allowed to meet only once a year — on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. Their story of craft, devotion, and reunion is the cultural backbone of Qixi and explains why handmade goods, weaving, and star imagery are so closely associated with the festival.
Traditions & Meaning: How People Celebrate Qixi
Traditional Qixi customs highlight skill, craft, and wishes for happy marriages. Historically, young women practiced needle-threading contests and displayed handiwork to show dexterity; families made offerings, looked to the stars (Vega and Altair), and shared symbolic snacks. Today these rituals coexist with modern date-night customs — couples exchange gifts, enjoy evenings together, and celebrate love much like Western Valentine’s Day.
What to Give & Why It's Meaningful
Qixi is both romantic and craft-centered. That opens the door to gifts that are personal, handcrafted, or star-themed. Below are curated gift categories with real, easy-to-source suggestions from the US and UK — each is MyUS-friendly for international forwarding.
Personalized Jewelry: A Timeless Qixi Pick
Where to Find It: Handmade and customizable necklaces are widely available on Etsy — perfect for engraving a date, name, or secret message. Many shops on Etsy ship from the UK and the US and work well with MyUS forwarding.
Our Recommendation: 14K Solid Gold North Star Pendant
Why it Fits: Personalization echoes the intimate, handcrafted spirit of the festival.
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Silk Scarves & Wearables: Honor the Weaver Girl
Where to Find It: John Lewis (UK) and similar department stores offer a wide range of pure-silk scarves in classic and modern designs, elegant, packable, and great for shipping.
Our Recommendation: Linen Blend Ombre Scarf
Why It Fits: Zhinü is a weaver, silk or woven textiles are a poetic, culturally resonant Qixi gift.
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Tea & Elegant Hampers: Share a Quiet, Ceremonial Moment
Where to Find It: Luxury tea sets and gift hampers from Fortnum & Mason pair heritage with presentation.
Our Recommendation: Fortum & Mason The Tea Hamper
Why It Fits: Offering food and tea is traditional. A special tea set or curated hamper makes a delightful modern offering.
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Star-Themed Gifts & Keepsakes: Amazon Nods to the Legend
Where to Find it: Custom star map prints and canvases are easy to source from US retailers like Amazon and Etsy. Just search custom star maps and eternalize a beautiful memory.
Our Recommendation: Custom Star Map from Amazon
Why It Fits: Qixi is all about a reunion across the stars. Star maps, constellation jewelry, or custom night-sky prints are deeply symbolic.
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Handmade Kits & Experiences: A Craft-Based Date Idea
Where to Find it: Specialty craft shops like Michaels offer curated embroidery kits, candle-making sets, and pottery starter kits, ideal for an at-home Qixi workshop.
Our Recommendation: 6" Garden Fresh Embroidery Kit by Loops & Threads
Why It Fits: Honoring Zhinü’s handiwork, gifting a DIY embroidery/handcraft kit invites couples to make something together.
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How to Use MyUS to Ship These Gifts from the US & UK
MyUS makes sending meaningful Qixi gifts abroad simple:
Buy from US or UK sellers — many independent makers and stores will ship domestically. Use MyUS as your US/UK shipping address so you can forward one consolidated package internationally. (Pro tip: combine small items like jewelry, a silk scarf, and a star print into a single consolidated box to save on shipping.)
Consolidate to save — grouping multiple purchases into one shipment reduces per-package international fees and is kinder to the planet.
Choose gift-friendly packaging — ask sellers to avoid excessive internal boxes when possible and select flat mailers for prints. This lowers dimensional weight and shipping cost when consolidated.
Time shipments for Qixi — order early to allow for manufacturing and consolidation time — many handmade items need extra lead time.
Cultural Tips to Include with Your Gift:
Add a short note explaining the legend of Zhinü and Niulang — it gives context and a lovely narrative to the present. A one-paragraph story and the Qixi date makes the gift feel thoughtful and informed.
If gifting textiles or jewelry, mention the symbolic weaving/weaver connection; recipients love the cultural meaning!
For corporate or promotional Qixi bundles, include branded cards that explain how MyUS helped source and ship the gift.
Celebrate the Meaning & Ship with Confidence
Qixi is a celebration of love, craft, and the stars. Whether you pick a handmade necklace, a woven silk scarf, a luxurious tea set, or a personalized star map, each gift tells a story — and MyUS can help get that story across oceans. Order early, consolidate your purchases, and make this Qixi a truly memorable reunion.
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