Following Chinese folklore, the rain that swept most parts of China over the past few days was not led by Typhoon Matsa, but by the happy tears of a legendary couple who were separated by the Milky Way.

It is a touching love story about an ordinary cowboy and a fairy. Niulang, a cowboy who was forced to leave home by his elder brother and sister-in-law, fell in love at first sight with Zhinu, a beautiful fairy and a skilled seamstress.

But their love was broken up by Wangmu, wife of the Jade Emperor, the Supreme Deity in Taoism. She separated the couple by putting the Milky Way between them.

Moved by their deep love, pied magpies come in flocks to form abridge across the galaxy with their bodies so that the couple could meet on every July 7th. Hence, the Qixi Festival is celebrated nationwide on the seventh day of every July in Chinese Lunar calendar, which falls on Thursday this year.

The day is considered the Chinese "Valentine's Day."

Twenty-five-year-old Liu Hao said he will meet tonight with his girlfriend, who is studying in Paris. They could not meet through the bridge set up by pied magpie, but via the Internet.

Liu , a manager of a renowned exhibition company in Beijing, said "The day is of special significance to us. We are now living a life just like the legendary couple. Anyway, our separation is temporary and I believe our story will have a happy ending."

It is overcast and a bit muggy on Thursday in Beijing. But it will not hinder Zhong Yue, who works for General Electrics, expressing his affections to his fiancée.

He said he had already booked a seat in a restaurant and is "ready to spend a romantic night on our own Valentine's Day."

In the eyes of businessman, the Qixi Festival means commercial opportunities.

In Beijing, the Laitai flower market prepares 1,500 roses to present free of charge to Chinese couples as a promotion. Some websites also launched tourism packages with the theme of Qixi celebration.

The Shangri-La Hotel in Fuzhou, capital of east China's Fujian Province, offers a "Qixi Diner" at a cost of 13,888 yuan (US$1,679).

Yet, Thursday's Beijing News commented that "the business circle is apathetic about the Chinese Valentine's Day compared with Feb. 14."

Yu Xianyang, a sociologist of People's University of China, said, "Though businessmen do not show much interest in this traditional festival. It is still a welcome change compared with the embarrassing situation that hardly anyone cared about it several years ago."

"An increasing number of people have shown interest in "Qixi" ,which reflects that they are heeding their life qualities and willing to find a chance for communication," he said, adding, "This makes us see the hope of the return of Chinese tradition."

Compared with borrowed western festivals, such as Christmas and Valentine’s Day, some traditional Chinese festivals are in an obviously disadvantageous position.

While Lunar Chinese New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival, Double Ninth Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival are no longer "compulsory lessons" for youngsters, Feb. 14 and Dec. 24 seem to be more attractive to them.

The sociologist said one of the most important reasons for the unfavorable position of "Qixi" compared with "Valentine's Day" is that most western festivals are celebrated in a more open and warm manner. In comparison, traditional ones tend to be observed in a relatively quiet and reserved way.

Yu said it is unnecessary to coerce the youth to make a choice between foreign and the traditional cultures, because multi-cultural elements will bring people a more colorful life.

Many couples say that they celebrate both the traditional and the borrowed festivals.

To them, the meanings of festivals are not important. They just want to find an "excuse" to get together and confess their affections.

To those who are in love, every day is Valentine's Day.

(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2005)