This is known as Chinese Valentine’s Day. It’s based on a romantic legend about a weaver girl and an ox herd. Celebrations include giving gifts (flowers, chocolates, ties…) to romantic partners, romantic dates, dinners, and movies. The story of the festival, an oxherd Niulang with the help of his ox (the demoted cattle god) married a fairy, Zhinü, who became a weaver girl. Zhinü’s mother, a goddess, returned Zhinü to heaven. Niulang pursued using the ox’s hide. The goddess separated them by a river of stars (the Milky Way), but magpies were allowed to form a bridge for them to meet once a year.
China- College Student Edition 